When it comes to fishing in Washington, you must follow a number of rules in order to avoid getting into trouble. Before you start your fishing expedition, we strongly advise you to go online and look over the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website, particularly the section devoted to Fishing and Shellfishing. There are a plethora of useful pieces of advice on the species you can target in the state, when you can target them, and what kind of permits you will need to obtain.
The pamphlet on sport fishing regulations is also quite useful, as it can inform you of the general rules that apply throughout the state, as well as specific information pertaining to freshwater, marine, shellfish, and seaweed angling, as well as several special rules that are only applicable to specific species or areas of the state.
Before we get into some of the more fundamental fishing regulations in this state, it’s important to note that you can always call the WDFW fishing hotline or check out their website to ensure that you’re not breaking any rules.
The use of explosives, poison, or drugs of any kind is prohibited by law in Washington, as well as a number of other states throughout the United States. They may endanger the lives of animals or aquatic life. The same is true for the use of fishing nets, which is strictly forbidden. Bow fishing and spear fishing are two techniques that are not permitted in this state, especially if you intend to target species such as salmon, octopus, crab, shad, or sturgeon, which are prohibited in this state.
The following are some of the most important rules you must follow when dealing with money:
- Wild steelhead, green sturgeon, and bull trout, as well as canary rockfish, are prohibited from being kept.
- When it comes to the types of bait that you can use, if you are caught using any that is not permitted by the regulations, you may be subject to legal action as a result.
- Wasting shellfish or fish is also prohibited, regardless of whether you intend to use only parts of the animal for cooking or bait or whether you intend to waste the entire animal. It is against the law to return a mutilated fish to its natural environment.
- Adult salmon can only be caught in limited numbers per day, and it goes without saying that continuing to fish after you have reached your daily limit is a violation of the rules.
In addition, removing salmon eggs from its carcass without keeping the salmon carcass is against the law. - If you dispose of the fish in a manner that has the potential to harm the environment, you are not permitted to use such eggs for the preparation of bait.
- Trespassing is strictly prohibited, regardless of whether you are crossing a portion of a river or otherwise. If you are fishing on someone else’s property, you are not permitted to do so even during open season.
In Washington, you must obtain a fishing license, just as you would in any other state where you might want to go fishing. There are several types of boats that you can choose from, depending on the species you want to catch and the length of time you plan to spend in Florida.
Freshwater and saltwater are both available, as are waters intended for the cultivation of shellfish and seaweed. Those passing through or planning to spend a limited amount of time in Washington should consider obtaining a combination license, which expires after three days and is highly recommended. Fishing in both fresh and saltwater with a combination license is permitted, as is catching shellfish or seaweed with the license.
Everyone over the age of 15 who wants to fish for salmon or steelhead in the Columbia River must obtain a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement.
License prices vary depending on whether you are a resident or not, whether you are a senior, whether you are under the age of 15, whether you are a disabled resident, or whether you are a non-resident veteran. A combination license for a resident can be obtained for as little as sixty dollars, while a license for a non-resident can be obtained for as little as one hundred and thirty dollars. Take note that costs can fluctuate, as they did when this article was written, and that these were the most recent figures available.