WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

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

Actions:   Opens 1 day (limited hours) of spot shrimp fishing in Discovery Bay Opens additional dates for spot shrimp harvest in a portion of Marine Area 7 South (see map) Opens additional dates for spot shrimp harvest in Marine Area 7 West Opens 1 day (limited hours) of spot shrimp fishing in Marine Areas … Read more

Action: Closes all fishing. Adds South Fork Skykomish, above Sunset Falls to other Snohomish system closures. Species affected: All species. Effective dates: Immediately, until further notice. Locations closed to all fishing: Snohomish River, from mouth upstream; Snoqualmie River, from mouth to Snoqualmie Falls; Skykomish River, from mouth to Hwy US2 bridge (above Big Eddy); Skykomish … Read more

Action: Closes all fishing. Effective dates: Immediately through July 14, 2023. Species affected: All species. Location: Skagit River (Skagit County) from the Highway 9 Bridge in Sedro Woolley to the mouth of the Baker River. Reason for action: This area of the Skagit River is closed to avoid gear conflicts during scheduled treaty fisheries. Additional information: Anglers are … Read more

Action: Raises daily sockeye limit.           Effective date: Immediately through Aug. 31, 2023. Species affected: Sockeye. Location: Baker Lake (Whatcom County): Catch Record Card Code 825.   Rules: Raises daily limit to five sockeye. Minimum size is 18 inches. Two poles allowed with the Two Pole Endorsement. Each angler aboard a vessel may deploy salmon angling … Read more

Action: Closes salmon fishing. Effective date: July 15, 2023, until further notice. Species affected: All salmon. Location: Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island). Reason for action: Salmon fishing is being temporarily suspended because the sublegal encounter limit has reached 83% (3,209 of 3,845) of what was agreed to in this year’s List of Agreed Fisheries (LOAF). Feedback from Puget Sound … Read more