[Order 25-23—Filed February 13, 2025, 1:04 p.m., effective March 16, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: This emergency rule sets March and April recreational salmon seasons in Marine Areas 5, 10, and 11.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-313-060.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Marine Area 10 preseason guidelines are 4,787 total encounters, 735 total unmarked encounters, and 4,055 total sublegal encounters. Marine Area 11 preseason guidelines are 1,196 total encounters, 209 total unmarked encounters, and 840 total sublegal encounters. Marine Area 5 sublegal encounter guideline is 2,168.

The Washington department of fish and wildlife fishery managers have considered these preseason guidelines along with recommendations from Puget Sound recreational anglers and the Puget Sound sport fishing advisory group in an effort to extend available quota late into the winter season.

This rule is needed to avoid early season closures and is intended to extend the available winter salmon quota later into the season.

There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: February 13, 2025.

WAC 220-313-06000JPuget Sound salmon—Saltwater seasons and daily limits.

Effective March 16 through April 30, 2025, salmon rules for Catch Record Card areas 5, 10 and 11 shall be modified as described in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-313-060 not addressed in this section, or unless otherwise amended by emergency rule, remain in effect:

(1) Catch Record Card Area 5: Salmon;

(a) March 16 through April 13, 2025: Closed.

(b) April 14 through April 30: Daily limit 1. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.

(2) Catch Record Card Area 10, except Agate Pass (waters west of a line from Point Monroe to Indianola and east of a line from Point Bolin to Battle Point), and year-round piers (Seacrest Pier, Waterman Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk, and Illahee State Park Pier): Salmon;

(a) March 16 through April 1, 2025: Closed.

(b) April 2 through April 30: Open Wednesday through Saturday only, each week; daily limit 2 including no more than 1 hatchery Chinook. Release wild Chinook and chum. Closed Sunday through Tuesday, each week.

(3) Catch Record Card Area 11, except year-round piers (Des Moines Pier, Les Davis Pier, and Point Defiance Boathouse Dock):

(a) March 16 through April 1, 2025: Closed.

(b) April 2 through April 30:

(i) Open Wednesday through Saturday only, each week; daily limit 2 including no more than 1 hatchery Chinook. Release wild Chinook and chum. Closed Sunday through Tuesday, each week.

(ii) Commencement Bay (east of a line from Cliff House Restaurant to Sperry Ocean Dock): Closed to fishing for or retention of salmon.