WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Actions:  Updates single point barbless hook requirements for month of Dec. Maintains previously announced release requirements for wild trout. Maintains previously announced game fish (including trout and steelhead) season closing dates. Maintains previously announced game fish (including trout and steelhead) gear restrictions. Maintains previously announced steelhead daily limits. Effective dates: Dec. 3, 2025–April 30, 2026. Species … 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) 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