WDFW Fishing Area Codes: Washington Area Code (WAC) Lookup

Washington Fishing Area Codes & Waterway Guide

Welcome to the FishingWA Waterway Guide. Find the official codes required for your Washington State catch record cards below. Waterways with a Blue Border are linked directly to our distribution reports, where you can view terrain maps, documented species, and peak run timing.

Search Waterways

Type a river name or code to filter the list. Tap any linked box to open the full biological distribution report.

Find by GPS

Click the GPS button below to identify your nearest Marine Area code based on your current location.

⚠️ STAY LEGAL: Documented fish distribution does not guarantee an open fishing season. You are required to have a valid Washington fishing license and MUST consult the current WDFW Sport Fishing Rules for specific season dates, gear restrictions, and emergency closures before heading out.

Puget Sound Region

710 California Creek 866 Canyon Creek 727 Capitol Lake 802 Carbon River 826 Cascade River 714 Chambers Creek 718 Clallam River 722 Curley Creek 724 Dakota Creek 726 Deep Creek 728 Deschutes River 732 Dewatto River 734 Dosewallips River 736 Duckabush River 738 Dungeness River 746 Green/Duwamish River 752 Hoko River 754 Kennedy Creek 763 Lake Sammamish 762 Lake Washington 766 Little Quilcene River 768 Lyre River 770 McAllister Creek 778 Minter Creek 782 Morse Creek 786 Nisqually River 794 Nooksack River 790 Nooksack (North Fork) 788 Nooksack (Middle Fork) 792 Nooksack (South Fork) 870 Pilchuck Creek 840 Pilchuck River 804 Puyallup River 810 Pysht River 812 Quilcene River 842 Raging River 814 Salt Creek 816 Samish River 828 Sauk River 818 Sekiu River 830 Skagit River 834 Skokomish River 844 Skykomish River 846 Skykomish (NF) 848 Skykomish (SF) 850 Snohomish River 852 Snoqualmie River 748 Soos Creek 876 Stillaguamish River 872 Stillaguamish (NF) 874 Stillaguamish (SF) 832 Suiattle River 854 Sultan River 878 Tahuya River 856 Tokul Creek 858 Tolt River 880 Union River 860 Wallace River 884 Whatcom Creek

Columbia River Region

501 Abernethy Creek 508 Big White Salmon River 507 Blue Creek 609 Cedar Creek 515 Chinook River 555 Cispus River 517 Coal Creek 519 Columbia River 521 Rocky Pt. to Longview Br. 523 Longview Br. to I-5 Br. 525 I-5 Br. to Bonneville Dam 527 Bonneville to The Dalles 529 The Dalles to John Day 531 John Day to McNary Dam 533 McNary to Hwy. 395 535 Hwy. 395 to Hanford 536 Hanford to Priest Rapids 537 Priest Rapids to Wanapum 539 Wanapum to Rock Island 541 Rock Island to Rocky Reach 543 Rocky Reach to Wells Dam 545 Wells to Chief Joseph 557 Coweeman River 561 Cowlitz River 580 Deep River 618 Drano Lake 583 Elochoman River 586 Entiat River 589 Germany Creek 592 Grande Ronde River 595 Grays River 596 Grays River, West Fork 565 Green River 598 Hamilton Creek 672 Icicle River 604 Kalama River 607 Klickitat River 567 Lacamas Creek 670 Lake Wenatchee 611 Lewis River 613 Lewis (East Fork) 615 Lewis (North Fork) 661 Little Washougal 621 Methow River 627 Okanogan River 640 Snake River 674 Wenatchee River 680 Wind River 690 Yakima River

Coastal Region

305 Bear River 386 Big River 398 Bogachiel River 400 Calawah River 317 Chehalis River 392 Clearwater River 402 Dickey River 350 Hoh River 358 Humptulips River 375 Naselle River 404 Quillayute River 406 Sol Duc River 424 Willapa River 337 Wynoochee River

Marine Area Codes

1 Ilwaco 2 Westport-Ocean Shores 2-1 Willapa Bay 2-2 Grays Harbor 3 LaPush 4 Neah Bay 5 Sekiu and Pillar Point 6 East Juan de Fuca Strait 7 San Juan Islands 8-1 Deception Pass / Skagit Bay 8-2 Ports Susan and Gardner 9 Admiralty Inlet 10 Seattle-Bremerton 11 Tacoma-Vashon Island 12 Hood Canal 13 South Puget Sound

Are you on the riverbank trying to fill out your Washington Catch Record Card (CRC)? Whether you just landed a limit of Skagit River Coho or a Columbia River Chinook, you need the correct WDFW Fishing Area Code to stay legal.

Recording your harvest accurately is a vital part of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut fishing in Washington. Use our searchable directory below to instantly find the three-digit code for any river, lake, or marine area in the state.

Searchable Fishing Code Directory

Use the search bar below to find your location by name (e.g., “Snoqualmie”) or by area number.

Why Do You Need a Catch Record Card (CRC)?

In Washington State, a Catch Record Card is required by the WDFW for all anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab. These cards are used by biologists to estimate harvest rates and manage future seasons.

Failure to record your catch immediately—or using the wrong fishing area code—can result in a fine. Our tool ensures you have the exact code for the specific section of water you are fishing.

Tips for Reporting Your Catch

To ensure your data is accurate and you avoid issues with WDFW enforcement, follow these best practices:

Use a Ballpoint Pen: Entries must be made in ink. Pencils can smudge and may lead to a citation.
Record Immediately: You are required to record your catch as soon as the fish is retained. Do not wait until you get back to the truck or the boat launch.
Check the Boundaries: Many rivers, like the Columbia and Snohomish, have different codes for different sections. Always check the river miles or landmarks listed in our directory.
Return Your Card: Even if you didn’t catch anything, you must return your card to WDFW by the deadline printed on the card.

Washington Fishing Regions

Our directory is organized into the four primary fishing regions in Washington:

Puget Sound Region: Including the Skykomish, Stillaguamish, and Nooksack systems.
Columbia River Region: Spanning from Buoy 10 up to the Canadian border, including the Snake and Yakima rivers.
Coastal Region: Home to the legendary Olympic Peninsula rivers like the Hoh, Bogachiel, and Sol Duc.
Marine Area Codes: Saltwater codes for Areas 1 through 13.

Need More Info?

For specific bag limits, seasonal closures, and emergency rule changes, always consult the current WDFW Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet or the MyWDFW mobile app.

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