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Fishing regulations at Bellingham Channel, WA
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Washington can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Regulations for top species
Chinook salmon
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
WA Non-game and Food Fish
You may not harvest in freshwater any fish not classified as a Food Fish or Game Fish except for Northern pike.
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 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 Season for Fishing Rivers Streams and Beaver Ponds
Rivers, streams and beaver ponds are open the Saturday before Memorial Day through October 31. Beaver ponds located within or connected to streams listed as open to trout and other game fish follow the same rules as the stream. Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are open to fishing for game fish (except Dolly Varden/bull trout and grass carp) year-round.
WA Hook and Line Angling
Hook and line angling only. Barbed or barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single- point, double, or treble, but not more than one line with up to three hooks per angler may be used.
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.
See special areas for limits.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.
Possession limit — 2 daily limits in fresh form. An additional 40 pounds of salmon may be possessed in frozen or processed form. Atlantic salmon may be retained during any open trout or salmon fishery. There is no size limit or daily limit for Atlantic salmon.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
It is unlawful to totally remove a salmon, steelhead, Dolly Varden/bull trout from the water if it is unlawful to retain or if the angler subsequently releases the fish, except within the Columbia River downstream from a line between Rocky Point and Tongue Point.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
You must fill out your Catch Record Card immediately upon retaining salmon, steelhead, halibut, or sturgeon and return your Catch Record Card when you are done fishing or by the date printed on your card, even if nothing was caught.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
You may not land both a Canadian and a Washington limit of salmon on the same day (one or the other, but not both).
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
You may not remove eggs from a salmon to use or preserve them for bait without retaining the carcass from which the eggs were removed or possess sturgeon eggs in the field without having retained the intact carcass of the fish from which the eggs were removed.
For more information please see State of Washington Fishing Regulations
CASCADE RIVER
from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Rd. Bridge CRC (826)
- All species
- June 1-July 15
- Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.
- July 1-July 15
- Closed to all fishing Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
- Sept. 16-Sept. 30
- Night closure. Barbless hooks required. Bait prohibited. Anti-snagging rule. Closed to all fishing Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure. Closed to all fishing Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- July 1-July 15
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Dec. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- July 1-July 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Dec. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- July 1-July 15
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Dec. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- July 1-July 15
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4. Release all salmon other than coho.
from Rockport-Cascade Rd. Bridge upstream CRC (826)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Steelhead (hatchery)
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Other game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Catch-and-release.
FINNEY CREEK
from mouth to USFS 17 Rd. Bridge
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
FISHER CREEK SLOUGH
(Hill Ditch) mouth to I-5 Bridge
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
RUBY CREEK TRIBUTARIES
- All game fish
- July 1-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SAMISH RIVER
from the mouth (Bayview-Edison Rd.) to Thomas Rd. Bridge CRC (816)
- All species
- Aug. 1-Sept. 13
- Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 13
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 13
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 1-Sept. 13
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Stationary gear restriction. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Release chum, pink, and wild coho.
from the Thomas Rd. Bridge to I-5 Bridge CRC (816)
- All species
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Oct. 1-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from I-5 Bridge to Old Hwy. 99 Bridge CRC (816)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from Old Hwy. 99 Bridge to WDFW Samish hatchery rack
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
from WDFW hatchery rack to Hickson Bridge CRC (816)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SKAGIT RIVER
from the mouth (a line projected from the terminus of the jetty with McGlinn Island to the white monument on the easterly end of Ika Island, then to a white monument on the westerly end of Craft Island, then to a white monument near the corner of the levee on the westerly side of Dry Slough, and then to a white monument on the easterly side of Tom Moore Slough) to Hwy. 536 at Mt. Vernon (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) CRC (830)
- All species
- Mar. 1-Aug. 13
- Selective gear rules. Except: Anglers fishing for sturgeon must use bait. Anglers may not use hooks that measure greater than 1/2" from point to shank, except anglers fishing for sturgeon may use single-point barbless hooks of any size.
- Aug. 14-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- Mar. 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- Mar. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Mar. 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Aug. 14-Aug. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release all salmon other than pink.
- Sept. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from Hwy. 536 at Mt. Vernon (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) to mouth of Gilligan Creek CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-Aug. 13
- Selective gear rules. Except: Anglers fishing for sturgeon must use bait. Anglers may not use hooks that measure greater than 1/2" from point to shank, except anglers fishing for sturgeon may use single-point barbless hooks of any size.
- June 16-July 15
- Night closure.
- Aug. 14-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- July 1-July 15
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 3. Release all salmon other than sockeye.
- Aug. 14-Aug. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release all salmon other than pink.
- Sept. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from mouth of Gilligan Creek to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-Aug. 31
- Night closure. Selective gear rules. It is unlawful to use hooks other than those measuring 1/2" or less from point to shank.
- Sept. 1-Sept. 30
- Bait prohibited. Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- June 16-July 15
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 3. Release all salmon other than sockeye.
- Sept. 1-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from the Dalles Bridge at Concrete to 200' below the mouth of Baker River CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-Sept. 15
- Selective gear rules. Night closure. It is unlawful to use hooks other than those measuring 1/2" or less from point to shank.
- Sept. 16-Sept. 30
- Single-point barbless hooks required. Bait prohibited. Night closure.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
between a line projected across the thread of the river 200' above the east bank of the Baker River and a line projected across the thread of the river 200' below the west bank of the Baker River CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-Sept. 15
- CLOSED WATERS.
- Sept. 16-Sept. 30
- Night closure. Single-point barbless hooks. Bait prohibited.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- Sept. 16-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- Sept. 16-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- Sept. 16-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from a point 200' upstream of the mouth of the Baker River to the Hwy. 530 Bridge at Rockport CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-Sept. 15
- Night closure. Selective gear rules. Anglers may not use hooks that measure greater than 1/2" from point to shank.
- Sept. 16-Sept. 30
- Night closure. Single-point barbless hooks. Bait prohibited.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14".
- Other game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from Hwy. 530 Bridge at Rockport to Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge). CRC (830)
- All species
- June 1-July 15
- Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.
- July 16-Sept. 15
- Selective gear rules. Night closure. Anglers may not use hooks that measure greater than 1/2" from point to shank.
- Sept. 16-Sept. 30
- Single-point barbless hooks required. Night closure. Bait prohibited.
- Oct. 1-Oct. 31
- Night closure.
- All game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily lim(Ciot.n tinued on next page)
- Salmon
- July 1-July 15
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 4 including no more than 2 adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
- Sept. 16-Oct. 31
- Min. size 12". Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
from Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge) to Gorge powerhouse at Newhalem CRC (830)
- All species
- Internal combustion motors prohibited. Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Catch-and-release. Except: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained.
BEAVER LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
BIG LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- Year-round
- Landlocked salmon rules.
CAMPBELL LAKE
- Grass carp
- Year-round
- No min. size. No daily limit. May also be taken by bow-and-arrow.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
CAVANAUGH LAKE
- All species
- Chumming permitted.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
CLEAR LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
COUNTY LINE PONDS
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
ERIE LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
GRANDY LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- Year-round
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
GRANITE LAKES
near Marblemount
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed.
- Grayling
- Year-round
- Catch-and-release.
- Other game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
HEART LAKE
On Fidalgo Island, near Anacortes
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
MCMURRAY LAKE
- Smallmouth bass
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 15. Only 1 over 14" may be retained.
- Largemouth bass
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 10. Max. size 12", except 1 over 17" may be retained.
- Channel catfish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 10.
- Walleye
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- No min. size. Daily limit 16. Only 1 over 22" may be retained.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Salmon
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Landlocked salmon rules.
NORTHERN STATE HOSPITAL POND
- All species
- Juvenile anglers only (under 15 years old). Two-Pole not allowed.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
PASS LAKE
- All species
- Motors prohibited. Fly fishing only.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Release all trout.
SIXTEEN LAKE
- All game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
VOGLER LAKE
- All species
- Two-Pole not allowed. Fly fishing only.
- All game fish
- Year-round
- Catch-and-release.
BAKER RIVER
from mouth to the lower Baker Dam
- All species
- CLOSED WATERS.
SHANNON, LAKE
- All species
- Chumming permitted.
- Kokanee
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Min. size 8". Daily limit 10.
- Other game fish
- 4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
SAUK RIVER
from mouth to Darrington Bridge (Sauk Prairie Rd. Bridge) CRC (828)
- All species
- Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited.
- All game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Catch-and-release. Except: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained.
from Darrington Bridge (Sauk Prairie Rd. Bridge) to White Chuck River CRC (828)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- June 1-Jan. 31
- Catch-and-release. Except: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained.
from the White Chuck River upstream, including the North Fork to North Forks Falls and the South Fork to Elliot Creek CRC (828)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- All game fish
- June 1-Oct. 31
- Catch-and-release. Except: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained.
SUIATTLE RIVER
CRC (832)
- All species
- Selective gear rules.
- Dolly varden/ bull trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Min. size 20". May be retained as part of trout daily limit.
- Other trout
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
- Other game fish
- Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31
- Statewide min. size/daily limit.
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