Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 13-01-064 on December 17, 2012.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 220-36-023 Salmon -- Grays Harbor fall fishery, 220-40-021 Salmon -- Willapa Bay summer fishery, 220-40-027 Salmon -- Willapa Bay fall fishery, and 220-56-105 River mouth definitions.

     Hearing Location(s): Region 6 Fish and Wildlife Office, Conference Room, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: April 16, 2013.

     Submit Written Comments to: Lori Preuss, Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by March 28, 2013.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Tami Lininger by March 28, 2013, (360) 902-2207 or TTY 1-800-833-6388.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These rules will incorporate the recommendations of the North of Falcon subgroup of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council for taking harvestable numbers of salmon during the commercial salmon fisheries in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor, while protecting species of fish listed as endangered.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule will protect species of fish listed as endangered while supporting commercial salmon fishing in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 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: Barbara McClellan, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563, (360) 249-1213; Implementation: James Scott, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2651; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 902-2373.

     A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.

     2. Kinds of Professional Services That a Small Business is Likely to Need in Order to Comply with Such Requirements: None, these rule changes clarify dates for anticipated open periods, show areas in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay that are closed to commercial harvest methods, and explain legal gear requirements.

     3. Costs of Compliance for Businesses, Including Costs of Equipment, Supplies, Labor, and Increased Administrative Costs: None anticipated, these rules are similar to previous years' rules for Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor, and no extra costs of compliance are required.

     4. Will Compliance with the Rule Cause Businesses to Lose Sales or Revenue? No.

     5. Cost of Compliance for the Ten Percent of Businesses That are the Largest Businesses Required to Comply with the Proposed Rules, Using One or More of the Following as a Basis for Comparing Costs:

     1. Cost per employee;

     2. Cost per hour of labor; or

     3. Cost per one hundred dollars of sales.

     There are no anticipated costs of compliance.

     6. Steps Taken by the Agency to Reduce the Costs of the Rule on Small Businesses or Reasonable Justification for Not Doing So: The department issues an annual pamphlet and mailer to all license holders to alert them to anticipated open periods, closed areas, and gear requirements.

     7. A Description of How the Agency Will Involve Small Businesses in the Development of the Rule: The department cosponsors the annual North of Falcon process, which is a series of public meetings held over a period of several months from February through April each year. These meetings allow constituents to provide input on the rules contained in this filing.

     8. A List of Industries That Will Be Required to Comply with the Rule: The industry that is required to comply with these rules is composed of all licensed fishers using legal commercial gear types and seeking to harvest salmon in the all-citizen commercial salmon fisheries occurring in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay.

     A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Lori Preuss, 600 Capital Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, phone (360) 902-2930, fax (360) 902-2155, e-mail Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These proposals do not affect hydraulics.

March 6, 2013

Lori Preuss

Rules Coordinator

OTS-5316.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-11-093, filed 5/18/12, effective 6/18/12)

WAC 220-36-023   Salmon -- Grays Harbor fall fishery.   From August 16 through December 31 of each year, it is unlawful to fish for salmon in Grays Harbor for commercial purposes or to possess salmon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except that:

Fishing periods:

     (1) Gillnet gear may be used to fish for Chinook, coho, chum salmon, and white sturgeon as provided for in subsections (6) and (7) of this section and in the times and area identified in the chart below.

Time:	Areas:
6:00 p.m. August ((19)) 18 through 6:00 p.m. August ((20, 2012)) 19, 2013;	Area 2C
6:00 p.m. August ((23)) 22 through 6:00 p.m. August ((24, 2012)) 23, 2013;
6:00 p.m. August ((27)) 26 through 6:00 p.m. August ((28, 2012)) 27, 2013;
6:00 p.m. August ((29)) 28 through 6:00 p.m. August ((30, 2012)) 29, 2013;
6:00 p.m. September ((5)) 4 through 6:00 p.m. September ((6, 2012)) 5, 2013;
AND
6:00 p.m. September ((28)) 27 through 6:00 p.m. September ((29, 2012)) 28, 2013.
6:00 a.m. ((October 1)) September 30 through 6:00 p.m. ((October 1, 2012)) September 30, 2013; 6:00 a.m. October ((2)) 1 through 6:00 p.m. October ((2, 2012)) 1, 2013; 6:00 a.m. October ((12)) 11 through 6:00 p.m. October ((12, 2012)) 11, 2013;	Area 2A AND
AND 6:00 a.m. October ((14)) 13 through 6:00 p.m. October ((14, 2012)) 13, 2013.	That portion of Area 2D lying easterly of a north-south line from the confluence of the Hoquiam and Chehalis rivers to Renney Island, then easterly to "Range Marker G," located on the south shore of Grays Harbor, then to the eastern boundary of Area 2D at the Highway 101 Bridge.
6:00 a.m. October ((19)) 18 through 6:00 p.m. October ((19, 2012)) 18, 2013; 6:00 a.m. October ((20)) 19 through 6:00 p.m. October ((20, 2012)) 19, 2013; AND 6:00 p.m. October ((21)) 20 through 6:00 p.m. October ((22, 2012)) 21, 2013.	Area 2A and Area 2D.

Gear:

     (2) Gillnet gear restrictions: All areas:

     (a) Drift gillnet gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear. It is permissible to have on board a commercial vessel more than one net, provided the nets are of a mesh size legal for the fishery, and the length of any one net does not exceed one thousand five hundred feet in length.

     Nets with a mesh size different from that being actively fished must be properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope that is 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.

     It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon or white sturgeon if the lead line weighs more than two pounds per fathom of net as measured on the cork line. It is permissible to have a gillnet with a lead line weighing more than two pounds per fathom aboard a vessel when the vessel is fishing in or transiting through Grays Harbor.

     (b) From August 16 through September 30, ((2012)) 2013: In Area 2C, mesh size must not exceed eight and one-half inch maximum.

     (c) From October 1 through October 31, ((2012)) 2013: In Areas 2A and 2D, mesh size must not exceed six and one-half inch maximum. Nets may be no more than fifty-five meshes deep.

Other:

     (3) Recovery boxes and soak times:

     (a) For Areas 2A and 2D, soak time must not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time is defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gillnet web is deployed into the water until the gillnet web is fully retrieved from the water.

     (b) Any steelhead or salmon that is required to be released and is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in a recovery box prior to being released to the river/bay. The recovery box must meet the requirements in (d) of this subsection.

     (c) All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river/bay prior to landing or docking.

     (d) Each boat must have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers on board when fishing Areas 2A and 2D. Each box must be operating during any time the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recovery box must be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box: The inside length measurement must be at or within 39-1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches.

     Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of the chamber and 1-3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is at least 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to department employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river/bay water into each chamber.

     (4) Quick reporting is required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." According to WAC 220-69-240(12), reports must be made by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing.

     (5) Fishers must take department observers if requested by department staff when participating in these openings. Fishers also must provide notice of intent to participate by contacting Quick Reporting by phone, fax or e-mail. Notice of intent must be given prior to 12:00 p.m. on August 15, ((2012)) 2013, for openings in Area 2C. Notice of intent must be given prior to 12:00 p.m. on September ((26, 2012)) 25, 2013, for openings in Areas 2A and 2D.

     (6) Retention of any species other than Chinook, coho, and chum, and white sturgeon with a fork length measure of not less than 43 inches and not more than 54 inches, is prohibited in Area 2C.

     (7) Retention of any species other than coho salmon, white sturgeon with a fork length measure of not less than 43 inches and not more than 54 inches, and hatchery Chinook marked by a healed scar at the site of the adipose fin, is prohibited in Areas 2A and 2D from October 1 through October ((20, 2012)) 19, 2013. Retention of any species other than coho, chum, white sturgeon with a fork length measure of not less than 43 inches and not more than 54 inches, and hatchery Chinook marked by a healed scar at the site of the adipose fin, is prohibited in Areas 2A and 2D from October ((21)) 20 through October ((24, 2012)) 13, 2013.

     (8) Report ALL encounters of green sturgeon, steelhead, and wild (unmarked) Chinook (your name, date of encounter, and number of species encountered) to the quick reporting office via phone at 866-791-1280, fax at 360-249-1229, or e-mail at harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Fishers may have wholesale dealers use the "buyer only" portion of the fish ticket and include encounters with each day's quick reporting.

     (9) White sturgeon, when lying on their side, are measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. This measurement is referred to as the fork length. All white sturgeon to be retained must have a fork length measure of no less than 43 inches and no more than 54 inches.

     (10) Do NOT remove tags from white sturgeon that are not allowed to be retained. For white sturgeon that can be retained, please submit tags to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 48 Devonshire Rd., Montesano, WA 98563. For white sturgeon not of a legal size and all green sturgeon, obtain available information from tags without removing the tags.

     (11) It is unlawful to fish for salmon with gillnet gear in Areas 2A, 2C, and 2D unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and has in his or her possession a department-issued certification card.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. 12-11-093, § 220-36-023, filed 5/18/12, effective 6/18/12; 11-14-003 (Order 11-91), § 220-36-023, filed 6/22/11, effective 7/23/11; 10-12-061 (Order 09-108), § 220-36-023, filed 5/27/10, effective 6/27/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020. 09-16-125 (Order 09-109), § 220-36-023, filed 8/4/09, effective 9/4/09; 08-15-003 (Order 08-166), § 220-36-023, filed 7/3/08, effective 8/3/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.047, and 77.65.200. 07-17-010, § 220-36-023, filed 8/3/07, effective 9/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 05-17-006 (Order 05-167), § 220-36-023, filed 8/3/05, effective 9/3/05; 04-16-013 (Order 04-183), § 220-36-023, filed 7/22/04, effective 8/22/04; 03-18-004 (Order 03-208), § 220-36-023, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 01-13-055 (Order 01-104), § 220-36-023, filed 6/15/01, effective 7/16/01; 00-23-065 (Order 00-240), § 220-36-023, filed 11/15/00, effective 12/16/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 99-24-104 (Order 99-206), § 220-36-023, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-36-023, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-15-148 (Order 97-123), § 220-36-023, filed 7/23/97, effective 8/23/97; 96-13-035 (Order 96-77), § 220-36-023, filed 6/11/96, effective 7/12/96; 95-13-065 (Order 95-76), § 220-36-023, filed 6/19/95, effective 7/20/95; 94-13-014 (Order 94-46), § 220-36-023, filed 6/3/94, effective 7/4/94; 93-14-042 (Order 93-54), § 220-36-023, filed 6/29/93, effective 7/30/93; 90-18-023 (Order 90-77), § 220-36-023, filed 8/24/90, effective 9/24/90; 89-16-056 (Order 89-71), § 220-36-023, filed 7/28/89, effective 8/28/89.]

OTS-5317.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-11-093, filed 5/18/12, effective 6/18/12)

WAC 220-40-021   Willapa Bay salmon -- Summer fishery.   From July 5 through August 15, it is unlawful to fish for salmon in Willapa Bay for commercial purposes or to possess salmon taken from those waters for commercial purposes, except that:

Fishing periods:

     (1) Gillnet gear may be used to fish for coho salmon, white sturgeon, and adipose fin-clipped hatchery Chinook salmon:

Time:	Areas:
6:00 p.m. August ((12)) 11 through 11:59 p.m. August ((15, 2012)) 14, 2013.	2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U

Gear:

     (2) Gillnet gear restrictions - All areas:

     (a) Drift gillnet gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear. It is permissible to have on board a commercial vessel more than one net, provided the nets are of a mesh size that is legal for the fishery, and the length of any one net does not exceed one thousand five hundred feet in length.

     Nets with a mesh size different from that being actively fished must be properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope that is 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.

     Only one net may be fished at a time; other nets must be properly stored.

     It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon or white sturgeon if the lead line weighs more than two pounds per fathom of net as measured on the cork line. It is permissible to have a gillnet with a lead line weighing more than two pounds per fathom aboard a vessel when the vessel is fishing in or in transit through Willapa Bay.

     (b) Mesh size must not exceed nine inches.

Other:

     (3) Recovery boxes and soak times:

     (a) Each boat must have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers on board when fishing in Willapa Bay Areas 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U. Each box must be operating during any time the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recovery box must be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box: The inside length measurement must be at or within 39-1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches.

     Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of the chamber and 1-3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is at least 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to department employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river/bay water into each chamber.

     (b) Soak time must not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time is defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gillnet web is deployed into the water until the gillnet web is fully retrieved from the water.

     (c) All wild (unmarked) Chinook, chum, nonlegal sturgeon, and all steelhead must be handled with care to minimize injury to the fish and must be released immediately to the river/bay or an operating recovery box when fishing in Willapa Bay Salmon Management Catch Reporting Areas (SMCRA) 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U.

     (d) Any steelhead or salmon that is required to be released and is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in the recovery box prior to being released to the river/bay. The recovery box must meet the requirements in (a) of this subsection.

     (e) All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river/bay prior to landing or docking.

     (4) Quick reporting is required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." According to WAC 220-69-240(12), reports must be made by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing.

     (5) Retention of any species other than coho salmon, white sturgeon with a fork length measure of not less than 43 inches and not more than 54 inches, and hatchery Chinook marked by a healed scar at the site of the adipose fin, is prohibited.

     (6) Report ALL encounters of wild (unmarked) Chinook, green sturgeon, and steelhead (your name, date of encounter, and number of species encountered) to the quick reporting office via phone at 866-791-1280, fax at 360-249-1229, or e-mail at harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Fishers may have wholesale dealers use the "buyer only" portion of the fish ticket and have encounters included with each day's quick reporting.

     (7) White sturgeon, when lying on their side, are measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. This measurement is referred to as the fork length. All white sturgeon to be retained must have a fork-length measure of no less than 43 inches and no more than 54 inches.

     (8) Do NOT remove tags from white sturgeon that are not allowed to be retained. For white sturgeon that can be retained, please submit tags to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 48 Devonshire Rd., Montesano, WA 98563. For white sturgeon not of a legal size and all green sturgeon, obtain available information from tags without removing the tags.

     (9) It is unlawful to fish with gillnet gear in Areas 2K, 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and has in his or her possession a department-issued certification card.

     (10) Fishers must take department observers if requested by department staff when participating in these openings. Fishers also must provide notice of intent to participate by contacting quick reporting by phone, fax or e-mail. Notice of intent must be given prior to 12:00 p.m. on August ((8, 2012)) 7, 2013.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. 12-11-093, § 220-40-021, filed 5/18/12, effective 6/18/12; 10-12-061 (Order 09-108), § 220-40-021, filed 5/27/10, effective 6/27/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 01-13-055 (Order 01-104), § 220-40-021, filed 6/15/01, effective 7/16/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-40-021, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-15-148 (Order 97-123), § 220-40-021, filed 7/23/97, effective 8/23/97; 96-13-035 (Order 96-77), § 220-40-021, filed 6/11/96, effective 7/12/96; 95-13-065 (Order 95-76), § 220-40-021, filed 6/19/95, effective 7/20/95; 94-13-014 (Order 94-46), § 220-40-021, filed 6/3/94, effective 7/4/94; 90-18-023 (Order 90-77), § 220-40-021, filed 8/24/90, effective 9/24/90; 89-16-056 (Order 89-71), § 220-40-021, filed 7/28/89, effective 8/28/89; 88-19-098 (Order 88-116), § 220-40-021, filed 9/20/88; 87-21-041 (Order 87-161), § 220-40-021, filed 10/14/87; 86-15-016 (Order 86-55), § 220-40-021, filed 7/10/86; 85-13-073 (Order 85-64), § 220-40-021, filed 6/19/85; 84-15-008 (Order 84-66), § 220-40-021, filed 7/6/84; 83-13-054 (Order 83-53), § 220-40-021, filed 6/15/83; 82-13-048 (Order 82-63), § 220-40-021, filed 6/11/82; 81-13-005 (Order 81-37), § 220-40-021, filed 6/8/81; 80-09-072 (Order 80-69), § 220-40-021, filed 7/18/80; 79-07-046 (Order 79-43), § 220-40-021, filed 6/22/79; 78-09-041 (Order 78-61), § 220-40-021, filed 8/18/78; Order 77-71, § 220-40-021, filed 8/18/77; Order 77-44, § 220-40-021, filed 6/3/77; Order 76-73, § 220-40-021, filed 8/16/76; Order 1221, § 220-40-021, filed 7/1/75; Order 1133, § 220-40-021, filed 7/19/74.]

Fishing periods:

     (1) Gillnet gear may be used to fish for coho salmon, white sturgeon, and adipose fin-clipped hatchery Chinook:

Time:	Area:
12:00 a.m. August ((16)) 15 through 6:00 a.m. August ((16, 2012)) 15, 2013;	Area 2M, Area 2N, Area 2R, Area 2T, and Area 2U
6:00 p.m. August ((21)) 20 through 6:00 a.m. August ((22, 2012)) 21, 2013;	Area 2U
6:00 p.m. August ((26)) 25 through 6:00 a.m. August ((27, 2012)) 26, 2013;	Area 2N, Area 2R, and Area 2U
AND
6:00 p.m. August ((28)) 27 through 6:00 a.m. August ((29, 2012)) 28, 2013;
6:00 p.m. August ((30)) 29 through 6:00 a.m. August ((31, 2012)) 30, 2013;	Area 2N and Area 2U
6:00 p.m. September ((4)) 3 through 6:00 a.m. September ((5, 2012)) 4, 2013;	Area 2N, Area 2R, and Area 2U
AND
6:00 p.m. September ((6)) 5 through 6:00 a.m. September ((7, 2012)) 6, 2013;
6:00 p.m. September ((9)) 10 through 6:00 a.m. September ((10, 2012)) 9, 2013; 6:00 p.m. September ((12)) 11 through 6:00 a.m. September ((13, 2012)) 12, 2013;	Area 2M, Area 2N, Area 2R, Area 2T, east of a line projected from the eastern most upland at Toke Point (approximately 46° 42' 26"N, 123° 57' 58"W) to Goose Point (approximately 46° 38' 12" N, 123° 57' 31" W) then to the eastern boundary at Range Marker "B" (located at 46° 42' 34" N, 123° 51' 18" W), and Area 2U
6:00 p.m. September ((19)) 18 through 6:00 p.m. September ((20, 2012)) 19, 2013;	Area 2K
AND
6:00 p.m. September ((26)) 25 through 6:00 p.m. September ((27, 2012)) 26, 2013;
6:00 p.m. September ((15)) 14 through 6:00 p.m. October ((13, 2012)) 12, 2013;	Area 2M, Area 2N, Area 2R, Area 2T, and Area 2U
AND
12:00 p.m. November ((6)) 5 through 12:00 p.m. November 30, ((2012)) 2013.

Gear:

     (2) Gillnet gear restrictions - All areas:

     (a) Drift gillnet gear only. It is unlawful to use set net gear. It is permissible to have on board a commercial vessel more than one net, provided the nets are of a mesh size that is legal for the fishery, and the length of any one net does not exceed one thousand five hundred feet in length.

     Nets with a mesh size different from that being actively fished must be properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope that is 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater.

     Only one net may be fished at a time; other nets must be properly stored.

     It is unlawful to use a gillnet to fish for salmon and/or white sturgeon if the lead line weighs more than two pounds per fathom of net as measured on the cork line. It is permissible to have a gillnet with a lead line weighing more than two pounds per fathom aboard a vessel when the vessel is fishing in or in transiting through Willapa Bay.

     (b) From August 16 through September ((13, 2012)) 12, 2013: Mesh size must not exceed nine-inch maximum mesh.

     (c) From September 15 through October 31, ((2012)) 2013: Mesh size must not exceed six and one-half inch maximum mesh.

     (d) From November 6 through November 30, ((2012)) 2013: Mesh size must be nine-inch minimum mesh, except that from 6:00 p.m. November ((11)) 10 through 6:00 p.m. November ((19, 2012)) 18, 2013 (coho directed), there are two alternatives:

     (i) Use six and one-half inch maximum mesh; or

     (ii) Use nine-inch minimum mesh.

     Only one net of either six and one-half inch or nine-inch configuration, not exceeding fifteen hundred feet, may be used when in the act of fishing.

Other:

     (3) Recovery boxes and soak time:

     (a) Each boat must have two operable recovery boxes or one box with two chambers on board when fishing in Willapa Bay Areas 2K, 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U from August 16 through October 31, ((2012)) 2013. Each box must be operating during any time the net is being retrieved or picked. The flow in the recovery box must be a minimum of 16 gallons per minute in each chamber of the box, not to exceed 20 gallons per minute. Each chamber of the recovery box must meet the following dimensions as measured from within the box: The inside length measurement must be at or within 39-1/2 inches to 48 inches, the inside width measurements must be at or within 8 to 10 inches, and the inside height measurement must be at or within 14 to 16 inches.

     Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water inlet hole between 3/4 inch and 1 inch in diameter, centered horizontally across the door or wall of the chamber and 1-3/4 inches from the floor of the chamber. Each chamber of the recovery box must include a water outlet hole opposite the inflow that is at least 1-1/2 inches in diameter. The center of the outlet hole must be located a minimum of 12 inches above the floor of the box or chamber. The fisher must demonstrate to department employees, fish and wildlife enforcement officers, or other peace officers, upon request, that the pumping system is delivering the proper volume of fresh river/bay water into each chamber.

     (b) From August 16 through October 31, ((2012)) 2013, soak time must not exceed 45 minutes. Soak time is defined as the time elapsed from when the first of the gillnet web is deployed into the water until the gillnet web is fully retrieved from the water.

     (c) From August 16 through October 31, ((2012)) 2013, all chum, nonlegal sturgeon, all steelhead, and wild (unmarked) Chinook must be handled with care to minimize injury to the fish and must be released immediately to the river/bay or to an operating recovery box when fishing in Willapa Bay Areas 2K, 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U.

     From November ((6)) 5 through November 30, ((2012)) 2013, all chum, all nonlegal sturgeon, and all steelhead must be handled with care to minimize injury to the fish and must be released immediately to the river/bay when fishing in Willapa Bay Areas 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U.

     (d) Any steelhead or salmon required to be released and is bleeding or lethargic must be placed in the recovery box prior to being released to the river/bay. The recovery box must meet the requirements in (a) of this subsection.

     (e) All fish placed in recovery boxes must be released to the river/bay prior to landing or docking.

     (4) Quick reporting is required for wholesale dealers and fishers retailing their catch under a "direct retail endorsement." According to WAC 220-69-240(12), reports must be made by 10:00 a.m. the day following landing.

     (5) Retention of any species other than coho salmon, white sturgeon with fork length measure not less than 43 inches and not more than 54 inches, and hatchery Chinook marked by a healed scar at the site of the adipose fin is prohibited.

     (6) Report ALL encounters of green sturgeon, steelhead, and wild (unmarked) Chinook (your name, date of encounter, and number of species encountered) to the quick reporting office via phone at 866-791-1280, fax at 360-249-1229, or e-mail at harborfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov. Fishers may have wholesale dealers use the "buyer only" portion of the fish ticket and have encounters included with each day's quick reporting.

     (7) White sturgeon, when lying on their side, are measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. This measurement is referred to as the fork length. All white sturgeon to be retained must have a fork length measure of no less than 43 inches and no more than 54 inches.

     (8) Do NOT remove tags from white sturgeon that are not allowed to be retained. For white sturgeon that can be retained, please submit tags to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 48 Devonshire Rd., Montesano, WA 98563. For white sturgeon not of a legal size and all green sturgeon, obtain available information from tags without removing tags.

     (9) It is unlawful to fish with gillnet gear in Areas 2K, 2M, 2N, 2R, 2T, and 2U unless the vessel operator has attended a "Fish Friendly" best fishing practices workshop and has in their possession a department-issued certification card.

     (10) Fishers must take department observers if requested by department staff when participating in these openings. Fishers also must provide notice of intent to participate by contacting quick reporting by phone, fax or e-mail. Notice of intent must be given prior to 12:00 p.m. on August ((15, 2012)) 14, 2013.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. 12-11-093, § 220-40-027, filed 5/18/12, effective 6/18/12; 11-14-003 (Order 11-91), § 220-40-027, filed 6/22/11, effective 7/23/11; 10-12-061 (Order 09-108), § 220-40-027, filed 5/27/10, effective 6/27/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020. 09-16-125 (Order 09-109), § 220-40-027, filed 8/4/09, effective 9/4/09; 08-15-003 (Order 08-166), § 220-40-027, filed 7/3/08, effective 8/3/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.047, and 77.65.200. 07-17-010, § 220-40-027, filed 8/3/07, effective 9/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 05-17-006 (Order 05-167), § 220-40-027, filed 8/3/05, effective 9/3/05; 04-16-013 (Order 04-183), § 220-40-027, filed 7/22/04, effective 8/22/04; 03-18-004 (Order 03-208), § 220-40-027, filed 8/20/03, effective 9/20/03; 02-16-021 (Order 02-173), § 220-40-027, filed 7/26/02, effective 8/26/02; 01-13-055 (Order 01-104), § 220-40-027, filed 6/15/01, effective 7/16/01; 00-23-065 (Order 00-240), § 220-40-027, filed 11/15/00, effective 12/16/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 99-24-104 (Order 99-206), § 220-40-027, filed 11/30/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080 and 77.12.040. 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-40-027, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. 97-15-148 (Order 97-123), § 220-40-027, filed 7/23/97, effective 8/23/97; 96-13-035 (Order 96-77), § 220-40-027, 6/11/96, effective 7/12/96; 95-13-065 (Order 95-76), § 220-40-027, filed 6/19/95, effective 7/20/95; 94-16-017 (Order 94-61), § 220-40-027, filed 7/21/94, effective 8/21/94; 93-14-042 (Order 93-54), § 220-40-027, filed 6/29/93, effective 7/30/93; 90-18-023 (Order 90-77), § 220-40-027, filed 8/24/90, effective 9/24/90; 89-16-056 (Order 89-71), § 220-40-027, filed 7/28/89, effective 8/28/89.]

OTS-5318.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 12-190, filed 8/23/12, effective 9/23/12)

WAC 220-56-105   River mouth definitions.   When pertaining to angling, unless otherwise defined, any reference to the mouths of rivers or streams includes those waters of any river or stream, including sloughs and tributaries, upstream and inside of a line projected between the outermost uplands at the mouth. The term "outermost upland" means those lands not covered by water during an ordinary high tide. The following river mouths are hereby otherwise defined:

	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.
	McLane Creek - A line 100 feet upstream of and parallel to the southernmost Highway 101 Bridge.
	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.
	Tahuya River - North Shore Rd. 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.
	Little White Salmon River - At boundary markers on river bank downstream from the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery.
	Willapa River - City of South Bend boat launch.
	Wind River - Boundary line markers at mouth.
	Yakima River - Highway 240 Bridge.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. 12-18-006 (Order 12-190), § 220-56-105, filed 8/23/12, effective 9/23/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 09-06-042 (Order 09-27), § 220-56-105, filed 2/25/09, effective 5/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.04.020. 08-15-002 (Order 08-165), § 220-56-105, filed 7/3/08, effective 8/3/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 08-07-003, § 220-56-105, filed 3/5/08, effective 4/5/08; 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.]