WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Actions:   Updates wild trout release requirements. Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates. Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) gear restrictions. Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 15, 2026. Species affected: All species. Locations, specific dates, and rule changes (shows all changes to rules listed in 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet): Bear River (Pacific County), … Read more

Actions:   Updates wild trout release requirements. Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates. Updates game fish (including trout and steelhead) bait restrictions. Updates steelhead daily limits. Effective dates: Dec. 1, 2025–April 30, 2026.  Species affected: All species. Locations, specific dates, and rule changes (shows all changes to rules listed in 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet): … Read more

Action: Closes planned Wenatchee River salmon season. Effective dates: Aug. 1 through Sept. 30, 2024. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Wenatchee River (Chelan County) from mouth to the Icicle Road Bridge crossing the Wenatchee River (near Leavenworth). Reason for action: The current and projected hatchery and natural-origin summer Chinook return to the Wenatchee River is below what is needed to … Read more

Action: Opens the salmon season for one additional day. Effective date: July 26, 2024.  Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 7, except: Bellingham Bay and areas listed as closed year-round for salmon in the in the 2024/25 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet remain closed. Rule: Open Friday July 26 only. Salmon daily limit is two including no more than one hatchery … Read more

Action: Opens the salmon season for one additional day. Effective date: July 26, 2024.  Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) except Bellingham Bay and areas listed as closed year-round for salmon in the 2024-25 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet remain closed. Rule: Open Friday July 26 only. Salmon daily limit is one. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. … Read more

Action: Closes retention and possession of copper, quillback, and vermillion rockfish. Effective dates: Aug. 1 through Oct. 19, 2024. Species affected: Copper, quillback, and vermillion rockfish. Location: Marine Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line). Rule: Copper, quillback, and vermillion rockfish may not be retained or possessed. Reason for action: Preliminary in-season estimates through mid-July indicate total … Read more

Action: Opens three additional days of salmon fishing in most of Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island). Reduces Chinook portion of the daily limit to one fish, through September. Effective date: July 25 through Sept. 30, 2024. Species affected: Salmon. Effective dates, locations, and rules: Marine Area 11, except waters of Commencement Bay east of a line bearing 215° true … Read more

Action: Opens salmon fishing. Effective date: July 25 through July 27, 2024. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 10, except: Shilshole Bay and Waters of Elliot Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point remain closed to salmon fishing. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest … Read more

Action: Extends Skagit River sockeye fishery.   Effective date: Immediately through July 31, 2024. Species affected: Sockeye salmon. Location: Skagit River, from the Highway 536 bridge (Memorial Highway Bridge) in Mt. Vernon to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete. Rules: Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit four sockeye. Release all salmon other than sockeye. Night closure in effect. Selective gear … Read more

Action: Opens late season all-depth recreational halibut fisheries beginning Aug. 16. Raises annual halibut limit to six (6). Effective dates: Immediately through Sept. 30, 2024. Species affected: Pacific halibut. Locations and specific open dates: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco/Chinook): The all-depth fishery opens Aug. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31; Sept. 1, 2, 3, 5, … Read more