PERMANENT RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Amend personal use rules.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-12-144; and amending WAC 220-20-010, 220-55-160, 220-56-100, 220-56-122, 220-56-175, 232-12-001, and 232-12-619.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-10-090 on May 3, 2006.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 3, Amended 7, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 9, 2006.
Nancy Burkhart
for Ron Ozment, Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
OTS-8797.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 05-53, filed 3/30/05,
effective 4/30/05)
WAC 220-20-010
General provisions -- Lawful and unlawful
acts -- Salmon, other ((food)) fish and shellfish.
(1) It shall
be unlawful to take, fish for, possess or transport for any
purpose ((food)) fish, shellfish or parts thereof, in or from
any of the waters or land over which the state of Washington
has jurisdiction, or from the waters of the Pacific Ocean,
except at the times, places and in the manners and for the
species, quantities, sizes or sexes provided for in the
regulations of the department.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to have in possession or under control or custody any food fish or shellfish within the land or water boundaries of the state of Washington, except in those areas which are open to commercial fishing or wherein the possession, control or custody of salmon or other food fish or shellfish for commercial purposes is made lawful under a statute of the state of Washington or the rules and regulations of the commission or director, unless otherwise provided.
(3) It shall be lawful to fish for, possess, process and otherwise deal in food fish and fish offal or scrap for any purpose, provided; that it shall be unlawful to use any of the following listed species for purposes other than human consumption or fishing bait:
| Pacific halibut | (Hippoglossus stenolepis) |
| Pacific herring (except as prescribed in WAC 220-49-020) |
(Clupea harengus pallasi) |
| Salmon | |
| Chinook | (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) |
| Coho | (Oncorhynchus kisutch) |
| Chum | (Oncorhynchus keta) |
| Pink | (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) |
| Sockeye | (Oncorhynchus nerka) |
| Masu | (Oncorhynchus masu) |
| Pilchard | (Sardinops sagax) |
| Except as provided for in WAC 220-88C-040 | |
(5) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any commercial food fish or shellfish gear to leave such gear unattended in waters of the state or offshore waters unless said gear is marked.
(a) Shellfish pot, bottom fish pot, set line and set net gear must be marked with a buoy to which shall be affixed in a visible and legible manner the department approved and registered buoy brand issued to the license, provided that:
(i) Buoys affixed to unattended gear must be visible on the surface of the water except during strong tidal flow or extreme weather conditions.
(ii) When two or more shellfish pots are attached to a common ground line the number of pots so attached must be clearly labeled on the required buoy.
(b) It is unlawful to operate any gill net, attended or unattended, unless there is affixed, within five feet of each end of the net, a buoy, float, or some other form of marker, visible on the corkline of the net, on which shall be marked in a visible, legible and permanent manner the name and gill net license number of the fisher.
(c) It shall be unlawful at any time to leave a gill net unattended in the commercial salmon fishery.
(6) It shall be unlawful to place any commercial food fish or shellfish gear in any waters closed to commercial fishing, provided; that this provision shall not apply to reef nets or brush weirs or to gear being tested under supervision of the department, provided further that it shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess food fish with any type of commercial fishing gear in the waters of Carr Inlet north of north latitude 47°20' from August 15 through November 30 except as provided in chapter 220-47 WAC.
(7) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any fishing gear to refuse to submit such gear to inspection in any manner specified by authorized representatives of the department.
(8) It shall be unlawful for any person taking or
possessing ((food)) fish or shellfish taken from any of the
waters or beaches of the Columbia River, the state of
Washington or the Pacific Ocean for any purpose to fail to
submit such ((food)) fish or shellfish for inspection by
authorized representatives of the department.
(9) It shall be unlawful for any person licensed by the
department to fail to make or return any report required by
the department relative to the taking, selling, possessing,
transporting, processing, freezing and storing of ((food))
fish or shellfish whether taken within the jurisdiction of the
state of Washington or beyond or on Indian reservations or
usual and accustomed Indian fishing grounds.
(10) It shall be unlawful to take, fish for or possess or to injure, kill or molest fish in any fishway, fish ladder, fish screen, holding pond, rearing pond, or other fish protective device, or to interfere in any manner with the proper operation of such fish protective devices.
(11) It shall be unlawful to club, gaff, shoot with
firearm, crossbow, bow and arrow or compressed air gun, snag,
snare, dip net, harass, spear, stone or otherwise molest,
injure, kill or destroy any ((food)) fish or shellfish or
parts thereof, or for any person to attempt to commit such
acts, or to have any fish, shellfish or parts thereof so taken
in possession, except as provided for in this subsection:
(a) It shall be lawful to use a dip net or club in the
landing of ((food)) fish taken by personal-use angling unless
otherwise provided and it shall be lawful to use a gaff in the
landing of tuna, halibut and dogfish in all catch record card
areas.
(b) It shall be lawful to use a dip net, gaff, or club in the landing of food fish or shellfish taken for commercial purposes, except that it is unlawful to use a fish pew, pitchfork, or any other instrument that will penetrate the body of the food fish or shellfish while sorting commercial catches during the act of discarding those fish that are not going to be retained.
(c) It shall be lawful to use a spear in underwater spear fishing as provided for in WAC 220-56-160.
(d) It shall be lawful to use a bow and arrow or spear to take carp as provided for in WAC 220-56-280.
(e) It shall be lawful to snag herring, smelt, anchovies, pilchard, sand lance, and squid when using forage fish jigger gear or squid jigs.
(f) It shall be lawful to shoot halibut when landing them with a dip net or gaff.
(12) It shall be unlawful to take or possess for any
purpose any ((food)) fish or shellfish smaller than the lawful
minimum size limits. Any such fish either snagged, hooked,
netted or gilled must be immediately returned to the water
with the least possible injury to the fish or shellfish and it
shall be unlawful to allow undersized salmon entangled in
commercial nets to pass through a power block or onto a power
reel or drum.
(13) It shall be unlawful to possess aboard any vessel engaged in commercial fishing or having commercially caught fish aboard, any food fish or shellfish in such condition that its species, length, weight or sex cannot be determined if a species, length, weight, or sex limit is prescribed for said species and it is unlawful to possess food fish or shellfish mutilated in any manner such that the natural length or weight cannot be determined if a length or weight limit is prescribed for said species.
(14) It shall be unlawful in any area to use, operate or carry aboard a commercial fishing vessel a licensed net or combination of such nets, whether fished singly or separately, in excess of the maximum lawful size or length prescribed for a single net in that area, except as otherwise provided for in the rules and regulations of the department.
(15) It shall be unlawful for any permit holder to fail to comply with all provisions of any special permit or letter of approval issued to him under the authority of the director, or to perform any act not specifically authorized in said document or in the regulations of the commission or director.
(16) It shall be unlawful to use, place or cause to be
placed in the waters or on the beaches or tidelands of the
state any substance or chemical used for control of predators
or pests affecting ((food)) fish or shellfish or other aquatic
marine organisms, without first having obtained a special
permit to do so from the director.
(17) It shall be unlawful to test commercial fishing gear except as follows:
(a) Bellingham Bay - inside and northerly of a line from Governor's Point to the south tip of Eliza Island to Point Frances in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(b) Boundary Bay - north of a line from Birch Point to Point Roberts and south of the international boundary in waters 10 fathoms and deeper during times not under IPSFC control.
(c) San Juan Channel - within a 1 mile radius of Point Caution during times not under IPSFC control.
(d) Port Angeles - inside and westerly of a line projected from the east tip of Ediz Hook through buoy C "1" to the mainland.
(e) Port Gardner - within a 2 mile radius of the entrance to Everett breakwater in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(f) Central Puget Sound - between lines from Meadow Point to Point Monroe and Skiff Point to West Point in waters 50 fathoms and deeper.
(g) East Pass - between lines from Point Robinson true east to the mainland and from Dash Point to Point Piner in waters 50 fathoms and deeper.
(h) Port Townsend - westerly of a line from the Coast Guard station in Port Townsend to Walan Point to Kala Point in waters 10 fathoms and deeper.
(i) All tows or sets are limited to 20 minutes exclusive of setting and retrieving time.
(j) All testing is to be accomplished between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
(k) Codends of trawl nets must be left open, all hooks of set line gear must be unbaited, and no lures or baited hooks shall be used with jig or troll gear.
(l) Any and all incidentally caught fish and shellfish must be returned to the waters immediately, and no fish or shellfish are to be retained aboard the vessel at any time during a gear test operation.
(m) It shall be unlawful for any person conducting such gear testing operations to fail to notify the fish and wildlife enforcement office in Olympia prior to testing.
(18) It is unlawful for any person or corporation either
licensed by the department or bringing ((food)) fish or
shellfish into the state to fail to comply with the directions
of authorized department personnel related to the collection
of sampling data or material from ((food)) fish or shellfish. It is also unlawful for any such person or corporation to fail
to relinquish to the department, upon request, any part of a
salmon or other ((food)) fish containing coded-wire tags,
including but not limited to, the snouts of those salmon that
are marked by having clipped adipose fins.
(19) It is unlawful for any person to possess live bottom fish taken under a commercial fishery license.
(20) It is unlawful for any person to use chemical irritants to harvest fish, shellfish or unclassified marine invertebrates except as authorized by permit issued by the department.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 05-08-056 (Order 05-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/30/05, effective 4/30/05; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 00-01-096 (Order 99-214), § 220-20-010, filed 12/15/99, effective 1/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 98-15-031 (Order 98-120), § 220-20-010, filed 7/7/98, effective 8/7/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. 98-06-031, § 220-20-010, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 93-15-051, § 220-20-010, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-20-010, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; 91-01-023, § 220-20-010, filed 12/10/90, effective 1/10/91; 89-02-022 (Order 88-186), § 220-20-010, filed 12/29/88; 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-20-010, filed 4/26/88; 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-20-010, filed 4/9/85; 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-010, filed 4/1/85; 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-20-010, filed 3/27/84; 82-15-040 (Order 82-83), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/82; 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-20-010, filed 3/18/82; 81-02-053 (Order 81-3), § 220-20-010, filed 1/7/81; 80-10-058 (Order 80-83), § 220-20-010, filed 8/6/80; 80-07-017 (Order 80-45), § 220-20-010, filed 6/11/80; 79-10-013 (Order 79-75), § 220-20-010, filed 9/7/79; Order 77-14, § 220-20-010, filed 4/15/77; Order 76-148, § 220-20-010, filed 12/2/76; Order 1193, § 220-20-010, filed 3/4/75; Order 1179, § 220-20-010, filed 11/19/74; Order 1106, § 220-20-010, filed 1/10/74; Order 1057, § 220-20-010, filed 5/22/73; Order 945, § 220-20-010, filed 8/16/71; Order 920, § 220-20-010, filed 5/13/71; Order 817, § 220-20-010, filed 5/29/69; Order 810, § 220-20-010, filed 4/17/69; Order 771-A, § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/68; Order 767, § 1, filed 12/22/67; Order 758, § 3, filed 10/16/67; Order 726, §§ 2, 3, filed 4/24/67; Order 721, § 1, filed 3/9/67; Subsections 1, 2 from Orders 405 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 3 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 16 from Order 525, filed 5/3/61; Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 4 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Orders 479 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 5 from Orders 383 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 6, 26, 35 from Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 7-11, 13-15, 17, 18, 22 from Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 12 from Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 19, 27 from Orders 480 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 20 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Orders 483 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 23 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 24 from Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 25 from Orders 449 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 28-33 from Orders 456 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 34 from Orders 486 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 36 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Subsections 37 and 38 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 39 from Order 672, filed 12/28/65.]
OTS-8798.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 99-13, filed 3/30/99,
effective 5/1/99)
WAC 220-55-160
Free fishing weekend.
The Saturday and
Sunday following the first Monday in June is declared to be
free fishing weekend in Washington. On this weekend a fishing
license is not required for any person, regardless of age or
residency, to fish for or possess fish and shellfish and a
fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit is not required to
utilize department parking facilities except that it is
unlawful to fish for or possess any species for which a catch
record is required without a valid catch record card in
possession. During free fishing weekend only the license and
permit provided for in this section are affected, and all
other rules including the catch record card requirement remain
in effect.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 220-55-160, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99.]
OTS-8799.4
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 06-23, filed 2/14/06,
effective 5/1/06)
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) "Bait" means any substance which attracts fish by scent or flavors. Bait includes any lure which uses scent or flavoring to attract fish.
(((2))) (3) "Barbless hook" means a hook on which all
barbs have been deleted when manufactured or filed off or
pinched down.
(((3))) (4) "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.
(((4))) (5) "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.
(((5))) (6) "Channel Marker 13 line" means a true
north-south line through Grays Harbor Channel Marker 13.
(((6))) (7) "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.
(((7))) (8) "Fresh" means fish or shellfish that are
refrigerated, iced, salted, or surface glazed.
(((8))) (9) "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.
(((9))) (10) "Frozen" means fish or shellfish that are
hard frozen throughout.
(((10))) (11) "Gaffing" means an effort to take fish by
impaling the fish with a hook attached directly to a pole or
other device.
(((11))) (12) "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.
(((12))) (13) "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.
(((13))) (14) "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.
(((14))) (15) "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.
(((15))) (16) "Juvenile" means a person under fifteen
year of age.
(((16))) (17) "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.
(((17))) (18) "Night closure" means closed to fishing
from one hour after official sunset to one hour before
official sunrise.
(((18))) (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.
(((19))) (20) "Possession limit" means the number of
daily limits allowed to be retained in the field or in
transit.
(((20))) (21) "Processed" means fish or shellfish which
have been processed by heat for human consumption as kippered,
smoked, boiled, or canned.
(((21))) (22) "((Seasonal wild)) Steelhead license year
limit" means the maximum number of ((wild)) steelhead trout
any one angler may retain from April 1st through the following
March 31st.
(((22))) (23) "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.
(((23))) (24) "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.
(((24))) (25) "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.
(((25))) (26) "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.
(((26))) (27) "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.
(((27))) (28) "Steelhead" means searun rainbow trout over
twenty inches in length.
(29) "Unmarked salmon" means a salmon with intact adipose and ventral fins.
(((28))) (30) "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) "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.
(((29))) (32) "Wild" when used to describe the difference
between a hatchery fish and a nonhatchery fish, except salmon,
means a fish with all fins intact.
(((30))) (33) "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) "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) "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. 06-05-085 (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.]
(2) It is unlawful to fish for the following species during the time periods indicated:
(a) It is unlawful to fish for salmon at night in the Hoodsport Hatchery zone as provided for in WAC 220-56-124.
(b) It is unlawful to fish for any species during night closures provided for in WAC 220-56-126 and 232-28-619.
(c) It is unlawful to fish for sturgeon in freshwater, except the Chehalis River, during the night closure provided for in WAC 220-56-282.
[]
(1) In order to fish for or possess for personal use any crab, 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.
(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 possessing a catch record card shall by April 30 of the year following the year printed on the card return such card to the department of fish and wildlife.
(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. 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.]
(1) Freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs: Open year round except as provided for in WAC 232-28-619.
(2) Freshwater rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Open June 1 through October 31 except as provided for in WAC 232-28-619.
(3) Saltwater (all waters downstream and seaward of the mouths of rivers and streams generally defined in WAC 220-16-245 and specifically defined in WAC 220-56-105): Open year round, except:
(a) Lake Washington Ship Canal - Those waters of Area 10 west of the Lake Washington Ship Canal to a north-south line 175 feet west of the Burlington-Northern Railroad Bridge are closed waters.
(b) Toliva Shoal - Waters within 500 yards of the Toliva Shoal buoy are closed waters from June 16 through April 30.
(c) Freshwater Bay - Waters south of a line from Angeles Point westerly to Observatory Point are closed July 1 through August 31.
(d) Tulalip Bay - Waters of Tulalip Bay east of a line from Hermosa Point to Mission Point are closed waters.
[]
(1) Daily game fish possession and size limits:
| Species | Daily limit | Size limits |
| Bass | 5 | Release bass 12 to 17 inches in length. Not more than 1 bass 17 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. |
| 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.
[]
OTS-8839.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 01-69, filed 4/26/01,
effective 5/27/01)
WAC 232-12-001
Definition of terms.
Definitions used in
rules of the commission are defined in RCW 77.08.010. In
addition, unless otherwise provided:
(1) A "valid" license, permit, tag, stamp or catch record card means a license, permit, tag, stamp, or catch record card that was issued to the bearer for the current season and is required to hunt, fish or possess wildlife and has not been altered except as provided by rule of the commission.
(2) "Falconry" means possession, control, or use of a raptor for the purpose of hunting and free flight training.
(3) (("Anadromous game fish" means:
(a) Steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, defined as any searun rainbow trout over twenty inches in length
(b) Searun cutthroat, Oncorhynchus clarkii
(c) Searun Dolly Varden, Salvelinus malma
(4))) "Handgun" means any pistol, revolver or short firearm with a barrel length of less than sixteen inches and does not have a shoulder stock.
(((5))) (4) "Body-gripping trap" means a trap that grips
an animal's body or body part. Body-gripping trap includes,
but is not limited to, steel-jawed leghold traps, padded-jaw
leghold traps, Conibear-type traps, neck snares, and
nonstrangling foot snares. Cage and box traps, suitcase-type
live beaver traps, and common rat and mouse traps are not
considered body-gripping traps.
(((6))) (5) "Raw fur" means a pelt that has not been
processed for purposes of retail sale.
(((7))) (6) "Padded foot-hold trap" means a trap designed
and set to grip the foot of a wild animal, both jaws of which
are covered with rubber pads having a minimum thickness of
one-eighth inch.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-12-001, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: 2000 c 107 § 7. 00-16-091 (Order 00-134), § 232-12-001, filed 7/31/00, effective 8/31/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 232-12-001, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99. Statutory Authority: 1998 c 191 and RCW 75.08.080. 99-03-029 (Order 99-02), § 232-12-001, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.12.040. 97-18-035, § 232-12-001, filed 8/27/97, effective 9/27/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 97-07-076 (Order 97-50), § 232-12-001, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-079 (Order 96-45), § 232-12-001, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-05-008 (Order 95-11), § 232-12-001, filed 2/1/95, effective 5/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.055 and 77.12.040. 93-21-070 (Order 617), § 232-12-001, filed 10/20/93, effective 4/16/94; 92-01-084 (Order 524), § 232-12-001, filed 12/16/91, effective 4/16/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 89-10-026 (Order 387), § 232-12-001, filed 4/26/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 77.16.010. 86-21-017 (Order 280), § 232-12-001, filed 10/6/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 81-22-002 (Order 174), § 232-12-001, filed 10/22/81; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-001, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-010.]
OTS-8800.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 06-23, filed 2/14/06,
effective 5/1/06)
WAC 232-12-619
((Permanent Washington statewide game
fish rules.)) Bullfrogs.
((The following statewide rules
apply to all waters unless modified under regional regulation
exceptions.
(1) Fishing seasons open at 12:01 a.m. on the first day and close at 11:59 p.m. on the last day and fishing is allowed 24 hours per day.
(2))) It is unlawful to((:
(a) Use a gaff hook to land game fish.
(b))) take bullfrogs except by angling, hand dip netting, spearing (gigging) or with bow and arrow. There is no daily limit on the number of bullfrogs that may be taken, no possession limit, and no size restrictions.
(((c) Feed or use any substance to attract game fish
unless specifically authorized by special regulations.
(d) Fish for game fish with a bow and arrow or spear.
(e) Possess fish which are under the minimum size or over the maximum size as shown in general or exceptions to state-wide rules.
(3) Seasonal steelhead limit: Each angler who possesses a valid steelhead catch record card may not retain more than thirty steelhead April 1st through the following March 31st of which no more than one may be a wild steelhead from waters in which wild steelhead retention is allowed.
(4) Military personnel, regardless of the length of time in the state of Washington, who are permanently stationed at a military installation within the state, are entitled to purchase a resident license. Military personnel must have a license to fish for game fish anywhere in the state. Dependents must establish a ninety-day residency.
(5) Wild cutthroat release: In waters requiring a wild cutthroat release, it is unlawful to possess any cutthroat that does not have a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar in the location of the clipped fin.
(6) Wild steelhead release: In waters requiring wild steelhead release, it is unlawful to possess any steelhead trout that does not have a clipped adipose or ventral fin and a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin.
(7) Free fishing weekend: The Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June is declared as free fishing weekend in Washington. On this weekend a fishing license is not required for any person, regardless of residency or age, to fish for or possess game fish and a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit is not required to utilize department parking facilities, except that it is unlawful to fish for or possess steelhead trout without the required catch record card. During free fishing weekend only the licensing requirement is affected, and all other rules remain in effect.
(8) Fish taken with artificial flies and lures: Where use of bait is prohibited, or where artificial flies or lures are used voluntarily, fish may be released until the daily limit is retained. If any fish has swallowed the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye or tongue, it should be kept if legal to do so.
(9) Rainbow trout taken from landlocked lakes: Rainbow trout taken from landlocked lakes shall not be considered steelhead and no catch record card is required.
(10) OPEN SEASONS:
| (( AND RESERVOIRS: |
|
AND BEAVER PONDS: |
| (( SPECIES |
LIMIT |
||
|
|||
(except Eastern Brook trout) |
|||
(Salvelinus fontinalis) |
Counts as a
bonus limit in
rivers, streams
and beaver
ponds. Total of
five fish,
including brook
trout, in these
waters. |
||
CATFISH |
|||
Eastern brook trout
Brown trout
Cutthroat trout
Dolly Varden/Bull trout
Golden trout
Grayling
Kokanee/Silver trout
Lake trout
Landlocked Atlantic salmon
Rainbow trout/Steelhead
Landlocked chinook and coho
Tiger trout
(b) Wild steelhead release is required year-round, except
as provided in exceptions to statewide rules.
(c) All waters, statewide, are CLOSED YEAR AROUND to fishing for or retaining Dolly Varden/Bull Trout.
Where exceptions to the above closure for Dolly Varden/Bull
Trout occur under individual listings in the exceptions to
statewide rules, Dolly Varden/Bull Trout count as part of the
combined trout daily limit of five.
| (( SPECIES |
LIMIT |
||
GAME FISH |
|||
(13) Possession limit. Except as otherwise provided, the possession limit is two daily limits in fresh, frozen or processed form.
(14) Marine waters rules: These rules apply to all marine waters contained within the boundaries of Washington state, within Puget Sound, Hood Canal, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, the Straight of Georgia, and the Pacific Ocean, including estuaries (river mouths) from salt water upstream to a line between the outermost headlands measured at the highest high tide (usually the debris line furthest inshore on surrounding beaches), unless otherwise described under area regulations (see individual areas, below):
(a) Fishing hours: Twenty-four hours per day year around except:
(i) Lake Washington Ship Canal - Those waters of Area 10 west of the Lake Washington Ship Canal to a north-south line 175 feet west of the Burlington-Northern Railroad Bridge are closed waters.
(ii) Toliva Shoal - Waters within 500 yards of the Toliva Shoal buoy are closed waters from June 16 through April 30.
(iii) Freshwater Bay - Waters south of a line from Angeles Point westerly to Observatory Point are closed July 1 through August 31.
(iv) Tulalip Bay - Waters of Tulalip Bay east of a line from Hermosa Point to Mission Point are closed waters.
(b) License requirements: A valid current Washington state department of fish and wildlife saltwater license, and, if appropriate, a sport catch record card, is required to fish for game fish including steelhead in marine waters. All steelhead taken from marine areas shall be entered on the catch record card using the words Marine Area and followed by the appropriate marine area code number.
(c) Gear restrictions: Angling gear only. In all areas, underwater spearfishing, spearing, gaffing, clubbing, netting, or trapping game fish is unlawful.
(d) All species: Release all fish except up to two hatchery steelhead may be retained per day.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 232-12-619, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06; 05-17-007 (Order 05-168), § 232-12-619, filed 8/3/05, effective 9/3/05; 05-05-035 (Order 05-15), § 232-12-619, filed 2/10/05, effective 5/1/05; 04-19-012 (Order 04-242), § 232-12-619, filed 9/2/04, effective 10/3/04; 04-07-009 (Order 04-39), § 232-12-619, filed 3/4/04, effective 5/1/04; 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 232-12-619, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: 2000 c 107 § 7. 00-16-091 (Order 00-134), § 232-12-619, filed 7/31/00, effective 8/31/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 232-12-619, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00; 99-15-081 (Order 99-102), § 232-12-619, filed 7/20/99, effective 8/20/99; 99-08-029 (Order 99-13), § 232-12-619, filed 3/30/99, effective 5/1/99. Statutory Authority: 1998 c 191 and RCW 75.08.080. 99-03-029 (Order 99-02), § 232-12-619, filed 1/13/99, effective 2/13/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. 98-06-031, § 232-12-619, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 75.12.040. 97-18-035, § 232-12-619, filed 8/27/97, effective 9/27/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 97-07-076 (Order 97-50), § 232-12-619, filed 3/19/97, effective 5/1/97; 96-11-079 (Order 96-45), § 232-12-619, filed 5/13/96, effective 6/13/96; 95-17-063 (Order 95-103), § 232-12-619, filed 8/15/95, effective 9/15/95; 95-05-008 (Order 95-11), § 232-12-619, filed 2/1/95, effective 5/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.055 and 77.12.040. 93-21-070 (Order 617), § 232-12-619, filed 10/20/93, effective 4/16/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 93-10-054 (Order 600), § 232-12-619, filed 4/30/93, effective 5/31/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.055 and 77.12.040. 92-01-084 (Order 524), § 232-12-619, filed 12/16/91, effective 4/16/92.]
OTS-8857.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 06-67, filed 4/11/06,
effective 5/12/06)
WAC 220-56-122
Statewide bait rules.
(1) It is unlawful
to fish for sturgeon except with bait.
(2) It is unlawful to use lamprey as fishing bait, regardless of the source or species of lamprey.
(3) It is lawful to use bait in saltwater, and it is unlawful to use terminal gear other than bait suspended above the bottom by a float in the East Duwamish waterway between a line projected east along the path of southwest Hanford Street and a line projected east from the south tip of Harbor Island.
(4) It is unlawful to chum, broadcast, feed, or distribute into freshwater any bait or other substance capable of attracting fish unless specifically authorized in exceptions to statewide rules.
(5) When fishing for trout with bait, all trout that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit, whether kept or released, and it is unlawful to continue to fish once the daily limit has been achieved, except that steelhead trout may be caught and released until the daily limit is taken.
(6) It is unlawful to use live fish as bait to fish for game fish.
(7) Use of bait in violation of this section is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.
(((7))) (8) It is unlawful to possess fish taken with
bait in violation of the provisions of this section. Possession of fish while using bait in violation of the
provisions of this section is a rebuttable presumption that
the fish were taken with such bait. Violation of this
subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.380 Unlawful
recreational fishing in the second degree -- Penalty, 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 -- Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-09-021 (Order 06-67), § 220-56-122, filed 4/11/06, effective 5/12/06; 06-05-085 (Order 06-23), § 220-56-122, filed 2/14/06, effective 5/1/06.]
OTS-8855.1
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 232-12-144 | Possession of live fish for bait while fishing. |