Washington fishing regulations: find the rule that applies today
Washington’s statewide limits are only the first layer. The legal answer can change with the exact lake, river reach, Marine Area, species, fin mark, hook setup, season and a newer WDFW emergency rule.
What deserves a same-day check on August 15, 2026?
Marine Area 6 Chinook
WDFW issued an in-season rule closing Chinook retention beginning August 13.
The notice runs through Aug. 15. Check the live rule again for fishing after today.
Marine Area 7 North crab
WDFW’s 2026 schedule lists Gulf of Georgia crabbing from August 15 through September 28.
Thursdays through Mondays only. Verify current live status before setting gear.
Marine Area 2 halibut
South Coast late-season opportunity is scheduled August 8 through September 30.
Quota managed; an early closure remains possible.
More halibut areas
North Coast Areas 3–4 and designated Strait/Puget Sound areas are scheduled to begin another halibut window Aug. 16.
Check quota status before launch.
Marine Area 6 shows why the newest rule wins
Original July 1–Aug. 15 rule
The 2026 salmon rule lists a two-salmon daily limit for Area 6 during this period and requires release of chum, sockeye, wild Chinook and wild coho.
In practical terms, the original rule allowed retention of qualifying hatchery Chinook within the season framework.
Chinook retention closes Aug. 13
WDFW then issued a newer in-season change closing Chinook retention beginning Aug. 13.
Result: the live emergency rule controls even though the annual season table still shows the broader July 1–Aug. 15 framework.
Regulation year and license year are different
Can change the annual rule at any time.
Use this five-layer Washington regulation check
Six checks before retaining a Washington fish
Correctly identify salmon, trout, steelhead or other game fish.
Find the correct reach or Marine Area boundary.
Confirm it is open for that species today.
Minimum, slot, adult status or hatchery/wild mark.
Daily limit, sublimit and possession limit.
Enter CRC-required harvest immediately.
Washington lakes and rivers do not share one general season
Lakes, ponds & reservoirs
Generally year-roundA specifically listed lake may use a seasonal opener, closure or different species/gear rule.
Rivers, streams & beaver ponds
Sat. before Memorial Day → Oct. 31Many major Washington rivers have different water-specific seasons.
What is “lowland lake opening day”?
Washington defines the opening day of lowland lake season as the fourth Saturday in April.
This matters when a specific lake’s regulation references the lowland-lake opener instead of a calendar date.
Salmon is separate
Freshwater salmon fishing is not automatically open merely because the game-fish season is open.
Look for a specifically open salmon fishery in the exact water.
Washington freshwater limits before special-water exceptions
| Species | Lakes / ponds / reservoirs | Rivers / streams | Statewide size rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 5 | No statewide daily limit | Lakes: release 12–17″; only one largemouth 17″ or longer. |
| Smallmouth bass | 10 | No statewide daily limit | Lakes: no minimum; only one smallmouth over 14″. |
| Burbot | 5 | 5 | No statewide size restriction. |
| Channel catfish | 5 | No statewide daily limit | No statewide size restriction. |
| Eastern brook trout | No statewide daily limit | No statewide daily limit | No statewide size restriction. |
| Grass carp | Release unless specifically allowed | Release unless specifically allowed | Retention unlawful except where a listed exception permits it. |
| Tiger muskellunge | 1 | Check specific water | 50″ minimum. |
| Kokanee | 10 | Check specific water | No statewide size restriction. |
| Lake trout | No statewide daily limit | — | No statewide size restriction. |
| Trout | 5 | 2 | River wild trout: 8″ minimum. Hatchery trout: no statewide minimum. Combined daily trout limit remains 5. |
| Hatchery steelhead | Check listed fishery | 2 | 20″ minimum under the statewide baseline. |
| Walleye | 8 | No statewide daily limit | Lakes: 12″ minimum; only one walleye over 22″. |
| Whitefish | 15 | 15 | No statewide size restriction. |
| All other game fish | No statewide limit | No statewide limit | Water-specific rules can still restrict retention. |
Washington largemouth bass protects the middle size range
Under the statewide lake rule, largemouth bass 12 through 17 inches must be released. No more than one largemouth bass 17 inches or longer may be retained.
Compare the three common rules
- Largemouth: 5 from lakes; middle slot protected.
- Smallmouth: 10 from lakes; only one over 14″.
- Walleye: 8 from lakes; 12″ minimum; only one over 22″.
Always check the named water before using these statewide numbers.
Five short phrases that completely change how you may fish
Selective gear
- Artificial flies or lures.
- Single-point barbless hooks.
- Bait prohibited.
- Up to 3 hooks.
- Knotless landing net only.
Anti-snagging
Except for qualifying buoyant-lure or trolling situations, terminal gear is limited to a lure or bait with one single-point hook.
Weight position and hook dimensions are also restricted.
Night closure
Closed from one hour after official sunset until one hour before official sunrise.
Not simply sunset-to-sunrise.
Stationary gear
Line, weight and lure/bait must be moving while in the water.
The terminal setup may not remain stationary.
Whitefish gear
One single-point hook, maximum specified small hook size, bait allowed and release all fish except whitefish.
Weight placement can make the rig illegal
Under Washington’s anti-snagging definition, weights may not be attached below the lure or bait, or less than 12 inches above it.
The complete rule also controls hook setup unless you are using an authorized buoyant lure or trolling.
Washington’s freshwater bait rules go beyond “live bait yes or no”
Unless the specific freshwater exception authorizes it.
Regardless of source or lamprey species.
Washington’s statewide bait rule requires bait when fishing for sturgeon.
Specific limited exceptions exist.
The trout-with-bait counting rule
This activates Washington’s special counting rule.
A lawful-size fish counts toward the daily limit whether you keep it or release it.
Once that daily limit is reached, you cannot continue fishing for trout.
Do not bring a live-minnow habit from another state into Washington
General freshwater rule
Possession or use of live aquatic animals as freshwater bait is generally prohibited unless an authorized exception applies.
Limited exceptions
Certain non-fish live aquatic animals collected from the water being fished may be used, and live sand shrimp is specifically allowed.
Lower Columbia exception
Live forage fish may be used in the defined Columbia River area downstream of the Rocky Point–Tongue Point line.
Two short WAC rules that matter when fishing with family or friends
Do not take another person’s limit
Washington generally prohibits catching, digging or possessing fish or shellfish for another person.
A formal designated-harvester authorization is a separate exception.
Do not intentionally waste the catch
WAC prohibits taking, fishing for or possessing personal-use food fish or shellfish with the intent of wasting or destroying them.
One line is the default — and every line must remain under your control
Only on waters where two-pole use is permitted.
Angling gear must remain under direct and immediate physical control.
Wild steelhead, bull trout & Dolly Varden are generally release fish
A specific water can provide an exception, so use the exact waterbody rule rather than assuming statewide release is the only possible regulation.
Salmon and steelhead do not use exactly the same “wild” definition
Hatchery-marked salmon
For Washington’s wild-salmon definition, a salmon with a clipped adipose fin and healed scar is not considered wild.
Intact adipose fin
Washington defines wild Chinook, coho, chum, pink or sockeye as salmon with an unclipped adipose fin.
A release-only fish may also have to remain in the water
Freshwater
Except for the specified lower Columbia River section, salmon, steelhead, Dolly Varden and bull trout may not be totally removed from the water when retention is unlawful or when the angler subsequently releases the fish.
Marine Areas 5–13
A wild salmon, or a salmon species that may not be retained, may not be brought aboard the vessel.
“Aboard” means inside the vessel’s gunnel for this rule.
“Landlocked salmon rules apply” changes the paperwork
For salmon in waters specifically designated under landlocked-salmon rules.
Landlocked salmon and trout count toward the trout limit.
Washington defines “adult salmon” by species and length
Freshwater statewide definition.
Classified as adult salmon under this statewide rule.
Salmon possession
The statewide salmon possession limit may not exceed the equivalent of two daily limits in fresh form.
WAC also allows an additional 40 pounds in frozen or processed form.
Adult portion reached?
Where adults are part of the daily salmon limit, it is unlawful to continue fishing for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.
Record the catch immediately — not back at the ramp
Washington uses paper and approved electronic Catch Record Cards for applicable salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and Puget Sound Dungeness crab fisheries.
First confirm that retention is legal.
Do not wait until the end of the trip.
Use the correct water/catch-area code.
Paper entries must be made in ink.
Fin mark, fish length, vessel type or crab tally depending on species.
What extra field belongs on each catch?
| Catch | Base entry | Extra information |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon | Place + date + species | Record whether the adipose fin was clipped. |
| Steelhead | Place + date + species | Follow the applicable steelhead card / fishery instructions. |
| Sturgeon | Place + date + species | Fish length. |
| Halibut | Place + date + species | Vessel type. |
| Puget Sound Dungeness crab | Area + date | Tally retained crab and enter the fishery total at day’s end. |
Electronic Catch Record Cards can save entries without cell service
Confirm correct license privileges and eCRC before fishing.
Make sure the fish is legal first.
Use WDFW’s authorized mobile application.
Store the catch information offline.
The stored report can transmit when connectivity returns.
Do not expect the old waterproof WDFW license stock
Current paper format
WDFW license dealers and offices can print license products, including Catch Record Cards, on standard 8.5 × 11-inch copy paper.
Practical boat tip
If you choose paper, protect the document from rain, spray and a wet boat deck while keeping the catch card accessible for immediate entry.
Salmon or steelhead in covered Columbia waters can require the CRSSE
Three numbers to know before fishing Washington saltwater
Except for forage-fish jigger gear, squid jig gear and the specific north-jetty Columbia exception.
Barbed hooks are prohibited for all species except qualifying forage-fish jigger gear.
Salmon fishing requires single-point barbless hooks.
Sturgeon fishing also requires one single-point barbless hook.
Your Marine Area number is part of the regulation
“Area 10 is open” still does not tell you what salmon you may retain
Late-summer halibut schedule — quota can still close it early
Marine Area 2
South Coast late season is scheduled Aug. 8–Sep. 30, seven days per week.
Check quota status before launch.
Marine Areas 3–4
North Coast late season is scheduled Aug. 16–Sep. 30, subject to available quota.
Strait / Puget Sound
Areas 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 10 are scheduled for Aug. 16–Sep. 30 late-season opportunity.
Areas 1–13: descending device must be aboard and ready
Bottomfish or halibut from the applicable marine areas.
Ready for immediate use.
Capable of rapidly returning rockfish to capture depth.
Marine Area 7 North’s scheduled 2026 season starts Aug. 15
Puget Sound crab paperwork
- Correct recreational fishing combination or Shellfish/Seaweed privilege when required.
- Puget Sound Crab Endorsement.
- Puget Sound Dungeness crab Catch Record Card.
- Immediately tally retained crab by catch area.
- Complete the required daily total.
- Do not leave gear soaking through a closed day or closure.
Legally open does not automatically mean safe to eat
Is harvesting legal?
Check species, beach/Marine Area, season, size, sex, limit, gear and license.
Is the shellfish safe?
Check the Washington Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map for biotoxin or pollution closures on the day of harvest.
Biotoxin hotline: 1-800-562-5632Washington’s June 6–7, 2026 free weekend did not make every fishery license-free
Waivers can apply
Free Fishing Weekend waives ordinary fishing-license requirements for many included fisheries.
WDFW also waives items such as the Vehicle Access Pass requirement and Two-Pole Endorsement for qualifying waters during the event.
CRC species are not simply free
WDFW says licenses remain required to fish for or harvest salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and other fish/shellfish requiring a Catch Record Card.
Normal seasons, size limits and daily limits continue to apply.
The 2026 weekend has passed. WDFW currently lists the next Free Fishing Weekend as June 12–13, 2027.
Current Washington fishing-license price anchors
WDFW says all fishers age 16 and older generally need a fishing license. Age 15 has special reduced-price product/endorsement treatment in some parts of the licensing system.
Current WDFW resident listing.
With an annual license.
Standard CRC; halibut card fee can differ with annual products.
Current WDFW annual-product listing.
Standard age 16+ price.
For the complete fee and buying workflow, read Washington Fishing License Cost: WDFW Online, App & Fees .
Visiting from another state? Washington Non-Resident Fishing License: Cost & Rules .
A temporary emailed license does not create a temporary Catch Record Card
License order by phone / online
WDFW can provide temporary license proof in qualifying situations while mailed products are in transit.
Need CRC access immediately?
WDFW states that there are no temporary Catch Record Cards or tags. Use the approved mobile/eCRC route or obtain the proper product through a license dealer when immediate card access is required.
Vehicle Access Pass vs. Discover Pass
Vehicle Access Pass
Included with qualifying annual WDFW fishing licenses.
It provides vehicle-access coverage on WDFW-managed recreation land and water-access sites.
VDiscover Pass
Used across participating WDFW, Washington State Parks and Department of Natural Resources lands.
Check the managing agency and access-site signage before parking.
DClean, Drain, Dry before your next Washington water
Boats, kayaks, trailers, anchors, livewells, waders and wet fishing equipment can move invasive species between waters.
CLEAN
Remove plants, animals, mud and debris from the hull, trailer, anchor and fishing equipment.
DRAIN
Remove standing water from water-holding compartments and equipment as appropriate.
DRY
Dry watercraft and gear before entering another waterbody.
Five taps before the first cast
Update Fish Washington / MyWDFW before losing signal.
Find the exact lake, river section or Marine Area.
Read season, size, daily limit and release requirements.
Look for a newer WDFW rule change.
Confirm CRC, battery and reporting access.
Save this Washington regulation pack before leaving cell service
- Exact water: lake name, river boundaries or Marine Area.
- Target species: identify the fish before applying a limit.
- Season: verify the species is open on today’s date.
- Daily limit: include species and adult/hatchery sublimits.
- Size / mark: minimum, maximum, slot or fin-mark requirement.
- Gear: selective gear, barbless, anti-snagging, night closure, stationary gear or two-pole status.
- Bait: confirm whether bait/chumming is allowed.
- Emergency rule: check WDFW after reading the annual rule.
- Catch Record Card: paper or approved electronic card ready when required.
- Endorsements: Two-Pole, CRSSE or Puget Sound Crab where applicable.
- Marine release gear: carry required descending/recompression equipment.
- Parking: know whether Vehicle Access Pass or Discover Pass applies.
- Boat transfer: Clean, Drain, Dry before moving waters.
- Shellfish: separately check Washington DOH health status.
Washington mistakes this rebuilt guide is designed to prevent
Emergency rules can change it.
Find the exact Marine Area.
Freshwater salmon requires specific authorization.
Hook, barb, bait and landing-net rules are specific.
WDFW uses one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
Legal trout caught with bait can count.
Freshwater chumming needs a specific authorization.
The water must permit it.
Personal harvest normally cannot be taken for another angler.
Release-handling restrictions can prohibit it.
Required catch is recorded immediately.
Wild-steelhead definition differs from salmon.
Quota can close it early.
CRC species remain excluded from the ordinary waiver.
WDFW and WA Health answer different questions.
Check Vehicle Access vs Discover Pass.
Ask WDFW a question specific enough to get a useful answer
“I’m fishing [exact water / Marine Area] on [date] for [species]. I found the annual rule. Can you confirm whether an emergency rule changes the season, legal size, retention limit, fin-mark rule, gear restriction or Catch Record Card requirement?”
The answers are above — these links are for the final live check
This article intentionally brings useful regulation details into the page instead of sending anglers away to decode legal text. Use the sources below to confirm today’s final rule.
WDFW seasons, limits, gear and reporting questions
Which Washington fishing regulations are currently in effect?
The 2026–2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Current WDFW emergency rules can supersede the annual rule during the season.
Do WDFW emergency rules override the annual fishing regulations?
Yes. WDFW emergency fishing rules are in-season changes to the annual regulations. For example, an August 2026 emergency rule closed Marine Area 6 Chinook retention beginning August 13 even though the annual season framework extended through August 15.
Are Washington lakes open year-round?
The statewide game-fish baseline for lakes, ponds and reservoirs is generally year-round, but listed waters can have different seasons, closures, gear rules and species limits.
When are Washington rivers generally open for game fish?
The statewide baseline for rivers, streams and beaver ponds is the Saturday before Memorial Day through October 31. Many named rivers have different special seasons.
What is Washington’s lowland lake opening day?
Washington defines the opening day of lowland lake season as the fourth Saturday in April. A lake’s special regulation may use this phrase rather than giving a calendar date.
What is Washington’s statewide trout limit?
The statewide baseline is five trout from lakes, ponds and reservoirs. Rivers, streams and beaver ponds generally have a two-trout daily limit. Wild river trout generally have an 8-inch minimum and hatchery river trout have no statewide minimum. The combined daily trout limit remains five.
What is the Washington largemouth bass limit?
The statewide lake, pond and reservoir limit is five largemouth bass. Bass from 12 through 17 inches must be released, and no more than one largemouth bass 17 inches or longer may be retained.
What is Washington’s walleye limit?
The statewide lake, pond and reservoir limit is eight walleye. The minimum length is 12 inches and no more than one walleye greater than 22 inches may be retained. Water-specific regulations can differ.
What does selective gear mean in Washington?
Selective gear generally limits terminal tackle to artificial flies with single-point barbless hooks or lures with single-point barbless hooks. Bait is prohibited, up to three hooks may be used, and only knotless nets may be used to land fish.
What does a Washington night closure mean?
A night closure means fishing is closed from one hour after official sunset until one hour before official sunrise.
Can I chum in Washington freshwater?
Washington’s statewide rule generally prohibits chumming, broadcasting, feeding or distributing bait or another fish-attracting substance in freshwater unless a specific exception authorizes it.
Can I use live minnows for bait in Washington?
Live aquatic animals are generally prohibited as freshwater bait except for specific exceptions. These include certain non-fish aquatic animals collected from the water being fished, live sand shrimp and a limited lower-Columbia live-forage-fish exception.
Can I use two fishing poles in Washington?
Washington normally allows one line. A Two-Pole Endorsement can allow two lines on waters where two-pole fishing is authorized. The endorsement does not allow two poles on every river, lake or Marine Area.
Are barbless hooks required in Puget Sound?
Barbed hooks are prohibited for all species in Marine Areas 5 through 13 except qualifying forage-fish jigger gear. Salmon fishing in Marine Areas 1 through 13 requires single-point barbless hooks.
Do I need a Washington Catch Record Card for salmon?
A valid paper or electronic Catch Record Card is required when fishing for applicable anadromous salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and covered Puget Sound Dungeness crab. Retained catch must be recorded immediately.
What do I record for a retained Washington salmon?
Record the place, date and species and indicate whether the salmon had a clipped adipose fin. Sturgeon require fish length, halibut require vessel type and Puget Sound Dungeness crab require catch-area tally information.
Is an electronic Catch Record Card available in Washington in 2026?
Yes. WDFW’s approved mobile licensing system supports electronic Catch Record Cards for applicable salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and Puget Sound Dungeness crab fisheries. Entries can be stored offline and transmitted when connectivity returns.
Do I need a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement?
Beginning January 1, 2026, anglers age 15 and older need the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement when fishing for salmon or steelhead in the Columbia River and covered Washington tributaries.
What is Washington’s 2026 halibut limit?
In open Washington halibut fisheries, the daily limit is one, there is no minimum size and the annual limit is six. Halibut fisheries are quota managed and may close before the scheduled season end.
Is Washington Free Fishing Weekend license-free for salmon?
No. Free Fishing Weekend waives ordinary licensing requirements for many fisheries, but WDFW says licenses remain required for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut and other fish or shellfish requiring a Catch Record Card.
Is WDFW saying shellfish harvest is open enough to know it is safe to eat?
No. WDFW determines whether recreational harvest is legal. Washington Department of Health separately monitors recreational shellfish for biotoxin and pollution hazards. Check both agencies before harvesting shellfish for food.
Water → species → annual rule → emergency rule
That sequence is more reliable than memorizing a statewide bag limit. Washington fisheries are highly water-specific, and actively managed salmon, steelhead, halibut and shellfish opportunities can change after the annual regulation book is published.
Regulation research refreshed . Check WDFW again on the day of fishing for current emergency rules.