(1) It is unlawful to possess any food fish or shellfish in a condition where the species, length, weight, or sex cannot be determined if a species, species group or category, length, weight, or sex limit is prescribed for that species on a vessel engaging in commercial fishing or that has commercially caught fish aboard, except:
(a) It is permissible to possess fish or shellfish legally taken for commercial purposes, landed, and properly accounted for on a completed fish receiving ticket;
(b) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land dressed sablefish;
(c) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed salmon caught during a legal commercial salmon troll fishery, provided that frozen dressed Chinook salmon are 21 1/2 inches or more in length and frozen dressed coho salmon are 12 inches or more in length, measured from the midpoint of the clavicle arch to the fork of the tail;
(d) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed halibut if allowed by International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) rules and such fish meet any IPHC size requirements so long as halibut is landed with the heads still attached;
(e) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed lingcod when taken during a lawful commercial fishery; and
(f) It is permissible to possess, transport through the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or land dressed rockfish if authorized by a permit issued by the director and in accordance with the permit's terms and conditions.
(2) Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor under RCW
77.15.550, Violation of commercial fishing area or time—Penalty.
(3) "Dressed fish" is defined as provided in WAC
220-350-050.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.020,
77.12.045,
77.04.055, and
77.12.047. WSR 23-07-087 (Order 23-43), § 220-353-050, filed 3/15/23, effective 4/15/23. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.020,
77.04.055, and
77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-353-050, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
77.04.012,
77.04.013,
77.04.055,
77.12.045, and
77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-121, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13.]