WSR 25-03-119
EXPEDITED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-04—Filed January 21, 2025, 10:30 a.m.]
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amendments to coastal recreational bottomfishing in WAC 220-314-020 Possession limits—Bottomfish.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The Washington department of fish and wildlife (WDFW) seeks to amend a rule affecting the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery so that it is consistent with regulations adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC).
The rule change will decrease the daily possession limit for canary rockfish to five fish in the coastal (i.e., Marine Areas 1 through 4) recreational bottomfish fishery to reduce total catch consistent with the decline in the state-specific harvest guidelines for 2025. The coastal recreational bottomfish fishery season opens the second Saturday in March and closes the third Saturday in October.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule change makes state regulations consistent with regulations recently adopted by PFMC and implemented into federal regulation by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Stakeholder feedback received from Washington recreational anglers was considered during the PFMC public hearing process and through public meetings sponsored by WDFW.
Rule is necessary because of federal law, [no further information supplied by agency].
Name of Proponent: WDFW, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Lorna Wargo, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA, 360-581-5611; Enforcement: Steve Bear, Police Chief, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA, 360-902-3463.
This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:
Adopts or incorporates by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations, Washington state statutes, rules of other Washington state agencies, shoreline master programs other than those programs governing shorelines of statewide significance, or, as referenced by Washington state law, national consensus codes that generally establish industry standards, if the material adopted or incorporated regulates the same subject matter and conduct as the adopting or incorporating rule.
Have been the subject of negotiated rule making, pilot rule making, or some other process that involved substantial participation by interested parties before the development of the proposed rule.
Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: These changes are consistent with the actions taken by PFMC, which includes an extensive stakeholder process. Through the delegation of authority provided by the Washington fish and wildlife commission to the director, WDFW regulatory changes for consistency with PFMC actions may be approved by the director via expedited rule making.
NOTICE
THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Scott Bird, Rules Coordinator, WDFW, P.O. Box 43200 Olympia, WA 98501, phone 855-925-2801, code 11018, fax 360-902-2155, email 2025bottomfish@publicinput.com, AND RECEIVED BY March 25, 2025.
January 20, 2025
Scott Bird
Rules Coordinator
RDS-6120.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-07-086, filed 3/15/23, effective 4/15/23)
WAC 220-314-020Possession limits—Bottomfish.
It is unlawful for any person to fish for or take bottomfish for personal use except within the seasons, daily quantities, and possession limits prescribed as follows:
(1) Coastal areas (Marine Areas 1 through 3 and 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line):
(a) Bottomfish fishing is open the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, except fishing for surfperch from the shore is allowed year-round.
(b) Limit of surfperch is 12 per person per day. For all other bottomfish, limit is 9 fish total per person per day, which may include no more than:
(i) Lingcod: 2 fish, no minimum length.
(ii) Rockfish: 7 fish in aggregate. The possession limit for yelloweye rockfish is 0. The possession limit for canary rockfish is 5. In May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0.
(iii) Wolf-eel: 0 fish from Catch Record Card Area 4.
(iv) Cabezon: Marine Areas 1 through 4: 1 fish, no minimum size.
(c) Additional flatfish: In addition to the bottomfish limit in (b) of this subsection, anglers may take 5 flatfish per person, per day, not to be counted towards the bottomfish limit but in addition to it.
(2) Inner Puget Sound (Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and 5 through 13):
(a) Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Limit of surfperch is 12 per person per day. For all other bottomfish, 9 fish total, which may include no more than:
(i) Lingcod: 2 fish, no minimum length.
(ii) Rockfish: 7 fish. Only black, blue/deacon, yellowtail, and widow rockfish may be retained.
(iii) Wolf-eel: 0 fish.
(iv) Cabezon: 1 fish, no minimum size.
(b) Marine Areas 5 and 6: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
Rockfish in Marine Area 5 except | | 1 fish May 1 through September 30. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. |
in Marine Area 5 west of Slip Point | | 3 fish. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. |
in Marine Area 6. | | 0 fish |
Surfperch | | 10 fish |
Pacific cod | | 2 fish |
Pollock | | 2 fish |
Flatfish (except halibut) | | 15 fish |
Lingcod | | 1 fish |
Wolf-eel | | 0 fish |
Cabezon | | 1 fish |
Pacific hake | | 2 fish |
(c) Marine Area 7: 15 fish total for all species of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
Rockfish | | 0 fish |
Surfperch | | 10 fish |
Pacific cod | | 2 fish |
Flatfish (except halibut) | | 15 fish |
Lingcod | | 1 fish |
Wolf-eel | | 0 fish |
Cabezon | | 1 fish |
Pollock | | 2 fish |
Pacific hake | | 2 fish |
(d) Marine Areas 8-1 through 11, and 13: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
Rockfish | | 0 fish |
Surfperch | | 10 fish |
Pacific cod | | 0 fish |
Pollock | | 0 fish |
Flatfish (except halibut) | | 15 fish |
Lingcod | | 1 fish |
Wolf-eel | | 0 fish |
Cabezon | | 1 fish |
Pacific hake | | 0 fish |
(e) Marine Area 12: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
Rockfish | | 0 fish |
Surfperch | | 0 fish |
Pacific cod | | 0 fish |
Pollock | | 0 fish |
Flatfish (except halibut) only in Dabob Bay north of Turner Creek | | 15 fish |
Lingcod | | 0 fish |
Wolf-eel | | 0 fish |
Cabezon | | 0 fish |
Pacific hake | | 0 fish |
(f) The possession limit for lingcod taken by angling gear is 26 to 36 inches in length. For spear fishing, lingcod may not be possessed that exceed 36 inches in length but there is no minimum size limit.
(g) In Marine Areas 5 through 11, and 13, the minimum size limit for cabezon is 18 inches. All cabezon must be released in Marine Areas 5 through 11, and 13, from December 1 through April 30.
(h) In Marine Area 5, the daily limit for rockfish is the first legal rockfish caught, except that west of Slip Point, the daily limit for rockfish is the first three legal rockfish caught. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. After the daily limit of rockfish is caught, all subsequent rockfish must be released.
(i) In Marine Area 5, it is unlawful to take rockfish by spear fishing except when this area is open to spear fishing for lingcod.
(3) The possession limit at any time may not exceed the equivalent of two daily limits in fresh, frozen or processed form.
(4) Unless otherwise provided, bottomfish fishing is open the entire year.
(5) Daily limits include bottomfish caught in adjacent areas bordering other states, such as Oregon.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess sixgill, sevengill, or thresher sharks.