WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action: Closes retention of Chinook and changes coho daily limit to one (1). Clarifies chum retention rules and West Elliott Bay seasons. Species affected: Chinook and coho salmon. Effective dates, locations, and rules:  Marine Area 10, except Elliott Bay, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park Pier, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier): Immediately through Sept. 30, … Read more

Action: Opens white sturgeon retention in Lake Roosevelt. Effective dates: Sept. 16 through Nov. 30, 2023 Species affected: White Sturgeon. Location: Lake Roosevelt: From Grand Coulee Dam to the Canadian border (including the Spokane River from Highway 25 Bridge upstream to 400′ below Little Falls Dam, Colville River upstream to Meyers Falls Dam and the … Read more

Action: Closes retention of Chinook and changes coho daily limit to one (1). Species affected: Chinook and coho salmon. Effective dates and locations: Effective Aug. 4 through Oct. 31, 2023: Marine Area 10, except East Elliott Bay and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park Pier, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier). Effective Aug. 18 through Oct. … Read more

Action: Closes all fishing upstream of Highway US2 Bridge for the Skykomish River. Maintains previously announced Snohomish system closures. Species affected: All species. Effective dates and locations: Closed to all fishing beginning Aug. 2, 2023, until further notice: Skykomish River, from Highway US2 Bridge (above Big Eddy) to confluence of North and South forks. Currently closed … Read more

Action: Closes Chinook salmon retention. Opens daily for hatchery coho and pink salmon. Effective date: July 29 through July 31, 2023. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Rules: Salmon open daily. Daily limit is two. No minimum size. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho salmon. Reason for action: Catch estimates for the … Read more

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