Possession Sound

WA Snagging

You may not snag or attempt to snag fish. It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate.

WA Use of Drugs, Explosives or Poisons

You may not use drugs, explosives, or poison that may kill or injure fish and wildlife.

WA Crossbow

You may not use a crossbow to harvest fish or shellfish.

WA Sale or Barter

You may not offer any recreationally-caught fish or shellfish for sale or barter.

WA All Other Fish

Any fish species not listed are CLOSED to fishing, retaining, or possessing. For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations.

WA Possession and Fishing Rules

You may not fish for or harvest fish or shellfish in an area with catch in your possession that does not meet the rules of that area. However, you may pass through such an area without stopping to fish. Also, you may catch fish in one area and land them at a port in a different area even if that different area is closed or has different rules, with the exception of landing halibut in a closed area, or landing bottom fish caught in Oregon.

WA Harvesting another Person's Limit

You may not harvest any part of another person's daily limit, except for persons who possess a Designated Harvester Companion Card unless otherwise specified. 

WA Bait

You may not chum (broadcast feed) to attract Game Fish unless authorized by Special Rules. You many not use salmon, herring, or halibut for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait. It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait, except: (1) Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished; (2) Live sand shrimp; (3) Live forage fish in the Columbia River (downstream of Rocky Point/Tongue Point).

WA Transport of Live Fish

You may not transport live fish or relocate shellfish or shells into state waters without a permit.

WA Use of a Net

You may not use a net, except when using a dip net to land legally-hooked fish, a forage fish dip net to harvest forage fish.

WA Use of Chemicals

You may not use any type of chemical irritant to harvest fish, or shellfish unless a special exception has been made by the Director. 

WA Bow and Arrow, Spear and Spearfishing

You may not fish for Game Fish, salmon, sturgeon, shad, octopus, crab, or other shellfish with bow and arrow, spear, or spearfishing gear unless authorized by Special Rules.

WA Gaff Hooks

You may not use a gaff hook, except to land lingcod (in Marine Areas 1-3 and 4 West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line), halibut, tuna, or dogfish shark that will be retained. 

WA Marine All Fishing Gear

All Fishing Gear must be kept in immediate control, and gear may not be left unattended while fishing. 

WA Marine Hook & Line Angling

Hook and Line Angling: Unless noted differently, only one line with up to 2 hooks is allowed.

WA Marine Landing a Fish Rules

Landing a Fish: A club or dipnet (landing net) may be used to assist landing a legal fish taken by legal gear. A gaff may only be used to land a legally hooked lingcod (in Marine Areas 1-3 and 4 West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line), halibut, tuna, or dogfish shark that will be retained. Halibut may be shot or harpooned while landing.

WA Marine Downriggers & Rodholders

Downriggers - May be used with a line if the line releases from the downrigger while playing and landing the fish.Rodholders - May be used; the rod must be easily removed without delay; rod may be left in the holder while playing the fish.

WA Marine Electric Reels

Electric Reels: May be used if designed for sport fishing and attached to a fishing rod.

WA Marine Spearfishing

Spearfishing: The diver must be swimming or floating in the water while spearfishing. The use of explosives or bullets attached to the spear ("bang sticks") is prohibited.

WA Cooperation with Data Collection

You must cooperate with data collection or other sampling of fish, shellfish or seaweed upon request of Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel. This includes relinquishing any part of a salmon, steelhead, or other species of fish containing coded-wire tags. 

WA Marine Catch & Release

Catch-and-Release Methods: Minimize handling by leaving the fish in the water.Do not net your fish but if you must, use a soft, knotless net or rubber mesh net. Knotless nets are now required in fly fishing only areas and freshwater areas with selective gear rules.Use a hook remover (dehooker) when hooks are imbedded in the mouth or jaw.If a fish has swallowed the hook, cut the leader.Keep fingers away from the eyes and gills of the fish. MARINE AREAS 5 THROUGH 13: It is unlawful to bring wild salmon or a species of salmon aboard a vessel if it is unlawful to retain that salmon (aboard means inside the gunwale of a vessel). MARINE AREA 2-2: It is unlawful to totally remove salmon from the water if it is illegal to retain those fish, except anglers fishing from boats 30 feet or longer as listed on either their state or Coast Guard registration, are exempt.

WA Marine Barbless Hooks

Barbless Hooks are required for all species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage fish jig gear. When fishing for salmon in Areas 1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used.

WA Snagging

You may not snag or attempt to snag fish. It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate.

WA Use of Drugs, Explosives or Poisons

You may not use drugs, explosives, or poison that may kill or injure fish and wildlife.

WA Crossbow

You may not use a crossbow to harvest fish or shellfish.

WA Sale or Barter

You may not offer any recreationally-caught fish or shellfish for sale or barter.

WA All Other Fish

Any fish species not listed are CLOSED to fishing, retaining, or possessing. For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations.

WA Possession and Fishing Rules

You may not fish for or harvest fish or shellfish in an area with catch in your possession that does not meet the rules of that area. However, you may pass through such an area without stopping to fish. Also, you may catch fish in one area and land them at a port in a different area even if that different area is closed or has different rules, with the exception of landing halibut in a closed area, or landing bottom fish caught in Oregon.

WA Harvesting another Person's Limit

You may not harvest any part of another person's daily limit, except for persons who possess a Designated Harvester Companion Card unless otherwise specified. 

WA Bait

You may not chum (broadcast feed) to attract Game Fish unless authorized by Special Rules. You many not use salmon, herring, or halibut for anything other than human consumption or fishing bait. It is unlawful to possess or use live aquatic animals as bait, except: (1) Live aquatic animals (other than fish) collected from the water being fished; (2) Live sand shrimp; (3) Live forage fish in the Columbia River (downstream of Rocky Point/Tongue Point).

WA Transport of Live Fish

You may not transport live fish or relocate shellfish or shells into state waters without a permit.

WA Use of a Net

You may not use a net, except when using a dip net to land legally-hooked fish, a forage fish dip net to harvest forage fish.

WA Use of Chemicals

You may not use any type of chemical irritant to harvest fish, or shellfish unless a special exception has been made by the Director. 

WA Bow and Arrow, Spear and Spearfishing

You may not fish for Game Fish, salmon, sturgeon, shad, octopus, crab, or other shellfish with bow and arrow, spear, or spearfishing gear unless authorized by Special Rules.

WA Gaff Hooks

You may not use a gaff hook, except to land lingcod (in Marine Areas 1-3 and 4 West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line), halibut, tuna, or dogfish shark that will be retained. 

WA Marine All Fishing Gear

All Fishing Gear must be kept in immediate control, and gear may not be left unattended while fishing. 

WA Marine Hook & Line Angling

Hook and Line Angling: Unless noted differently, only one line with up to 2 hooks is allowed.

WA Marine Landing a Fish Rules

Landing a Fish: A club or dipnet (landing net) may be used to assist landing a legal fish taken by legal gear. A gaff may only be used to land a legally hooked lingcod (in Marine Areas 1-3 and 4 West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line), halibut, tuna, or dogfish shark that will be retained. Halibut may be shot or harpooned while landing.

WA Marine Downriggers & Rodholders

Downriggers - May be used with a line if the line releases from the downrigger while playing and landing the fish.Rodholders - May be used; the rod must be easily removed without delay; rod may be left in the holder while playing the fish.

WA Marine Electric Reels

Electric Reels: May be used if designed for sport fishing and attached to a fishing rod.

WA Marine Spearfishing

Spearfishing: The diver must be swimming or floating in the water while spearfishing. The use of explosives or bullets attached to the spear ("bang sticks") is prohibited.

WA Cooperation with Data Collection

You must cooperate with data collection or other sampling of fish, shellfish or seaweed upon request of Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel. This includes relinquishing any part of a salmon, steelhead, or other species of fish containing coded-wire tags. 

WA Marine Barbless Hooks

Barbless Hooks are required for all species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage fish jig gear. When fishing for salmon in Areas 1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used.