PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 07-16-134.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 220-16-320 General definitions -- Fish length, 220-56-105 River mouth definitions, 220-56-100 Definitions -- Personal use fishing, 220-56-175 Catch record cards, 220-56-282 Sturgeon -- Areas, seasons, limits and unlawful acts, 220-56-310 Shellfish -- Daily limits, 220-56-315 Crab, shrimp, crawfish -- Unlawful acts, 220-56-320 Shellfish gear -- Unlawful acts, 220-56-350 Clams other than razor clams, mussels -- Areas and seasons, 220-56-380 Oysters -- Areas and seasons, 220-56-510 Game fish possession limits and size limits, 232-12-168 Fishing contests, and 232-28-619 Washington food fish and game fish -- Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules. Sport fishing rules.
Hearing Location(s): Campbell's Resort and Conference Center, 104 West Woodin Avenue, Chelan, WA 98816, on November 2-3, 2007, at 8:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: On or after February 1, 2008.
Submit Written Comments to: Lori Preuss, Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail preuslmp@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by November 1, 2007.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager, TTY (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: WAC 220-16-320, a definition of "fork length" is added to the general definition of fish length. Fork length will be used to measure sturgeon, which have a cyclic tail that does not lend itself to conventional length measurement.
Subsection (2) A new "anti-snagging rule" is defined as restricting terminal gear to one single-pointed hook. Anglers may only retain fish hooked inside the mouth, and a night closure is in effect. This rule will be applied in place of the nonbuoyant lure rule in areas where anglers are attempting to snag fish.
Subsection (5) The term "bass" is defined as largemouth and smallmouth bass. This will make it clear that rock bass and striped bass are not included in the rules for "bass."
Subsection (19) The term "nonbuoyant lure restriction" has been deleted and will be replaced in the rule by the new anti-snagging rule described above. The nonbuoyant lure rule is very complex. The new rule will be easier for anglers to understand and for officers to enforce.
WAC 220-56-105, the mouth of the Nisqually River at the upstream end of Alder Lake is defined as the Highway 7 Bridge at Elbe. This will help anglers to distinguish between the lake and the river at all flow levels. Different rules apply in the lake than those in the river.
WAC 220-56-175, anglers may purchase a second catch record card for hatchery steelhead. A second card is invalid for wild steelhead.
WAC 220-56-282, sturgeon size limits are described in terms of fork length instead of total length.
WAC 220-56-310, this change would completely remove the minimum carapace size requirement for spot shrimp.
WAC 220-56-315, anglers may use up to five units of gear while fishing for crayfish in fresh water.
WAC 220-56-320, this proposed rule would make universal the requirement to use large mesh pots when fishing for spot shrimp in Puget Sound after June 1st. Shrimpers who are fishing after June 1st in areas closed to spot shrimp, but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, will still be able to use small mesh pots for the nonspot shrimp. The purpose of the rule is to reduce mortality on juvenile spot shrimp by requiring large mesh when fishing for spot shrimp, which minimizes the sorting of small spot shrimp at the boat.
WAC 220-56-350, sport clam seasons are closed year-round on additional public beaches in Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) Regions 4 and 6 that are polluted and therefore pose a human health risk to harvesters, according to the Washington department of health (DOH). This change is needed in order to carry out parts (2) and (3) of WDFW's tripartite legislative mandate (RCW 77.04.012): (1) Conserving the state's wildlife and food fish, game fish, and shellfish resources; (2) maintaining the economic well-being and stability of the state's fishing industry; and (3) enhancing and improving recreational and commercial fishing in the state.
The economic well-being and stability of the state's commercial aquaculture industry depends on a public perception that clams and oysters sold in the marketplace are safe to eat. This rule change strengthens our agency's ability to prevent the introduction of tainted shellfish into the commercial marketplace. For the same reason, this rule change enhances and improves the commercial shellfish aquaculture industry. This rule change also enhances recreational fishing by eliminating the current confusion among sport harvesters about the meaning of "closed" and "open." Beaches "closed" by DOH for pollution will also be closed by WDFW clam and oyster season regulations.
WAC 220-56-380, sport oyster seasons are closed year-round on additional public beaches in WDFW Regions 4 and 6 that are polluted and therefore pose a human health risk to harvesters, according to DOH. This change is needed in order to carry out parts (2) and (3) of WDFW's tripartite legislative mandate (RCW 77.04.012): (1) Conserving the state's wildlife and food fish, game fish, and shellfish resources; (2) maintaining the economic well-being and stability of the state's fishing industry; and (3) enhancing and improving recreational and commercial fishing in the state.
The economic well-being and stability of the state's commercial aquaculture industry depends on a public perception that clams and oysters sold in the marketplace are safe to eat. This rule change strengthens our agency's ability to prevent the introduction of tainted shellfish into the commercial marketplace. For the same reason, this rule change enhances and improves the commercial shellfish aquaculture industry. This rule change also enhances recreational fishing by eliminating the current confusion among sport harvesters about the meaning of "closed" and "open." Beaches "closed" by DOH for pollution will also be closed by WDFW clam and oyster season regulations.
WAC 220-56-510, separate daily limits are listed for largemouth and smallmouth bass. The current statewide bass rule that addresses both largemouth and smallmouth bass is only effective in management of largemouth bass, providing too much protection for smallmouth bass. The focus of increasing smallmouth bass harvest needs to be directed at fish less than 14 inches to avoid even greater increases in abundance of this smaller size group of smallmouth bass. A daily limit of one fish and minimum size of 48" is provided for tiger muskellunge, to allow a high quality fishery on these popular game fish.
WAC 232-12-168, fishing contests on tiger muskellunge (tiger muskies) are only allowed if no retention of muskies is allowed. Fish may be caught, measured, and photographed before being immediately released. Tournaments are only allowed on wild steelhead in areas and at times where it is lawful to retain wild steelhead. Due to the current spread of several deleterious aquatic invasive species throughout the country, rules for decontamination of tournament boats are expanded to include other aquatic invasive species in addition to zebra mussels. Tournament anglers are required to sign a decontamination statement, which must be submitted to the department as part of the tournament report.
WAC 232-28-619, modify exceptions to statewide rules. Change seasonal dates, and modify closed areas, daily limits, size limits, and gear restrictions. Nonbuoyant lure restrictions and night closures have been replaced by a new anti-snagging rule. New statewide daily limit for smallmouth bass incorporated.
Aberdeen Lake - only 2 trout over 15” may be retained.
Banks Lake - crappie daily limit of 10 fish, minimum size 9".
Bear River - closed waters above the Longview Fiber Bridge.
Big Quilcene River - selective gear rules added to lower river. Season in upper river section shortened to close October 31.
Big Tiffany Lake - bonus limit added for Eastern brook trout.
Black Lake renamed Spring Hill Reservoir.
Boulder Creek and tributaries - bonus limit added for Eastern brook trout.
Box Canyon Creek - dry lakebed specified as being included in the Closed waters area.
Bradley Lake - juvenile anglers only from May 15 through the last day of free fishing weekend to accommodate two special fishing events for juveniles.
Burley Creek - standard stream season of June 1 through October 31.
Cascade River: From the Rockport-Cascade Road upstream - selective gear rules and catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day.
Cedar River - anglers may keep other game fish species during the catch-and-release fishery for trout.
Chehalis River - from the High Bridge upstream - June 1 through April 15 season, selective gear rules and catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day.
Cispus River - anglers may keep other game fish species, and up to two hatchery steelhead during the catch-and-release fishery for trout.
Cle Elum Lake - bonus limit added for Lake Trout (Mackinaw).
Columbia Basin Hatchery Creek - trout daily limit lowered to three fish.
Columbia River - anti-snagging rule added from Rocky Reach Dam to Turtle Rock.
Cottonwood Creek - closed waters.
Cowlitz River - closed waters within a 100-foot radius of the new Cowlitz Trout Hatchery outfall structure, except anglers who permanently use a wheelchair may fish within posted markers when adjacent waters are open. From PUD signs on Peters Road to the mouth of the Muddy Fork and Ohanepecosh rivers - anglers may keep other game fish species, and up to two hatchery steelhead during the November 1 through May 31 catch-and-release fishery for trout.
Curley Creek - standard stream season of June 1 through October 31.
Dalton Lake - no more than two trout over 13" in length may be retained.
De Roux Creek - closed waters area added from the mouth to the USFS Trail #1392 (De Roux Cr. Trail) stream crossing (approximately one river mile).
Downs Lake - season opens March 1.
Dry Creek - closed waters upstream from the middle Waitsburg Road.
East Little Walla Walla River - closed waters.
Ellen Lake - catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained.
Failor Lake - no more than two trout over 13" in length may be retained.
Goodman Creek - anglers may not retain wild steelhead.
Grande Ronde River - daily limit for bass and channel catfish changed to match that of the adjoining Snake River.
Hatch Lake - catch-and-release for all game fish, except up to five rainbow trout may be retained.
Hoh River - season extended through April 30.
Hoquiam River - March 1 through 31, season closed.
Humptulips River - March 1 through 31 season added in mainstem from Highway 101 to forks and West Fork mouth to Donkey Creek - selective gear rules and catch-and-release.
Kalama River - timing and area of anti-snagging rule and night closure adjusted.
Lake Creek - from Black Lake to Three Prong Creek - Closed waters.
Liberty Lake - season opens March 1.
Little Quilcene River - standard stream season of June 1 through October 31 - catch-and-release and selective gear rules from mouth to Little Quilcene River Bridge on Penny Creek Road.
Little Twin Lake - Last Saturday in April through October 31 season. Trout daily limit one.
Long Lake (Spokane River Reservoir) - year-round season.
Mashel River - catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day. Selective gear rules.
Medical Lake - March 1 through October 31 season.
Mill Creek - June 1 through March 31 season.
Mill Pond - holders of a senior license may fish along with juveniles.
Munn Lake - additional season March 1 through the last Friday in April - catch-and-release and selective gear rules.
Nisqually River - between the tank crossing and LaGrande dam - catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day. Selective gear rules.
North Creek - Closed waters from the mouth to falls at river mile 0.8.
Pampa Pond - no more than two trout over 13" in length may be retained.
Prices Lake - year-round season.
Rock Creek - mouth to ACE Park: Year-round season; same rules as adjacent area of Columbia River.
Roosevelt Lake - closed waters from the Coulee Dam National Recreation Area boundary downstream of Onion Creek to the Canadian border March 1 through May 31.
Sauk River - Selective gear rules and catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained.
Silvernail Lake - name changed to Silver Nail Lake.
Skagit River - from the Cascade River to Gorge Powerhouse - selective gear rules and catch-and-release, except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained.
Spokane River - from the upstream boundary of the Plese Flats Day Use Area to Monroe Street Dam - June 1 through March 15 season.
Sprague Lake - Trout: No more than 2 over 20" in length. Combined daily limit of 25 crappie and bluegill. Crappie minimum size 9". Walleye: Statewide daily and size limits.
Sylvia Lake - no more than two trout over 13" in length may be retained per day.
Teal Lake - year-round season. Trout daily limit one fish.
Teanaway River - release all trout.
N.F. Teanaway River - mouth to Beverly Creek, including tributaries - selective gear rules and release all trout. Beverly Creek to impassable waterfall - closed waters.
Tieton River - dry lakebed specified as being included in the closed waters area.
S.F. Tieton River - closed waters area adjusted to between bridge on USFS Road 1200 to the bridge on USFS Road 1070.
Touchet River - additional season from mouth to confluence of the north and south forks ends March 31.
Tucannon River - additional season from mouth to Tucannon Hatchery Bridge ends March 31.
Vance Creek Ponds 1&2: No more than two trout over 15" in length may be retained per day.
Walla Walla River: No daily limit for channel catfish. Additional season from Touchet River upstream ends March 31.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See Purpose above.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Washington department of fish and wildlife, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Patricia Michael, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, (360) 902-2628; Implementation: Lew Atkins, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, (360) 902-2651; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, (360) 902-2373.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules affect recreational fishers. There is no direct regulation of small businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These proposals do not affect hydraulics.
September 19, 2007
Loreva M. Preuss
Rules Coordinator
OTS-1070.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 817, filed 5/29/69)
WAC 220-16-320
General definitions -- Fish length
measurement.
The length of a fish, unless otherwise provided,
is defined as the shortest distance between the extreme tip of
the tail and extreme tip of the snout or jaw, whichever
extends the farthest, measured while the fish is lying in a
prone and normal position, except:
The term "fork length" means the distance from the extreme tip of the snout to the center of the fork of the tail.
[Order 817, § 220-16-320, filed 5/29/69. Formerly WAC 220-16-030 (part).]
OTS-1071.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 06-135, filed 6/13/06,
effective 7/14/06)
WAC 220-56-100
Definitions -- Personal-use fishing.
The
following definitions apply to personal use fishing in Titles
220 and 232 WAC:
(1) "Anadromous game fish" means steelhead, searun cutthroat trout, and searun Dolly Varden/bull trout.
(2) "Anti-snagging rule" means terminal gear is restricted to one single-pointed hook. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Night closure is in effect.
(3) "Bait" means any substance which attracts fish by scent or flavors. Bait includes any lure which uses scent or flavoring to attract fish.
(((3))) (4) "Barbless hook" means a hook on which all
barbs have been deleted when manufactured or filed off or
pinched down.
(((4))) (5) "Bass" means largemouth and smallmouth bass.
(6) "Bow and arrow fishing" means any method of taking, or attempting to take, fish by the use of an arrow equipped with a barbed head and a line attached, and propelled by a bow, as in the sport of archery, while the fisher is above the surface of the water.
(((5))) (7) "Buoy 10 line" means a true north-south line
projected through Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia River. "Buoy 10 fishery" means a fishery between a line in the
Columbia River from Tongue Point in Oregon to Rocky Point in
Washington and the Buoy 10 line.
(((6))) (8) "Channel Marker 13 line" means a true
north-south line through Grays Harbor Channel Marker 13.
(((7))) (9) "Daily limit" means the maximum number or
pounds of fish, shellfish, or seaweed of the required size of
a given species or aggregate of species which a person may
retain in a single day.
(((8))) (10) "Fresh" means fish or shellfish that are
refrigerated, iced, salted, or surface glazed.
(((9))) (11) "Freshwater area" means:
(a) Within any freshwater river, lake, stream or pond.
(b) On the bank or within 10 yards of any freshwater river, lake, stream or pond.
(c) On or within any boat launch, ramp, or parking facility associated with any freshwater river, lake, stream or pond.
(((10))) (12) "Frozen" means fish or shellfish that are
hard frozen throughout.
(((11))) (13) "Gaffing" means an effort to take fish by
impaling the fish with a hook attached directly to a pole or
other device.
(((12))) (14) "Hatchery" when used to describe the
difference between a hatchery fish and a nonhatchery fish,
except salmon, means a fish having a clipped adipose fin or a
clipped ventral fin with a healed scar at the location of the
clipped fin. A hatchery salmon is a salmon having a clipped
adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the clipped
fin, regardless of whether the fish is missing a ventral fin.
(((13))) (15) "Hook" means one single point, double or
treble hook. A "single point hook" means a hook having only
one point. A "double hook" means a hook having two points on
a common shank. A "treble hook" means a hook having three
points on a common shank.
(((14))) (16) "Hook and line" or "angling" shall be
identical in meaning and, except as provided in WAC 220-56-115, shall be defined as the use of not more than one
line with three hooks attached to a pole held in hand while
landing fish, or the use of a hand operated line without rod
or reel, to which may be attached not more than three hooks. When fishing for bottom fish, "angling" and "jigging" shall be
identical in meaning.
(((15))) (17) "In the field or in transit" means at any
place other than at the ordinary residence of the harvester. An ordinary residence is a residential dwelling where a person
normally lives, with associated features such as address,
telephone number, utility account, etc. A motor home or
camper parked at a campsite or a vessel are not considered to
be an ordinary residence.
(((16))) (18) "Juvenile" means a person under fifteen
year of age.
(((17))) (19) "Lure" means a manufactured article
constructed of feathers, hair, fiber, wood, metal, glass,
cork, leather, rubber or plastic which does not use scent or
flavoring to attract fish. "Nonbuoyant lure" means a lure
complete with hooks, swivels or other attachments, which does
not float in freshwater.
(((18))) (20) "Night closure" means closed to fishing
from one hour after official sunset to one hour before
official sunrise.
(((19) "Nonbuoyant lure restriction" means nonbuoyant
lures, defined as lures with hooks and attachments (eyes,
swivels, etc.), that do not have enough buoyancy to float in
freshwater, may have only one single hook measuring not more
than 3/4 inch point to shank. No weights may be attached
below or less than twelve inches above a buoyant lure defined
as a lure with hooks and attachments that has enough buoyancy
to float in freshwater, and all hooks must be attached to or
no more than three inches below a buoyant lure or within three
inches of bait or a nonbuoyant lure. No hook may be attached
to the line above a buoyant lure.
(20))) (21) "Possession limit" means the number of daily limits allowed to be retained in the field or in transit.
(((21))) (22) "Processed" means fish or shellfish which
have been processed by heat for human consumption as kippered,
smoked, boiled, or canned.
(((22))) (23) "Steelhead license year limit" means the
maximum number of steelhead trout any one angler may retain
from April 1st through the following March 31st.
(((23))) (24) "Selective gear rules" means terminal
fishing gear is limited to artificial flies with barbless
single hooks or lures with barbless single hooks, bait is
prohibited, and fishing from a floating device equipped with
an internal combustion motor is prohibited unless otherwise
provided. Up to three hooks may be used. Only knotless nets
may be used to land fish. In waters under selective gear
rules, fish may be released until the daily limit is retained.
(((24))) (25) "Slough" means any swamp, marsh, bog, pond,
side-channel, or backwater connected to a river by water. Waters called sloughs that are not connected to a river are
considered lakes.
(((25))) (26) "Snagging" means an effort to take fish
with a hook and line in a manner that the fish does not take
the hook or hooks voluntarily in its mouth.
(((26))) (27) "Spearing" or "spear fishing" means an
effort to take fish or shellfish by impaling the fish or
shellfish on a shaft, arrow or other device.
(((27))) (28) "Stationary gear restriction" means the
line and weight and lure or bait must be moving while in the
water. The line and weight and lure or bait may not be
stationary.
(((28))) (29) "Steelhead" means searun rainbow trout over
twenty inches in length.
(((29))) (30) "Unmarked salmon" means a salmon with
intact adipose and ventral fins.
(((30))) (31) "Trout" means brown trout, bull trout,
cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, Eastern brook trout, golden
trout, grayling, Kokanee (silver trout), lake trout, rainbow
trout, tiger trout, and, in WAC 232-28-619, salmon from waters
designated as "landlocked salmon rules apply."
(((31))) (32) "Whitefish gear rules" means terminal
fishing gear is restricted to one single hook, maximum hook
size three-sixteenths inch point to shank (hook size 14), and
bait is allowed. All species: Release all fish except
whitefish.
(((32))) (33) "Wild" when used to describe the difference
between a hatchery fish and a nonhatchery fish, except salmon,
means a fish with all fins intact.
(((33))) (34) "Wild" when used to describe a salmon
(chinook, coho, chum, pink or sockeye), means a salmon with an
unclipped adipose fin, regardless of whether the fish is
ventral fin-clipped. A salmon with a clipped adipose fin and
a healed scar at the site of the clipped fin is not a wild
salmon.
(((34))) (35) "Wild cutthroat release" means it is
unlawful to retain any cutthroat trout that does not have a
clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the location of the
clipped fin.
(((35))) (36) "Wild steelhead release" means it is
unlawful to retain any steelhead that does not have a clipped
adipose or ventral fin and a healed scar at the location of
the clipped fin.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-56-100, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-100, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-17-007 (Order 05-168), § 220-56-100, filed 8/3/05, effective 9/3/05; 04-24-030 (Order 04-306), § 220-56-100, filed 11/23/04, effective 12/24/04; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-100, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-18-007 (Order 03-211), § 220-56-100, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-100, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: 2000 c 107 § 7. 00-16-091 (Order 00-134), § 220-56-100, filed 7/31/00, effective 8/31/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-56-100, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-100, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-100, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-078 (Order 96-44), § 220-56-100, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-100, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; 94-14-069, § 220-56-100, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-100, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-100, filed 4/9/86; 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-56-100, filed 4/9/85; 82-13-040 (Order 82-61), § 220-56-100, filed 6/9/82; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-100, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.]
| Abernathy Creek - Highway 4 Bridge. | |
| Bear River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Bone River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Chambers Creek - Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge. | |
| Chehalis River - Highway 101 Bridge in Aberdeen. | |
| Chelan River - Railroad Bridge. | |
| Cispus River - Posted markers at the Lewis County P.U.D. kayak launch, approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the confluence of the Cowlitz and Cispus rivers. | |
| Cowlitz River - A line projected across the river between two fishing boundary markers set on each bank of the river approximately one-half mile downstream from the lowermost railroad bridge crossing the Cowlitz River. | |
| Dakota Creek - A line from the outermost headland of the south bank to a house at 1285 Runge Avenue, Blaine, Washington, approximately one-quarter mile downstream from the Blaine Road Bridge. | |
| Deschutes River - A line projected across the river 400 feet below the lower Tumwater Falls fish ladder. | |
| Drano Lake - Highway 14 Bridge. | |
| Duwamish River - First Avenue South Bridge. | |
| Elk River - Highway 105 Bridge. | |
| Entiat River - Highway 97 Bridge. | |
| Hawk Creek (Lincoln County) - Falls at the Hawk Creek campground. | |
| Hoquiam River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Humptulips River - Mouth of Jessie Slough. | |
| Johns River - Highway 105 Bridge. | |
| Kennedy Creek - An arc 500 yards east of the midpoint of the northbound Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Kettle River - Barstow Bridge. | |
| Lake Washington Ship Canal - A line 400 feet west of the fish ladder at the Chittenden Locks. | |
| Lewis River - A straight line running from a fishing boundary marker or from the outermost upland at the north shore of the Lewis River mouth, southerly across the Lewis River to a fishing boundary marker near the south shore. | |
| Methow River - Highway 97 Bridge. | |
| Naselle River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| North Nemah River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Niawiakum River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Nisqually River - At the upstream end of Alder Lake, the mouth of the Nisqually River is the Highway 7 Bridge at Elbe. | |
| North River - Highway 105 Bridge. | |
| Palix River - Highway 101 Bridge. | |
| Puyallup River - 11th Street Bridge. | |
| Samish River - The Samish Island Bridge (Bayview-Edison Road). | |
| Sammamish River - 68th Avenue NE Bridge. | |
| Skagit River - A line projected from the terminus of the jetty with McGlinn Island to the white monument on the easterly end of Ika Island, then to a white monument on the westerly end of Craft Island, then to a white monument near the corner of the levee on the westerly side of Dry Slough, and then to a white monument on the easterly side of Tom Moore Slough. | |
| Skamokawa Creek - Highway 4 Bridge. | |
| Skookum Creek - A line 400 yards below the old railroad bridge. | |
| Snohomish River - Burlington Northern Railway Bridges crossing main river and sloughs. | |
| South Nemah River - Lynn Point 117 degrees true to the opposite shore. | |
| Spokane River - State Route 25 Bridge. | |
| Wallace River - The furthest downstream railroad bridge. | |
| Washougal River - A straight line from the Crown Zellerbach pumphouse southeasterly across the Washougal River to the east end of the Highway 14 Bridge near the upper end of Lady Island. | |
| Whatcom Creek - A line projected approximately 14 degrees true from the flashing light at the southwesterly end of the Port of Bellingham North Terminal to the southernmost point of the dike surrounding the Georgia Pacific treatment pond. | |
| White Salmon River - Between markers on the east and west shores downstream of the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge except when buoys are in place southerly from the shore to the buoys and east and west between the buoys. | |
| Little White Salmon River - At boundary markers on river bank downstream from the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. | |
| Willapa River - South Bend boat launch. | |
| Wind River - Boundary line markers at mouth. | |
| Yakima River - Highway 240 Bridge. |
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-05-051 (Order 07-22), § 220-56-105, filed 2/16/07, effective 3/19/07; 03-05-057 (Order 03-24), § 220-56-105, filed 2/14/03, effective 5/1/03; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-105, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-14-001 (Order 01-107), § 220-56-105, filed 6/21/01, effective 7/22/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-105, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-15-081 (Order 99-102), § 220-56-105, filed 7/20/99, effective 8/20/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-105, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-105, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-078 (Order 96-44), § 220-56-105, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-105, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; 94-14-069, § 220-56-105, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-105, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-105, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-105, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-105, filed 3/16/89; 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-56-105, filed 4/26/88; 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-56-105, filed 4/9/85; 84-09-026 (Order 84-22), § 220-56-105, filed 4/11/84; 82-13-040 (Order 82-61), § 220-56-105, filed 6/9/82; 81-05-027 (Order 81-13), § 220-56-105, filed 2/17/81, effective 4/1/81; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-105, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.]
(1) In order to fish for or possess for personal use any crab in Catch Record Card Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line and in Catch Record Card Areas 5-13, anadromous salmon, sturgeon, halibut, or steelhead, an angler must obtain and have in personal possession a valid appropriate catch record card as described in WAC 220-69-236 except for commercially caught salmon retained for personal use as provided for in WAC 220-20-016 and commercially caught sturgeon retained for personal use as provided for in WAC 220-20-021. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a catch record card is not required for landlocked steelhead or for salmon in waters designated as "landlocked salmon rules apply" in WAC 232-28-619.
(2) Any angler, after obtaining a catch record card shall validate the catch record card by completely, accurately, and legibly completing all personal identification information in ink on the catch record card prior to detaching the catch record card from the underlying copy of the catch record card or, for automated licenses, affixing the appropriate validation sticker to the catch record card. A catch record card remains valid so long as there are one or more unfilled spaces available for the species being fished for, except:
(a) In the mainstem Columbia River downstream from where the river forms the common boundary between Oregon and Washington for sturgeon a catch record card remains valid when the sturgeon portion of the catch record card is filled. A person may not retain sturgeon after the sturgeon portion of the catch record card is filled.
(b) A second or subsequent catch record card is invalid for retention of sturgeon and wild steelhead.
(3) Immediately upon catching and possessing a salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut, the angler shall enter in ink in the appropriate space the place, date of catch, species (catch type), for sturgeon, length, for halibut, vessel type and for salmon, whether or not the fish was marked.
(4) Immediately upon retaining a Dungeness crab aboard a vessel or on the shore, the fisher must enter in ink in the appropriate space the place and date of catch, fishery type and enter a tally mark for each Dungeness crab retained from each catch record card area fished. At the end of the fishing day, the fisher shall enter the total number of crab tally marks for each fishery type.
(5) Every person issued a catch record card shall by April 30 of the year following the year printed on the catch record card return such card to the department of fish and wildlife except as follows: Every person issued a Puget Sound crab catch record card shall return such catch record card to the department of fish and wildlife no later than the required return date printed on the catch record card or report their catch record card information on the internet site designated on the catch record card by the same date.
(6) Any person possessing a catch record card shall, upon demand of any law enforcement officer or authorized department employee, exhibit said card to such officer or employee for inspection.
(7) A catch record card shall not be transferred, borrowed, altered, or loaned to another person.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-09-042 (Order 07-59), § 220-56-175, filed 4/11/07, effective 5/12/07; 06-21-031 (Order 06-262), § 220-56-175, filed 10/9/06, effective 11/9/06; 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-56-175, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-175, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 04-10-033 (Order 04-91), § 220-56-175, filed 4/29/04, effective 5/30/04; 03-05-057 (Order 03-24), § 220-56-175, filed 2/14/03, effective 5/1/03; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-175, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.050. 00-11-178 (Order 00-80), § 220-56-175, filed 5/24/00, effective 6/24/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-175, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-17-066 (Order 99-125), § 220-56-175, filed 8/13/99, effective 4/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-175, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-175, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-071 (Order 89-05), § 220-56-175, filed 3/20/89; 88-05-002 (Order 88-03), § 220-56-175, filed 2/4/88; 85-11-020 (Order 85-43), § 220-56-175, filed 5/10/85; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-175, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80. Formerly WAC 220-56-023.]
(2) It is lawful to fish for white sturgeon the entire year in saltwater, but open in freshwater only concurrent with a salmon or gamefish opening unless otherwise provided.
(3) The daily limit is one white sturgeon, with the following size restrictions:
(a) Minimum size ((48)) 42 inches ((in)) fork length in
the Columbia River and tributaries upstream from The Dalles
Dam.
(b) Minimum size ((42)) 38 inches ((in)) fork length in
all other state waters.
(c) Maximum size ((60)) 54 inches ((in)) fork length.
Once the daily limit has been retained, it is lawful to continue to fish for sturgeon in the mainstem of the Columbia River downstream from where the river forms the boundary between Oregon and Washington, provided that all subsequent sturgeon are released immediately.
(4) The possession limit is two daily limits of fresh, frozen or processed white sturgeon.
(5) There is an annual personal-use limit of five white sturgeon from April 1 through March 31, regardless of where the sturgeon were taken. After the annual limit of sturgeon has been taken, it is lawful to continue to fish for white sturgeon in the mainstem Columbia River downstream from where the river forms the common boundary between Oregon and Washington, provided that all subsequent sturgeon are released immediately.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon with terminal gear other than bait and one single barbless hook. It is lawful to use artificial scent with bait when fishing for white sturgeon. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160. It is unlawful to possess sturgeon taken with gear in violation of the provisions of this section. Possession of sturgeon while using gear in violation of the provisions of this section is a rebuttable presumption that the sturgeon were taken with such gear. Possession of such sturgeon is punishable under RCW 77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree -- Penalty, unless the sturgeon are taken in the amounts or manner to constitute a violation of RCW 77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree -- Penalty.
(7) It is unlawful to fish for or possess sturgeon taken for personal use from freshwater, except the Chehalis River, from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
(8) It is unlawful to possess in the field sturgeon eggs without having retained the intact carcass of the fish from which the eggs have been removed.
(9) It is unlawful to use a gaff or other fish landing aid that penetrates the fish while restraining, handling or landing a sturgeon.
(10) It is unlawful to fail to immediately return to the water any undersize sturgeon.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-05-051 (Order 07-22), § 220-56-282, filed 2/16/07, effective 3/19/07; 06-09-021 (Order 06-67), § 220-56-282, filed 4/11/06, effective 5/12/06; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-282, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-282, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-21-133 (Order 03-273), § 220-56-282, filed 10/21/03, effective 4/1/04; 03-18-006 (Order 03-209), § 220-56-282, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-282, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-282, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-282, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-282, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-282, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-282, filed 3/16/89.]
(1) Cockles, borers and clams in the shell, other than razor clams, geoduck clams and horse clams, 40 clams in the aggregate, or 10 pounds, whichever is achieved first except:
(a) In Skagit Bay, east of a line projected from Browns Point to Swinomish Slough entrance - diggers may additionally retain up to 20 pounds of eastern softshell clams in the shell.
(b) Willapa Bay - diggers may additionally retain up to twenty-four cockles.
(2) Razor clams: 15 clams.
(3) Geoduck clams: 3 clams.
(4) Horse clams: 7 clams.
(5) Oysters: 18 oysters, shucked and the shells left on the beach. Minimum size before shucking two and one-half inches along the longest dimension of the shell.
(6) Rock scallops: 12 scallops.
(7) Weathervane scallops: 12 scallops (over 4 inches).
(8) Spiny and pink scallops: 10 pounds or 5 quarts in the shell, in the aggregate.
(9) Shrimp: ((In all waters - First Saturday in May
through May 31, daily limit 80 shrimp. During all other open
periods total weight 10 pounds, maximum 80 spot shrimp as part
of the 10 pound limit. Spot shrimp: First Saturday in May
through May 31 in all waters and in Areas 1 through 3 and Area
4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line during the remainder of the
year, no minimum size; June 1 through October 15 in Area 4
east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and Areas 5 through 13,
minimum size one and three-sixteenths inch from the base of
the eyestalk to the top rear edge of the carapace.))
(a) In Areas 1-3 and Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line - total weight 10 pounds, maximum 80 spot shrimp as part of the 10-pound limit.
(b) In Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and Areas 5-13 - first Saturday in May through May 31, daily limit 80 shrimp. During all other open periods total weight 10 pounds, maximum 80 spot shrimp as part of the 10-pound limit.
(10) Octopus: 1 octopus.
(11) Pinto abalone: Closed statewide.
(12) Crawfish: 10 pounds in the shell. Minimum size 3 1/4 inches from tip of rostrum to tip of tail. Female crawfish with eggs or young attached to the abdomen must be released immediately.
(13) Squid other than Humboldt squid: 10 pounds or 5 quarts. In addition a person may retain up to 5 Humboldt squid per day.
(14) Sea cucumbers: 25 sea cucumbers.
(15) Red sea urchins: 18 sea urchins.
(16) Purple sea urchins: 18 sea urchins.
(17) Green sea urchins: 36 sea urchins.
(18) Dungeness crabs:
(a) In Area 1 except when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River and Areas 2, 3, and 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line - 6 male crabs.
(b) In Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and Areas 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 - 5 male crabs.
(c) In the Columbia River upstream of a line from the outermost end of the north jetty to the exposed end of the south jetty, or when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River - 12 male crabs.
(19) Red rock crabs: 6 crabs.
(20) Mussels: 10 pounds in the shell, in the aggregate.
(21) Goose barnacles: 10 pounds of whole barnacles or 5 pounds of barnacle stalks.
(22) Ghost and mud shrimp: 10 dozen.
(23) King and box crab: Closed statewide.
(24) Tanner crabs: 6 crabs.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-310, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-12-007 (Order 05-102), § 220-56-310, filed 5/19/05, effective 6/19/05; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-310, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-17-088 (Order 04-217), § 220-56-310, filed 8/16/04, effective 9/16/04; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-310, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-310, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-310, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-15-081 (Order 99-102), § 220-56-310, filed 7/20/99, effective 8/20/99; 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-56-310, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-310, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-310, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 95-04-066 (Order 95-10), § 220-56-310, filed 1/30/95, effective 5/1/95; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-310, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-310, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; 90-06-026, § 220-56-310, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-310, filed 3/16/89; 88-12-025 (Order 88-28), § 220-56-310, filed 5/25/88, effective 8/22/88; 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-56-310, filed 4/26/88; 87-09-066 (Order 87-16), § 220-56-310, filed 4/21/87; 86-24-046 (Order 86-190), § 220-56-310, filed 11/26/86; 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-310, filed 4/9/86; 85-12-046 (Order 85-57), § 220-56-310, filed 6/5/85; 84-09-026 (Order 84-22), § 220-56-310, filed 4/11/84; 83-04-027 (Order 83-06), § 220-56-310, filed 1/27/83; 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-56-310, filed 3/18/82; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-310, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.]
(2) It is unlawful to set, fish, or pull more than two units of gear at any one time except:
(a) In Puget Sound waters it is unlawful to set, fish, or pull at any one time more than two units of crab gear and two additional units of shrimp gear.
(b) It is unlawful for the operator of any boat from which shrimp pots are set, fished, or pulled in Catch Record Card Areas 4 through 13 to have on board or to fish more than four shrimp pots.
(c) In the Columbia River it is unlawful to set, fish, or pull more than three units of crab gear.
(d) In fresh water it is lawful to use up to five units of gear to fish for crawfish.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to operate a shellfish pot not attached to a buoy bearing that person's name, except that a second person may assist the pot owner in operation of the gear.
(4) It is unlawful to salvage or attempt to salvage shellfish pot gear from Hood Canal that has been lost without first obtaining a permit authorizing such activity issued by the director, and it is unlawful to fail to comply with all provisions of such permit.
(5) It is unlawful to fish for or possess crab taken for personal use from the waters of Fidalgo Bay within 25 yards of the Burlington Northern Railroad trestle connecting March Point and Anacortes.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for or possess crab taken for personal use with shellfish pot or ring net gear from the waters of Padilla Bay or Swinomish Slough within 25 yards of the Burlington Northern Railroad crossing the northern end of Swinomish Slough except from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset.
(7) It is unlawful to dig for or possess ghost or mud shrimp taken for personal use by any method except hand operated suction devices or dug by hand.
(8) One unit of gear is equivalent to one ring net or one shellfish pot. It is unlawful to have more than one unit of unattended gear attached to a buoy line or to fail to have a separate buoy for each unit of gear.
(9) In waters open only on certain days or certain hours during the day, except for the night closure set out in subsection (10) of this section, it is unlawful to fail to remove gear from the water when fishing for shellfish is not allowed, and it is unlawful to fail to remove gear from the water by one hour after sunset if fishing is not allowed on the next calendar day. In waters that are open continuously except for the night closure set out in subsection (10) of this section, gear may be left in the water during the night closure.
(10) It is unlawful to set or pull shellfish pots, ring nets or star traps from a vessel in Catch Record Card Areas 1-13 from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
(11) It is unlawful to possess soft-shelled crab for any personal use purpose. Violation of this subsection shall be an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-05-051 (Order 07-22), § 220-56-315, filed 2/16/07, effective 3/19/07; 05-12-007 (Order 05-102), § 220-56-315, filed 5/19/05, effective 6/19/05; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-315, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-315, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 02-19-014 (Order 02-224), § 220-56-315, filed 9/6/02, effective 10/7/02; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-315, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-07-024 (Order 01-39), § 220-56-315, filed 3/14/01, effective 4/14/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-315, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 98-06-031, § 220-56-315, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 94-14-069, § 220-56-315, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-315, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-315, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-315, filed 3/16/89; 81-05-027 (Order 81-13), § 220-56-315, filed 2/17/81, effective 4/1/81; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-315, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80.]
(a) Unattended shellfish gear must have the line attaching the buoy to the gear weighted sufficiently to prevent the line from floating on the water's surface.
(b) All buoys must consist of durable material and remain visible on the surface at all times except during extreme tidal conditions. It is unlawful to use bleach, antifreeze or detergent bottles, paint cans or any other container.
(c) All buoys attached to shrimp gear must be yellow or fluorescent yellow in color. Flags and staff, if attached, may be any color.
(d) All buoys attached to crab gear must be half red or half fluorescent red in color and half white in color. Flags and staff, if attached, may be any color.
(2) It is unlawful for the maximum perimeter of any shrimp pot to exceed 10 feet, and the pot shall not exceed 1-1/2 feet in height.
(3) It is unlawful to fish for or possess crab taken with shellfish pot gear that are equipped with tunnel triggers or other devices which prevent free exit of crabs under the legal limit unless such gear is equipped with not less than two escape rings located in the upper half of the pot which are not less than 4-1/4 inches inside diameter in all waters except in the Columbia River the escape ring minimum size is 4 inches inside diameter. It is unlawful to use mesh size for crab pots less than 1-1/2 inches.
(4) It is unlawful to take, fish for or possess shrimp
taken for personal use with shellfish pot gear ((during the
month of May in Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and in
Areas 5 through 13, and year-round in Area 4 west of the
Bonilla-Tatoosh line and Areas 1 through 3)) unless such gear
meets the following requirements:
(a) The entire top, bottom, and sides of the shellfish pots must be constructed of mesh material and except for the entrance tunnels have the minimum mesh opening size defined below.
(b) The minimum mesh ((opening)) size for shrimp pots is
one inch, defined as a mesh that a 7/8-inch square peg will
pass through each mesh opening except for flexible (web) mesh
pots where the opening must be a minimum of one and
three-quarters inch stretch measure except:
June 1 through October 15, Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and Areas 5 through 13: In any Marine Area of portion thereof that is closed for spot shrimp but open for coonstripe and pink shrimp, the minimum mesh size for shrimp pots is one-half inch, defined as a mesh that a 3/8 inch square peg will pass through each mesh opening except for flexible (web) mesh pots where the opening must be a minimum of one and one-eighth inch stretch measure.
(c) All entrance tunnels must open into the pot from the side.
(d) The sum of the maximum widths of all entrance tunnels must not exceed 1/2 the perimeter of the bottom of the pot.
(5) It is unlawful to fish for or possess shellfish taken for personal use with shellfish pot gear unless the gear allows for escapement using at least one of the following methods:
(a) Attachment of pot lid hooks or tiedown straps with a single strand or loop of untreated, 100 percent cotton twine no larger than thread size 120 so that the pot lid will open freely if the twine or fiber is broken.
(b) An opening in the pot mesh no less than three inches by five inches which is laced or sewn closed with untreated, 100 percent cotton twine no larger than thread size 120. The opening must be located within the top half of the pot and be unimpeded by the entry tunnels, bait boxes, or any other structures or materials.
(c) Attachment of pot lid or one pot side serving as a pot lid with no more than three single loops of untreated 100 percent cotton or other natural fiber twine no larger than thread size 120 so that the pot lid or side will open freely if the twine or fiber is broken.
(6) It is unlawful to set shellfish pots in a manner that they are not covered by water at all times.
(7) ((June 1 through October 15 in Area 4 east of the
Bonilla-Tatoosh line and Areas 5 through 13, it is unlawful to
use mesh size for shrimp pots less than one-half inch except
in entrance tunnels except for flexible (web) mesh pots where
the opening must be a minimum of one and one-eighths inch
stretch measure.
(8))) It is unlawful to fish for crab using shellfish pot gear greater in volume than thirteen cubic feet.
(((9))) (8) Use of gear in violation of this section is
an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160, except failure
to use untreated cotton twine as provided for in subsection
(5) of this section remains a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in the second
degree -- Penalty.
(((10))) (9) It is unlawful to possess shellfish taken
with gear in violation of the provisions of this section. Possession of shellfish while using gear in violation of the
provisions of this section is a rebuttable presumption that
the shellfish were taken with such gear. Violation of this
subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.380 Unlawful
recreational fishing in the second degree -- Penalty, unless the
shellfish are taken in the amounts or manner to constitute a
violation of RCW 77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in
the first degree -- Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-09-021 (Order 06-67), § 220-56-320, filed 4/11/06, effective 5/12/06; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-320, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-320, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 03-05-057 (Order 03-24), § 220-56-320, filed 2/14/03, effective 5/1/03; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-320, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-56-320, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-320, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-320, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 94-14-069, § 220-56-320, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-320, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-320, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; 90-06-026, § 220-56-320, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-320, filed 3/16/89; 88-12-025 (Order 88-28), § 220-56-320, filed 5/25/88, effective 8/22/88; 87-09-066 (Order 87-16), § 220-56-320, filed 4/21/87; 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-56-320, filed 4/9/85; 84-09-026 (Order 84-22), § 220-56-320, filed 4/11/84; 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-56-320, filed 3/18/82; 81-05-027 (Order 81-13), § 220-56-320, filed 2/17/81, effective 4/1/81; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-320, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80. Formerly WAC 220-56-088.]
Except that public tidelands at the following beaches are closed unless otherwise provided:
(((a))) (1) Ala Spit: Open May 1 through May 31.
(((b))) (2) Alki Park: Closed the entire year.
(3) Alki Point: Closed the entire year.
(4) Bay View State Park: Closed the entire year.
(5) Brown's Point Lighthouse: Closed the entire year.
(6) Brownsville: Closed the entire year.
(7) Cama Beach State Park: Closed the entire year.
(((c))) (8) Camano Island State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(((d))) (9) Chuckanut Bay: Closed the entire year.
(10) Coupeville: Closed the entire year.
(11) Dash Point State Park: Closed the entire year.
(12) Dave Mackie County Park: Closed the entire year.
(13) Des Moines City Park: Closed the entire year.
(14) Discovery Park: Closed the entire year.
(15) DNR-18: Closed the entire year.
(16) DNR-79: Closed the entire year.
(17) DNR-85: Closed the entire year.
(18) DNR-142: Closed the entire year.
(19) DNR-144 (Sleeper): Closed the entire year.
(20) Dockton County Park: Closed the entire year.
(21) Dosewallips State Park: Open May 15 through July 31 only in area defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((e))) (22) Dungeness Spit and Dungeness National
Wildlife Refuge Tidelands - Open May 15 through September 30.
(((f))) (23) Eagle Creek: Closed the entire year.
(((g))) (24) East San De Fuca: Closed the entire year.
(25) Fort Flagler State Park including that portion of the spit west of the park boundary (Rat Island): Open April 1 through June 30.
(((h))) (26) Fort Ward State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(27) Freeland County Park(( - Open January 1 through May
15)): Closed the entire year.
(((i))) (28) Frye Cove County Park - Open January 1
through June 15.
(((j))) (29) Garrison Bay: Tidelands at Guss Island and
those tidelands at British camp between the National Park
Service dinghy dock at the north end and the park boundary at
the south end are closed the entire year.
(((k))) (30) Gertrude Island - All tidelands at Gertrude
Island closed the entire year.
(((l))) (31) Golden Gardens: Closed the entire year.
(32) Graveyard Spit: Closed the entire year.
(33) Harrington Beach: Closed the entire year.
(34) Hoodsport: Tidelands at Hoodsport Salmon Hatchery are closed the entire year.
(((m))) (35) Hope Island State Park (South Puget Sound):
Open April 1 through May 31.
(((n))) (36) Howarth Park: Closed the entire year.
(37) Illahee State Park: Open April 1 through July 31.
(((o))) (38) Jarrell Cove State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(39) Kayak Point County Park: Closed the entire year.
(((p))) (40) Kitsap Memorial State Park: Open May 15
through June 30.
(((q))) (41) Kopachuck State Park: Open June 1 through
July 31.
(((r))) (42) Liberty Bay - All state-owned tidelands in
Liberty Bay north and west of the Keyport Naval Supply Center
are closed to the harvest of clams the entire year.
(((s))) (43) Lincoln Park: Closed the entire year.
(44) Lions Park (Bremerton): Closed the entire year.
(45) Little Clam Bay: Closed the entire year.
(46) Lower Roto Vista Park: Closed the entire year.
(47) Manchester State Park: Closed the entire year.
(48) McNeil Island - All tidelands on McNeil Island are closed the entire year.
(((t))) (49) Meadowdale County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(50) Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park: Closed the entire year.
(51) Middle Ground (Sequim Bay): Closed the entire year.
(52) Monroe Landing: Closed the entire year.
(53) Mukilteo State Park - Closed the entire year.
(((u))) (54) Mystery Bay State Park: Open October 1
through April 30.
(((v))) (55) Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: Closed
the entire year.
(56) North Beach County Park: Closed the entire year.
(57) North Fort Lewis: Closed the entire year.
(58) North Point Hudson: Closed the entire year.
(59) Northeast Cultus Bay: Closed the entire year.
(60) Oak Bay County Park: Open July 1 through July 31.
(((w))) (61) Oak Harbor City Park: Closed the entire
year.
(62) Old Man House State Park: Closed the entire year.
(63) Olympia Shoal: Closed the entire year.
(64) Oyster Reserves: Puget Sound and Willapa Bay state oyster reserves are closed the entire year except as follows:
(((i))) (a) North Bay: State-owned oyster reserves open
the entire year.
(((ii))) (b) Oakland Bay: Tidelands at the north end of
Oakland Bay and on the channel of the northwest shore of the
Bayshore Peninsula between department markers open the entire
year.
(((iii))) (c) Willapa Bay - Long Island oyster reserve:
Northwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 39 and
41 and southwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments
58 and 59.
(((x))) (65) Penrose Point State Park: Open March 1
through May 31.
(((y))) (66) Picnic Point County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(((z))) (67) Pitship Point: Closed the entire year.
(((aa))) (68) Pitt Island - All tidelands on Pitt Island
are closed the entire year.
(((bb))) (69) Pleasant Harbor State Park: Closed the
entire year.
(70) Point Whitney (excluding Point Whitney Lagoon): Open March 1 through May 15.
(((cc))) (71) Point Whitney Lagoon: Open May 15 through
June 30.
(((dd))) (72) Port Angeles Coast Guard: Closed the
entire year.
(73) Port Angeles Harbor: Closed the entire year.
(74) Port Gardner: Closed the entire year.
(75) Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Canal: Open January 1 through May 31.
(((ee))) (76) Post Point: Closed the entire year.
(77) Potlatch DNR tidelands: Open April 1 through August 31.
(((ff))) (78) Potlatch East: Open April 1 through August
31.
(((gg))) (79) Potlatch State Park: Open April 1 through
August 31.
(((hh))) (80) Priest Point County Park: Closed the
entire year.
(81) Purdy Spit County Park: The southern shore of the spit from the boat ramp to the bridge is closed the entire year.
(((ii))) (82) Quilcene Bay Tidelands - All state-owned
tidelands in Quilcene Bay north of a line drawn from the
Quilcene Boat Haven to Fisherman's Point are closed to the
harvest of clams the entire year, except those state-owned
tidelands on the west side of the bay north of the Quilcene
Boat Haven are open April 1 through December 31, daily from
official sunrise to official sunset only.
(((jj))) (83) Retsil: Closed the entire year.
(84) Rendsland Creek: Open January 1 through June 15.
(((kk))) (85) Richmond Beach: Closed the entire year.
(86) Saltwater State Park: Closed the entire year.
(((ll))) (87) Samish Beach: Closed the entire year.
(88) Scenic Beach State Park(( - )): Open April 15
through May 15.
(((mm))) (89) Seahurst County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(((nn))) (90) Semiahmoo: Closed the entire year.
(91) Semiahmoo County Park: Closed the entire year.
(92) Sequim Bay State Park - Open May 1 through June 15.
(((oo))) (93) Shine Tidelands State Park: Open January 1
through May 15.
(((pp))) (94) Silverdale County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(95) Sinclair Inlet: Closed the entire year.
(96) Skagit Wildlife Area Jensen Access: Closed the entire year.
(97) Skagit Wildlife Area North Fork Access: Closed the entire year.
(98) Skagit Wildlife Area South Fork Access: Closed the entire year.
(99) South Carkeek Park: Closed the entire year.
(100) South Dougall Point: Closed the entire year.
(101) South Gordon Point: Closed the entire year.
(102) South Indian Island County Park: Open April 1 through August 31.
(((qq))) (103) South Mukilteo Park: Closed the entire
year.
(104) South Oro Bay: Closed the entire year.
(105) South Point Wilson: Closed the entire year.
(106) Southworth Ferry Dock: Closed the entire year.
(107) Spencer Spit State Park: Open March 1 through July 31.
(((rr))) (108) Sunrise Beach (Langley Seawall): Closed
the entire year.
(109) Suquamish (Old Man House): Closed the entire year.
(110) Taylor Bay: Closed the entire year.
(111) Triton Cove Tidelands: Open July 1 through September 30.
(((ss))) (112) Twanoh State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(((tt))) (113) Walker County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(114) West Dewatto: DNR Beach 44A closed the entire year.
(((uu))) (115) West Pass Access: Closed the entire year.
(116) Willapa Bay: State-owned tidelands east of the department Willapa Bay Field Station and Nahcotta Tidelands Interpretive Site are closed year-round.
(((vv))) (117) Wolfe Property State Park: Open January 1
through May 15.
(((2))) (118) Woodard Bay: Closed the entire year.
It is lawful to take, dig for and possess clams, cockles, borers, and mussels, not including razor clams, taken for personal use in Grays Harbor and Willapa Harbor the entire year, except from state oyster reserves, which are closed to clam digging the entire year.
(((3))) It is lawful to take, dig for and possess clams,
cockles, borers, and mussels, not including razor clams taken
for personal use from the Pacific Ocean beaches from November
1 through March 31.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-05-051 (Order 07-22), § 220-56-350, filed 2/16/07, effective 3/19/07; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-350, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-350, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-350, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-05-057 (Order 03-24), § 220-56-350, filed 2/14/03, effective 5/1/03; 02-17-019 (Order 02-193), § 220-56-350, filed 8/9/02, effective 9/9/02; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-350, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-350, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: 2000 c 107 § 7. 00-16-091 (Order 00-134), § 220-56-350, filed 7/31/00, effective 8/31/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-350, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-56-350, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-350, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-350, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-078 (Order 96-44), § 220-56-350, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-12-027 (Order 95-46), § 220-56-350, filed 5/31/95, effective 7/1/95; 94-14-069, § 220-56-350, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 93-15-011, § 220-56-350, filed 7/8/93, effective 8/8/93; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-350, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-350, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-350, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-350, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-350, filed 3/16/89; 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-56-350, filed 4/26/88; 87-09-066 (Order 87-16), § 220-56-350, filed 4/21/87; 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-350, filed 4/9/86; 85-12-046 (Order 85-57), § 220-56-350, filed 6/5/85; 83-07-043 (Order 83-16), § 220-56-350, filed 3/17/83; 81-05-027 (Order 81-13), § 220-56-350, filed 2/17/81, effective 4/1/81; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-350, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80. Formerly WAC 220-56-082.]
(1) Alki Park: Closed the entire year.
(2) Alki Point: Closed the entire year.
(3) Bangor: Closed the entire year.
(4) Bay View State Park: Closed the entire year.
(5) Brown Point (DNR 57-B): Closed the entire year.
(((2))) (6) Brown's Point Lighthouse: Closed the entire
year.
(7) Brownsville: Closed the entire year.
(8) Chuckanut: Closed the entire year.
(9) Coupeville: Closed the entire year.
(10) Cushman (Saltwater) Park - Open March 1 through December 31.
(((3))) (11) Dash Point State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(12) Dave Mackie County Park: Closed the entire year.
(13) Des Moines City Park: Closed the entire year.
(14) Discovery Park: Closed the entire year.
(15) DNR-18: Closed the entire year.
(16) DNR-79: Closed the entire year.
(17) DNR-85: Closed the entire year.
(18) DNR-142: Closed the entire year.
(19) DNR 144 (Sleeper): Closed the entire year.
(20) Dockton County Park: Closed the entire year.
(21) East San De Fuca: Closed the entire year.
(22) Fort Flagler State Park including that portion of the spit west of the park boundary (Rat Island): Open April 1 through June 30.
(((4))) (23) Fort Ward State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(24) Freeland County Park: Closed the entire year.
(25) Frye Cove County Park: Open January 1 through June 15.
(((5))) (26) Golden Gardens: Closed the entire year.
(27) Graveyard Spit: Closed the entire year.
(28) Harrington Beach: Closed the entire year.
(29) Hoodsport: Tidelands at the Hoodsport Salmon Hatchery are closed the entire year.
(((6))) (30) Hope Island State Park (South Puget Sound):
Open April 1 through May 31.
(((7))) (31) Howarth Park: Closed the entire year.
(32) Illahee State Park: Open April 1 through July 31.
(((8))) (33) Jarrell Cove State Park: Closed the entire
year.
(34) Kitsap Memorial State Park: Open May 15 through July 31.
(((9))) (35) Kopachuck State Park: Open March 1 through
July 31.
(((10))) (36) Liberty Bay - All state-owned tidelands in
Liberty Bay north and west of the Keyport Naval Supply Center
are closed to the harvest of oysters the entire year.
(((11))) (37) Lincoln Park: Closed the entire year.
(38) Lions Park (Bremerton): Closed the entire year.
(39) Little Clam Bay: Closed the entire year.
(40) Lower Roto Vista Park: Closed the entire year.
(41) Manchester State Park: Closed the entire year.
(42) Meadowdale County Park: Closed the entire year.
(43) Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park: Closed the entire year.
(44) Middle Ground (Sequim Bay): Closed the entire year.
(45) Monroe Landing: Closed the entire year.
(46) Mukilteo State Park: Closed the entire year.
(47) Mystery Bay State Park: Open October 1 through April 30.
(((12))) (48) Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: Closed
the entire year.
(49) North Beach County Park: Closed the entire year.
(50) North Fort Lewis: Closed the entire year.
(51) North Point Hudson: Closed the entire year.
(52) Northeast Cultus Bay: Closed the entire year.
(53) Oak Bay County Park: Open July 1 through July 31.
(((13))) (54) Oak Harbor Beach Park: Closed the entire
year.
(55) Oak Harbor City Park: Closed the entire year.
(56) Old Man House State Park: Closed the entire year.
(57) Olympia Shoal: Closed the entire year.
(58) Oyster Reserves: Puget Sound and Willapa Bay oyster reserves are closed the entire year except the following are open the entire year:
(a) Oakland Bay - Tidelands at the north end of Oakland Bay and on the channel of the northwest shore of the Bayshore Peninsula between department markers - open the entire year.
(b) North Bay - State-owned reserves open the entire year.
(c) Willapa Bay - Long Island oyster reserve: Northwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 39 and 41 and southwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 58 and 59.
(((14))) (59) Penrose Point State Park: Open March 1
through May 31.
(((15))) (60) Picnic Point: Closed the entire year.
(61) Pleasant Harbor State Park: Closed the entire year.
(62) Port Angeles Coast Guard: Closed the entire year.
(63) Port Angeles Harbor: Closed the entire year.
(64) Port Gardner: Closed the entire year.
(65) Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Canal: Open January 1 through May 31.
(((16))) (66) Post Point: Closed the entire year.
(67) Potlatch DNR Tidelands: Open April 1 through August 31.
(((17))) (68) Potlatch East: Open April 1 through August
31.
(((18))) (69) Potlatch State Park: Open April 1 through
August 31.
(((19))) (70) Priest Point County Park: Closed the
entire year.
(71) Quilcene Bay Tidelands - All state-owned tidelands in Quilcene Bay north of a line drawn from the Quilcene Boat Haven to Fisherman's Point are closed except those state-owned tidelands on the west side of the bay north of the Quilcene Boat Haven are open April 1 through December 31, daily from official sunrise to official sunset, only.
(((20))) (72) Reid Harbor - South Beach: Closed the
entire year.
(73) Retsil: Closed the entire year.
(74) Richmond Beach: Closed the entire year.
(75) Saltwater County Park: Closed the entire year.
(76) Samich Beach: Closed the entire year.
(77) Seahurst County Park: Closed the entire year.
(78) Scenic Beach State Park: Open April 15 through May 15.
(((21))) (79) Semiahmoo: Closed the entire year.
(80) Semiahmoo County Park: Closed the entire year.
(81) Shine Tidelands State Park: Open January 1 through May 15.
(((22))) (82) Silverdale County Park: Closed the entire
year.
(83) Sinclair Inlet: Closed the entire year.
(84) Skagit Wildlife Area Jensen Access: Closed the entire year.
(85) Skagit Wildlife Area North Fork Access: Closed the entire year.
(86) Skagit Wildlife Area South Fork Access: Closed the entire year.
(87) South Carkeek Park: Closed the entire year.
(88) South Dougall Point: Closed the entire year.
(89) South Gordon Point: Closed the entire year.
(90) South Indian Island County Park: Open April 1 through August 31.
(((23))) (91) South Mukilteo Park: Closed the entire
year.
(92) South Oro Bay: Closed the entire year.
(93) South Point Wilson: Closed the entire year.
(94) Southworth Ferry Dock: Closed the entire year.
(95) Sunrise Beach (Langley Seawall): Closed the entire year.
(96) Suquamish (Old Man House): Closed the entire year.
(97) Taylor Bay: Closed the entire year.
(98) Walker County Park: Closed the entire year.
(99) West Pass Access: Closed the entire year.
(100) Willapa Bay: State-owned tidelands east of the department Willapa Bay Field Station and the Nahcotta Tidelands Interpretive Site are open only between boundary markers and posted signs.
(((24))) (101) Woodard Bay: Closed the entire year.
(102) Wolfe Property State Park: Open January 1 through May 15.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-05-051 (Order 07-22), § 220-56-380, filed 2/16/07, effective 3/19/07; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-380, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 220-56-380, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 220-56-380, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-05-057 (Order 03-24), § 220-56-380, filed 2/14/03, effective 5/1/03; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-56-380, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02; 01-06-036 (Order 01-24), § 220-56-380, filed 3/5/01, effective 5/1/01. Statutory Authority: 2000 c 107 § 7. 00-16-091 (Order 00-134), § 220-56-380, filed 7/31/00, effective 8/31/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-56-380, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-56-380, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99; 98-06-031, § 220-56-380, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-07-078 (Order 97-53), § 220-56-380, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-078 (Order 96-44), § 220-56-380, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-12-027 (Order 95-46), § 220-56-380, filed 5/31/95, effective 7/1/95; 94-14-069, § 220-56-380, filed 7/1/94, effective 8/1/94; 93-08-034 (Order 93-20), § 220-56-380, filed 3/31/93, effective 5/1/93; 92-11-012 (Order 92-19), § 220-56-380, filed 5/12/92, effective 6/12/92; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-56-380, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 90-06-026, § 220-56-380, filed 2/28/90, effective 3/31/90; 89-07-060 (Order 89-12), § 220-56-380, filed 3/16/89; 88-10-012 and 88-10-013 (Orders 88-14 and 88-15), § 220-56-380, filed 4/26/88; 87-09-066 (Order 87-16), § 220-56-380, filed 4/21/87; 86-09-020 (Order 86-08), § 220-56-380, filed 4/9/86; 84-09-026 (Order 84-22), § 220-56-380, filed 4/11/84; 82-13-040 (Order 82-61), § 220-56-380, filed 6/9/82; 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-56-380, filed 3/18/82; 81-05-027 (Order 81-13), § 220-56-380, filed 2/17/81, effective 4/1/81; 80-03-064 (Order 80-12), § 220-56-380, filed 2/27/80, effective 4/1/80. Formerly WAC 220-56-086.]
(1) Daily game fish possession and size limits:
| Species | Daily limit | Size limits |
| Largemouth Bass | 5 | Release bass 12 to 17 inches in length. Not more than 1 largemouth bass 17 inches in length or greater may be retained. |
| Smallmouth Bass | 10 | No minimum size. Not more than one smallmouth bass over 14 inches in length or greater may be retained. |
| Burbot | 5 | No size restriction. |
| Channel catfish | 5 | No size restriction. |
| Eastern brook trout | Count as part of the 5 trout daily limit in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. | No size restriction. |
| Bonus limit in rivers, streams and beaver ponds. Up to 5 trout including Eastern brook trout may be retained, but not more than 2 of which may be trout other than Eastern brook trout. | No size restriction. | |
| Grass carp | Unlawful to retain. | Not applicable. |
| Tiger Muskellunge | 5 | Minimum size 48 inches in length. |
| Trout (except Eastern brook trout) | 5 from lakes, ponds and reservoirs. | No size restriction. |
| 2 from rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | 8-inch minimum size. | |
| The daily trout limit is 5 trout, regardless of origin, of which not more than 2 may be steelhead. | ||
| Walleye | 5 | 16-inch minimum size. Not more than 1 walleye greater than 22 inches in length may be retained. |
| Whitefish | 15 | No size restriction. |
| All other game fish | No limit. | No size restriction. |
(3) Wild steelhead and Dolly Varden/bull trout: Except as provided for in this section and WAC 232-28-619, it is unlawful to retain wild steelhead or Dolly Varden.
(4) Wild steelhead license year limit: From waters in which wild steelhead may be taken as provided for in WAC 232-28-619, the license year limit is one wild steelhead.
(5) ((Total steelhead license year limit: The license
year limit is thirty steelhead in total.
(6))) Saltwater game fish retention: Game fish taken in saltwater may not be retained, except that up to two hatchery steelhead per day may be retained.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-56-510, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06.]
OTS-1072.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 06-23, filed 2/14/06,
effective 5/1/06)
WAC 232-12-168
Fishing contests.
(1) Contest defined:
By definition, a fishing contest exists when 6 or more
licensed persons fish competitively and determine winners,
regardless of prize value.
(2) Application:
(a) Fishing contest permit applications should be submitted to the department by November 1 of each year for contests that are to take place the following calendar year. After November 1, applications must be submitted not less than 30 days prior to the date for which the contest is proposed.
(b) Applications must include the permit fee required by RCW 77.65.480. The fee will be returned if the permit is denied. No more than seven permits will be issued to any one permittee during a calendar year. The fee is $24 per permit.
(c) For purposes of application for a fishing contest permit, "permittee" means a "person" as defined in RCW 77.08.010. All applications from a permittee must be in a single name.
(3) Approval:
(a) Fishing contests which adversely affect fish or wildlife resources or other recreational opportunity may be denied.
(b) Contests will not be allowed on sea-run cutthroat trout, wild steelhead where wild steelhead retention is not allowed, Dolly Varden or bull trout.
(c) During fishing contests, where anglers target tiger muskies, no retention of caught fish is allowed. Tiger muskies may be caught, measured for length, photographed and all fish must be immediately released alive.
(4) Prize value: Total prize value per contest will not exceed $5,000 when trout, steelhead, char, whitefish, grayling, tiger muskie, or kokanee are included as target species; provided that contests wherein other species not listed above are targeted, or where bass or walleye are the targeted species and at least 90 percent of bass or walleye are released alive and in good condition after the contest, may qualify for no limitation on amount of prize.
(5) Legal requirements, all contests:
(a) Fishing contest permits must be in the possession of the contest sponsor or official at the contest site.
(b) Contests are restricted to the species and waters approved on the permit. Only those species listed as a target of the contest may be retained by contest participants during bass or walleye contests where all contestants fish at the same time and place.
(c) Sponsors must report contest information requested by the department within 30 days after the contest has ended. Subsequent contest permits will not be issued for one year after the date of the contest for which the report was not returned if this requirement is not fulfilled.
(d) Contest participants may not restrict public access at boat launches.
(e) Contests for bass and walleye where participants expect to fish at the same time from boats on lakes or reservoirs will not last longer than three consecutive days and have the following limits per water:
| ACRES | CONTESTS PER DAY |
BOATS PER CONTEST DAY |
||
| Less than 300 | 1 | 15 | ||
| 301 - 3,000 | 1 | 35 | ||
| 3,001 - 6,000 | 2 | 75 | ||
| 6,001 - 10,000 | 2 | 120 | ||
| More than 10,000 | 3 | 250 | ||
| * | No more than four weekend days per month nor more than two weekends per month may be scheduled on any water when contestants fish at the same time, and are allowed to fish from boats. | |||
(6) Special regulations, bass and walleye contests:
(a) In any contest targeting either bass or walleye, all live bass or walleye must be released alive into the water from which they were caught after being weighed and/or measured. At the end of each day's competition, if the mortality of target fish caught that day exceeds 10%, the contest will be suspended. Suspended contests may be continued (within assigned permit dates) only if the cause of the high mortality can be positively identified, and the cause of the mortality (high waves, equipment deficiency, etc.) ceases or is corrected by contest officials.
(b) During bass and walleye contests only, participants may continue to fish while holding up to five fish in possession, as long as one fish is released immediately upon catching a fish which would make the angler in excess of five fish if kept. The fish released may come either from the one just caught, or from the livewell, but at no time may the angler have more than five fish in the livewell.
(c) During bass contests, contestants may not use live bait.
(d) During bass and walleye contests participants may retain up to five bass and walleye of any size to be weighed in. A tournament angler may not be in possession of more than five bass or walleye from the water being fished, except as authorized under (6)(e) below.
(e) The contest director or director designee may exceed possession limits for bass or walleye for the purpose of transporting fish from a weigh-in site to an open-water area. During transportation, the transport boat must not leave the water the fish were caught from and a copy of the contest permit must be on board during actual fish transport.
(f) Boat identification: All boats used for fishing in bass and walleye contests must be clearly identified according to criteria established by the department.
(7) ((Zebra mussel decontamination. Prior to
participating in a Washington state fishing contest:
(a) All contest participants are required to sign a zebra mussel decontamination statement that their boats and/or boat trailers have or have not been in physical contact with any waters east of the Continental Divide for thirty days immediately preceding the contest and, if the boat and/or trailer has been in contact with such waters the participant must complete a decontamination report indicating that the following actions have been taken:
(i) A physical inspection has been made of the hull, motor, trailer, livewell and bilge by the contest director or designee, and any zebra mussels, if found, have been disposed of in a garbage container; and
(ii) The vessel has been decontaminated by the hull having been:
(A) Pressurized washed with hot soapy water; or
(B) Washed with a household bleach solution of one part bleach to 19 parts water, or the equivalent;
(iii) The motor has been run in a household bleach solution of one part bleach to 19 parts water, or the equivalent, for a minimum of one minute; and
(iv) The bilge and any livewells have been flushed, and the flush water disposed in such a manner that the wastewater will not directly enter state waters, either ground or surface.
(b) The zebra mussel decontamination statement and decontamination report shall be submitted to the department as part of the fishing contest report.)) Aquatic invasive species decontamination. Prior to launching into any Washington state body of water:
(a) All contest participants are required to sign an aquatic invasive species decontamination statement that their boats and/or boat trailers have or have not been in physical contact with any waters outside of Washington state for thirty days immediately preceding the contest and, if the boat and/or trailer has been in contact with such waters, the participant must complete an aquatic invasive species decontamination report indicating that the following actions have been taken:
(i) A physical inspection has been made of the hull, motor, trailer, livewell and bilge by the contest director or designee, according to criteria established by the department; and
(ii) Any aquatic invasive species, if found, have been disposed of in a garbage container; and
(iii) The hull, motor, trailer, livewell, and bilge have been decontaminated according to criteria established by the department.
(b) The aquatic invasive species decontamination statement and decontamination report shall be submitted to the department as part of the fishing contest report.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 232-12-168, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 232-12-168, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 232-12-168, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 232-12-168, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.020 and 77.12.040. 96-15-096 (Order 96-80), § 232-12-168, filed 7/19/96, effective 8/19/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 96-11-079, § 232-12-168, filed 5/13/96, effective 7/1/96; 94-06-014 (Order 629), § 232-12-168, filed 2/18/94, effective 3/21/94; 92-22-015 (Order 577), § 232-12-168, filed 10/21/92, effective 11/21/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 77.04.055. 90-22-057 (Order 464), § 232-12-168, filed 11/5/90, effective 12/6/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 77.16.010. 86-21-017 (Order 280), § 232-12-168, filed 10/6/86.]
OTS-1073.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-16-056, filed 7/26/07,
effective 8/26/07)
WAC 232-28-619
Washington food fish and game
fish -- Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules.
(1) All
freshwater streams and lakes not listed as open for salmon
fishing are closed.
(2) Freshwater terminal gear restrictions: In all waters
with freshwater terminal gear restrictions, including, but not
limited to, selective gear rules, whitefish gear rules, single
point barbless hooks required, fly-fishing only, and
((nonbuoyant lure restrictions)) antisnagging rule, violation
of the gear rules is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160. It is unlawful to possess fish taken with gear in
violation of the freshwater terminal gear restrictions. Possession of fish while using gear in violation of the
freshwater terminal gear restrictions is a rebuttable
presumption that the fish were taken with such gear. Possession of such fish is punishable under RCW 77.15.380
Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree, unless the
fish are taken in the amounts or manner to constitute a
violation of RCW 77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in
the first degree.
(3) County freshwater exceptions to statewide rules:
(a) Adams and Grant counties: All seasons in specific freshwater exceptions to statewide rules apply to inlet and outlet streams of named lakes in Grant and Adams counties.
(b) Adams, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, and Okanogan counties, except Zosel Dam (Okanogan River): Lawful to fish to base of all dams.
(c) Benton County: Rivers, streams and beaver ponds open year around.
(d) Ferry and Lincoln counties: Except those tributaries listed under specific water exceptions to statewide rules, all tributaries to Lake Roosevelt between Grand Coulee Dam and the State Highway 25 Bridge at Northport except Barnaby and Nancy creeks: Trout: Daily limit 5, no minimum size.
(e) Kitsap County and Mason County on Tahuya Peninsula west of Belfair-Bremerton Highway (S.R. 3): Beaver ponds: Last Saturday in April through October 31 season. Trout: No minimum length.
(4) Specific freshwater exceptions to statewide rules:
Aberdeen Lake (Grays Harbor County): Last Saturday in April
through October 31 season. Trout: No more than two over 15
inches in length may be retained per day.
Abernathy Creek (Cowlitz County):
From mouth to a point five hundred feet downstream from salmon hatchery: June 1 through August 31 and November 1 through March 15 season. Trout: Release all fish except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day.
From Abernathy Falls to posted markers five hundred feet downstream from salmon hatchery: Closed waters.
Aeneas Lake (Okanogan County): Last Saturday in April through
October 31 season. Fly fishing only. Fishing from a floating
device equipped with a motor prohibited. Trout: Daily limit
one.
Ahtanum Creek, including North and Middle Forks (Yakima
County): Selective gear rules. North Fork from Grey Rock
Trailhead Bridge crossing to Shellneck Creek: Closed waters.
Alder Creek (Cowlitz County): Closed waters.
Aldrich Lake (Mason County): Last Saturday in April through
October 31 season.
Aldwell Lake (Clallam County): Last Saturday in April through
October 31 season. Selective gear rules except fishing from a
floating device equipped with an internal combustion motor
permitted. Trout: Daily limit two, minimum length twelve
inches.
Alexander Lake (Kitsap County): Closed waters.
Alkali Lake (Grant County): Crappie: Not more than five
greater than eight inches in length. Bluegill: Not more than
five greater than six inches in length.
Alta Lake (Okanogan County): Last Saturday in April through
September 30 season.
Amber Lake (Spokane County): Last Saturday in April through
September 30 season. Selective gear rules. Trout: Daily
limit two, minimum length fourteen inches; release rainbow
trout with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar at the site
of the clipped fin. Additional season October 1 through
November 30 and March 1 through Friday before last Saturday in
April. Selective gear rules. All species: Release all fish.
American Lake (Pierce County): Chumming permitted.
American River (Yakima County): Closed waters: From Highway
410 Bridge at river mile 5.4 to the Mesatchee Creek Trail
crossing at river mile 15.8 July 16 through September 15.
Selective gear rules.
Anderson Lake (Jefferson County): Last Saturday in April
through October 31 season. Fishing from a floating device
equipped with an internal combustion motor prohibited. From
September 1 through October 31, selective gear rules and
trout: Release trout.
Armstrong Lake (Snohomish County): Last Saturday in April
through October 31 season.
Asotin Creek, mainstem and forks (Asotin County): Closed to
fishing for steelhead.
From SR 129 Bridge upstream to the forks: Lawful to fish up to base of Headgate Dam.
North Fork from mouth upstream to USFS boundary: Selective gear rules.
North Fork from USFS boundary upstream and all other tributaries: Closed waters.
South Fork and tributaries: Closed waters.
B.C. Mill Pond (Stevens County): Last Saturday in April
through October 31 season.
Bachelor Creek (Yakima County): Year around season. Trout:
Daily limit five, no minimum length.
Badger Lake (Spokane County): Last Saturday in April through
September 30 season.
Baker Lake (Whatcom County): Last Saturday in April through
October 31 season, except closed waters in an area two hundred
feet in radius around the pump discharge at the south end of
the lake. Chumming permitted. Trout: Minimum length six
inches and maximum length eighteen inches.
Baker River (Skagit County): Mouth to Highway 20 Bridge:
September 1 through October 31 season. ((Nonbuoyant lure
restriction and night closure.)) Antisnagging rule. Trout:
Minimum length fourteen inches, except Dolly Varden/Bull
Trout. Legal to retain Dolly Varden/Bull Trout as part of the
trout daily limit, minimum length twenty inches. Salmon:
Open only July 1 through July 31 except closed 12:01 a.m. July
5 through 2:00 p.m. July 6 and 12:01 a.m. July 10 through 2:00
p.m. July 11. ((Nonbuoyant lure restriction and night
closure.)) Antisnagging rule. Daily limit 2 sockeye salmon.
Highway 20 Bridge to Baker River fish barrier dam: Closed waters.
Banks Lake (Grant County): Chumming allowed. Perch: Daily
limit twenty-five. ((Small mouth bass: Small mouth bass do
not count as part of bass daily limit. Small mouth bass 12 to
17 inches in length may be retained. No minimum size. Daily
limit 10 small mouth bass not more than one of which may be
greater than 14 inches in length.)) Crappie: Daily limit 10,
minimum size 9 inches in length.
Barnaby Slough (Skagit County): Closed waters.
Battle Ground Lake (Clark County): Fishing from a floating
device equipped with an internal combustion motor prohibited. Trout: No more than 2 trout 20 inches or greater in length
may be retained.
Bay Lake (Pierce County): Last Sa