WA Fishing Regulations Introduction

I wrote this for a guy moving from Hawai'i to Whidbey Island in August.  He has been spoiled in HI because one does not need a fishing license to fish recreationally in the islands, though that will be changing soon.

Perhaps other newbies will find it useful.  We may want to expand it and turn it into a sticky.

Yes, the WA State fishing regulations are complicated.  Here is a link to the WA state Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW).   http://wdfw.wa.gov/

Click on the link on the top left, "Fishing & Shellfishing".  On the top right of the next page is a link to buying your license on line.  You can buy them at any time of year and with a printer you can start fishing immediately on a tempory license.  Fishing years run April to April.  When you get ready to buy your license let me know and I'll tell you what endorsements to get.  Any day now the new "2010-2011 Sport Fishing Regulation Pamphlet" will be published.  Download the 2009-2010 to get an idea of the structure of the regulations.  The link is at the bottom middle of the page. 

The State of Washington requires you to give them your social security number to get a fishing/hunting license.  Ostensibly this is to comply with Federal Deadbeat Parent laws.  If you purchase your license in person from a retail location you will have to give your social security number to a clerk.  If you buy it online you won't.  Buy it online. 

There are basic freshwater and saltwater regulations and there are "Special" and "Emergency" freshwater and saltwater regulations.  The "Emergency rules" CAN AND DO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.  You should subscribe to the WDFW rule changes email motice.  You can subscribe here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/   You definitely want to subscribe to the "WDFW Regulation Updates", and you may want to subscribe to "WDFW News Releases & Weekender Report".  The rest are up to indivdiual interests. 

Freshwater: 
Besides the basic statewide regulations there may be special "Westside" and "Eastside" regulations.  "West" and "East" refer to the Cascade Mountains as the north-south running dividing line.  Every lake and river in the state has the potential to have special regulations assigned to it.  Species, seasons timings, and catch limits can vary from location to location.  In the 2009-2010 regulations pamphlet there were:

 1 page  of "Statewide General Rules"
 2 pages of "Statewide Freshwater Rules"
25 pages of "Westside Rivers - Special Rules"
9  pages of "Westside Lakes - Special Rules"
17 pages of "Eastside Rivers - Special Rules"
10 pages of "Eastside Lakes - Special Rules"

Obviously one can not remember it all.  The key is to understand the general rules, then memorize any special rules for the location(s) you will be fishing.  Emergency Rules are VERY important as specific species limits and season closings CAN AND DO CHANGE at any time.  Most are catch quota based, so when the WDFW decidse the quota has been reached the season on the species at the location is closed.  You can by a Freshwater second rod endorsement, allowing a single fisherman to work two rods in freshwater.

Saltwater:
Again, there are General Rules, and Special and Emergency rules.  The state is divided into 13 major "Marine Areas" (1 to 13) and a number of minor areas (2-1, 2-2, 8-1, 8-2).  All told there are 16 Marine Areas.  Interestingly, though irrelevantly, while there are Marine Areas, 2, 2-1, and 2-2, and there are Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2, there is no Marine Area 8.  Go figure.  Whidbey Island borders 4 different Marine Areas.  The state does a good job of defining the Marine Areas, and each has about 2 pages of Regulations.  They do not vary wildly, but they do differ.  Read them for the area you are fishing.

For example the Marine Area in which I fish most is MA10.  There are 8 different seasons listed for salmon, and listings for the rest of the species, trout, sturgeon, albacore tuna/mackerel, herring/smelt/anchovy/sardine/sandlice, halibut, bottomfish (lingcod, surfperch, rockfish, cod/pollock/hake/wolf-eel/sixgill shark, cabezon, and "ALL OTHER FISH".

Then of course, there are "Shellfish/Seaweed Rules".  These include rules for crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters, and seaweed.  These vary greatly by location and there are 12 pages of Special Rules varying by location, species, and gear.

My 2010-2011 Fishing license cost me about $52 and is good for fresh and salt water, includes all species plus crab.

Great job on this Demonik!  It's a fantastic primer.

You know, I always have considered Oregon's regs to be complex.  In fact, it's been determined they are the third most difficult.  But I think Washington's are much tougher.  Pretty much need to be an attorney and a mapmatician to understand them and know where they're talking about.

I've considered getting a WA non-resident for years but the complexities are getting ridiculous everywhere.  I can just see myself getting nailed.  Where do I sign up for the next Fishing Regs 101!