What is legal to keep?

I had a long discussion with a guy off the Point yesterday as we trolled for Pinks. Do you guys know what we can keep with respect to Wild vs. Hatchery now? Pink, Coho, King...   I'm still getting used to the rules out here (only just moved here). Where I am from it is usually just based on size and season.

SALMON - ENTIRE AREA June 1-June 30 Catch-and-release. Open only north of a line from Point Monroe to Meadow Point.

July 1-July 15 No min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional PINK. Release CHINOOK. See Shilshole Bay Closure and Elliott Bay Closure on previous page. See Sinclair Inlet Fishery on previous page.

July 16-Aug. 31 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON - no min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional PINK. Release wild CHINOOK. Beginning Aug. 1 release CHUM.  See Shilshole Bay and Elliott Bay Fishery and Closures on previous page. See  Sinclair Inlet Fishery on previous page. Season may close earlier if CHINOOK guideline is attained.

Sept. 1-Sept. 30 No min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional PINK. Release CHINOOK.

Sept. 1-Sept. 15: release CHUM. See Duwamish Waterways Special Rules on previous page. See Sinclair Inlet Fishery on previous page.

Oct. 1-Jan. 31 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON species - no min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined). Release wild CHINOOK. See Agate Pass Area on previous page.  See Duwamish Waterways Special Rules on previous page. Season may close earlier if CHINOOK guideline is attained. 

Elliott Bay Fishery (see 8 on previous page for boundaries)
Aug. 16-Aug. 31 Fridays-Sundays only: No min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional PINK.
Release CHINOOK and CHUM. Bait prohibited and only one single-point barbless hook measuring ½" or less from point to shank may be used. 

Sinclair Inlet Fishery (see 9 on previous page for boundaries)
July 1-Sept. 30 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON species - no min. size. Daily limit 3 (combined) plus 1 additional PINK. Release wild CHINOOK. Aug. 1-Sept. 15: release CHUM. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Elliott Bay Fishing Pier at Terminal 86, Seacrest Pier, Waterman Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park Pier
Year-round CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON species - no min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined). Only 1 CHINOOK may be retained. July 1-Sept. 30: daily limit may
include 2 additional PINK. Aug. 1-Sept. 15: release CHUM.

Also, check the WDFW website before you go out.  They like to change the rules mid-season.

Remind me to never fish in Washington.

I find myself in the Reg book before most outings. . lots of rules and regs to keep straight in this skull O' mine.  Luckily, when I forget to check, I have a seasoned guy with me that can recite the book...

I find myself in the Reg book before most outings. . lots of rules and regs to keep straight in this skull O' mine.  Luckily, when I forget to check, I have a seasoned guy with me that can recite the book...

I usually keep an extra copy of the regs in my truck.  Each body of water has a different regulation and it's hard to keep track.

Ok I feel better. I thought maybe it was my public school upbringing that has caused me to consider these rules onerous and difficult to track! The gentleman I was kayaking with said you can keep pinks and coho even if wild, although it seems in the reg book that it states all salmon that are wild can not be kept. If there are different rules on wild vs. hatchery based on species type, I'm going to have to bring a cheat-sheet along in my kayak to help me ID the fish! 

So we can keep wild/hatchery pinks but only hatchery coho for Saturday? You guys are right about needing a lawyer to fish in WA

Yup, any pink, and hatchery Coho.  That's actually pretty simple compared to other areas.


Sent from my GD300

Yup, any pink, and hatchery Coho.  That's actually pretty simple compared to other areas.


Sent from my GD300

Umm ... where does it say to release wild coho?   

-Allen

Yup, any pink, and hatchery Coho.  That's actually pretty simple compared to other areas.


Sent from my GD300

Umm ... where does it say to release wild coho?   

-Allen

Glad to have your input. Im on 4 beers and 25 hours up and cant read straight. Thanks for pointing it out.

The regs that sumpNZ posted don't include the specifics about the Elliot bay and Duwamish fisheries, which you may be interested in during the next few weeks. 

4.  Duwamish Waterways Special Rules: a) Downstream of 1st Ave. South Bridge is part of Marine Area 10. Record SALMON caught here as Marine Area 10 on your catch record card. b) July 1-Aug. 31: CLOSED to fishing for SALMON. c) Sept. 1-Oct. 31: same rules as Area 10 Entire Area plus
the additional restrictions listed in this section. d) Nov. 1-June 30: same rules as Area 10 entire Area. e) Additional restrictions Sept. 1-Oct. 31: from the 1st Ave. South Bridge downstream to an east-west line through SW hanford St. on harbor Island (including waters at the Spokane St. Bridge) - night closure, unlawful to use forage fish jig gear, anti-snagging rule, and only salmon hooked inside the mouth may be retained.

8. Elliott Bay fishery and Closure: Waters of elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point CLOSED to salmon fishing July 1– Aug. 31, except open Fridays-Sundays from Aug. 16-Aug. 31 north of a line from Jack Block Park through the north tip of harbor Island. Bait prohibited and only one single-point barbless hook measuring ½" or less from point to shank may be used.

And if you're interested, there's also the Duwamish fresh water fishery that is south of the 1st Ave. South Bridge, opens a week earlier, and lets you retain more fish.

So the east and west water ways are closed to fishing until September 1st. All our fishing will be north of Jack Bloc and east of the Alki/ West Point line .....
Correct?

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

So the east and west water ways are closed to fishing until September 1st. All our fishing will be north of Jack Bloc and east of the Alki/ West Point line .....
Correct?

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

That's how I understand the regulations, anyway.  And we also can't fish in the immediate vicinity of the fishing pier, not that I expected anyone to be over there.

Remind me to never fish in Washington.

You know there are complicated regulations in other places not just Washington...Alaska and BC have some complex regulations too. I guess you shouldn't fish in those places either 

Seriously though its really not THAAAT bad.

It's not so much how complicated the regs are. It just seems like you don't get much time to retain any fish. That's my only issue. On that note...I'm going to go try for some salmon love on a couple of hours