Fishery council to recommend 2027 charter halibut bag and size limits in December

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled to take final action on 2027 charter halibut bag limits, size limits and closed days at its Dec. 4-9 meeting at the Egan Center in Anchorage, according to the council agenda.

The rules cover guided anglers in Area 2C, Southeast Alaska, and Area 3A, the Central Gulf of Alaska. The council recommends the measures and the International Pacific Halibut Commission sets them. Charter allocations follow from the catch limits the commission sets at its annual meeting in January, so the council recommends measures for a range of possible allocations.

Preliminary estimates put Area 2C over its 2026 allocation. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates charter anglers there took 672,859 pounds, 3.5% over a 650,000-pound allocation. Area 3A came in about 74,200 pounds under its 1.47 million-pound allocation, according to the department's handout.

This year, 2C charter anglers could keep one halibut a day, 34 inches or less or 80 inches or more, with retention closed Thursdays from June 18 through Sept. 10, under the 2026 federal charter rules. Area 3A anglers could keep two, one no more than 27 inches, with Wednesdays closed all year and Tuesdays closed June 2 through Aug. 25.

At an Oct. 21 meeting, the council's Charter Halibut Management Committee asked for analysis of 2027 options. For 2C, its motion keeps a one-fish daily limit with a reverse slot, meaning anglers could keep a fish at or under one length or at or over another. The options range from 32 inches or under or 50 or over, to 50 or under or 80 or over. The committee also asked about a once-a-year allowance of one fish of any size, recorded on the angler's license. As Alaska News reported Oct. 24, one Southeast operator called the current 34-inch limit "rock bottom."

All three options in the Area 3A motion keep one trip per vessel per day and close Wednesdays to halibut retention. Option 1 would allow two halibut a day, with a maximum size on one fish between 26 and 32 inches. Option 2 would allow one fish under 50 inches or over 60 inches. Option 3 would allow one fish, or two if both fall within a size range still to be analyzed.

Lauren Howard, a commercial fisherman, told the council at its Oct. 10 meeting: "In 2026, both charter and commercial halibut harvesters in 2C took a 10% reduction in allocation due to a very large increase in the recreational take of halibut." She urged the council to monitor and manage growth in unguided rental boats.

The charter committee meets Dec. 2 in Anchorage, where Fish and Game will present its analysis of the options, according to the committee agenda.

Written comment to the council and Advisory Panel opens Nov. 6 and closes at noon Friday, Nov. 27.