WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action:  Opens coastal salmon fisheries Effective date:  June 24 through Sept. 30, 2023 Species affected:  Salmon Location:  Marine Area 2 Rules: 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.  Additional information:  Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) and the … Read more

Action:  Opens coastal salmon fisheries Effective date:  June 24 through Sept. 30, 2023 Species affected:  Salmon Location:  Marine Area 1 Rules: 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. Additional information:  The catch quotas for recreational fisheries … Read more

Action:  Sets summer season regulations downstream of Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco. Species affected:  Salmon and steelhead. Effective Date:  June 16 through July 31, 2023 Locations, dates, and rules:   From the Megler-Astoria Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam: June 16 through July 31:  Salmon and steelhead:  Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may … Read more

Action:  Sets summer season regulations in the Hanford Reach. Species affected: Salmon.  Locations, dates, and rules:  From Columbia Point (1/3 mile downstream of I-182 Bridge at Richland) to I-182 Bridge at Richland: June 16 through June 30, 2023:  Salmon:  Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adult salmon may be retained. Release wild adult … Read more

Action:  Adds dates for recreational halibut seasons in Marine areas 1, 3, and 4.  Allows halibut legally retained in Area 5 to be landed in Marine Area 4 on days Area 4 is closed to halibut fishing. Effective dates:  Adds the following days to Marine Area 1:  June 13 and 20, 2023. Adds the following … Read more

Action:  Closes all salmon and steelhead fisheries below Bonneville Dam. Species affected:  Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead Location:  Columbia River, from Rocky Point/Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam. Effective date:  June 1 through June 15, 2023 Rules:  Salmon and steelhead:  Closed  Reason for action:  Updated runsize estimates have lowered the upriver spring Chinook salmon runsize to … Read more

Action:  Returns salmon and hatchery steelhead seasons to permanent rules as listed in the 2022/23 Washington Sportfishing rules pamphlet. Species affected:  Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead Effective date:  June 1, 2023, until further notice. Location:  Deep River (Wahkiakum Co.) Rules (as listed in rules pamphlet):  Hatchery steelhead:  Min. size 20″. Daily limit 3. Salmon:  Min. size … Read more

Recreational shrimp fisheries for all shrimp including spot shrimp are open in many Marine Areas Action: An additional day of recreational spot shrimp fishing will be offered in Marine Area 11 on June 9, and Marine Areas 9 and 13 open for non-spot shrimp fishing on June 1. Effective dates by marine area: Marine Area … Read more

Action: Opens retention of hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead. Species affected: Chinook salmon and steelhead; all species (see below, bank fishing only). Effective dates and locations: Salmon: From the mouth to Colvin Creek: May 25 to July 31, 2023: Min. size 12″. Daily limit 6; up to 1 adult may be retained. Release all salmon … Read more

Action: Opens a portion of the Cascade River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook Wednesdays through Saturdays. Effective date: June 1 through July 15, 2023. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Cascade River (Skagit Co.) from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. CRC (826). Rules: Open for salmon Wednesdays through Saturdays only, closed to all other species. Daily limit 4 hatchery … Read more