WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action:  Temporarily closes all angling for sturgeon. Effective date:  Sat. July 29 through Friday Sept. 15, 2023 Species affected:  White Sturgeon Location:  The Columbia River from The Dalles Dam upstream to Priest Rapids Dam Reason for action:  To minimize stress to adult sturgeon, the department is temporarily closing catch-and-release fishing in all areas from The Dalles … Read more

Action: Opens coastal salmon fisheries. Effective date: Immediately, through Sept. 30, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 2. Effective Dates and Rules: Immediately through July 27, 2023: Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Chinook min. size 22″. Coho min. size 16″. Other salmon species no min. size. Release wild coho. July … Read more

Action: Removes daily limits and size restrictions for gamefish and opens Williams Lake to fishing. Effective date: Aug. 1-Oct. 1, 2023 Species affected: All game fish. Locations: Williams Lake (Stevens County) and June, North Windmill, and North North Windmill lakes (Grant County) Reason for action:  These lakes are scheduled for rehabilitation using rotenone to eradicate undesirable fish … Read more

Wenatchee River salmon fishery update Action: Opens sockeye retention. Effective date: One hour before official sunrise Monday, Aug. 1 to one hour after official sunset Friday, Sept. 30, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Wenatchee River (Chelan County) from the mouth to the Icicle Road Bridge. Rules: Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit six, including no more than … Read more

Action: Opens salmon seasons for two additional days. Effective date: July 28 through July 29, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), see exceptions in additional information, below. Rule: Salmon open Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29 only. Daily limit is two, including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Chinook … Read more

Action:  Opens the following all-depth halibut days in Marine areas 1 and 2:  August 26 and 27, and September 8, 9, and 22, 2023. Opens the following days in Marine areas 3 through 10:  August 17 through September 30, 2023. (Open 7 days/wk.) Allows halibut legally retained in Area 5 to be landed in Marine … Read more

Chinook salmon retention limit change in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) Action: Changes retention limit to two Chinook salmon daily. Effective date: July 21 through Aug. 15, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point). Rule: Daily limit is two. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species … Read more

Action: Opens salmon seasons for one additional day. Effective date: July 21, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 7 (See exceptions in Addition information, below.) Rule: Salmon open Friday, July 21st only. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 hatchery Chinook. Chinook min. size 22″. Other salmon, no min. size.  Release wild Chinook, … Read more

Action: Opens sockeye retention. Effective date: One hour before official sunrise July 26, to one hour after official sunset Aug. 31, 2023. Species affected: Sockeye salmon. Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan Co.) (Catch Record Card Code 670). Rules: Daily limit 4 sockeye. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all Bull Trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon unharmed and without removing the … Read more

Action: Extends the upstream salmon fishing boundary to the Mad River Road Bridge. Effective date: One hour before official sunrise Aug. 1, to one hour after official sunset on Sept. 30, 2023. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Entiat River (Chelan County); from the mouth (railroad bridge) to Mad River Rd. Bridge (near Ardenvoir). (Catch Record Card … Read more