WSR 26-06-077
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 26-33—Filed February 28, 2026, 11:16 a.m., effective March 31, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The minimum size limit for cockles is increased to 2.5 inches. The daily limit for geoducks is changed to one per person per day. The requirement to refill holes created while digging (nonrazor) clams is moved from WAC 220-330-010 to WAC 220-330-120. Recreational clam and oyster seasons are adjusted based on recent clam and oyster population survey data, recreational harvest projections, tidal distribution, and negotiations affecting intertidal treaty and nontreaty fisheries, along with public health considerations. Seasons will be opened, extended, or shifted on some public beaches and closed or shortened on others.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-330-010, 220-330-110, 220-330-120, and 220-330-140.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-03-070 on January 16, 2026; and preproposal filed as WSR 25-21-145 on October 21, 2025.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 28, 2026.
Kelly Susewind
Director
RDS-6945.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-05-066, filed 2/11/22, effective 7/1/22)
WAC 220-330-010Shellfish—Daily limits, size restrictions, and unlawful acts.
It is unlawful for any one person to possess more than one daily limit of fresh shellfish while in the field or in transit. Additional shellfish may be possessed in a frozen or processed form. It is unlawful for any one person to take more than the following quantities of shellfish in any one day for personal use, or take or possess shellfish that measure less than the caliper measurement described in this section. Caliper measurement is defined as a linear measurement when both points of a movable caliper are touching the shell of the shellfish. A fixed caliper gauge is the linear distance between points of the caliper gauge or the diameter of a circular gauge.
(1) Marine clams:
(a) Clams (not including razor clams, geoduck clams and horse clams):
(i) Daily limit is 40 clams total, not to exceed 10 pounds in the shell.
(ii) Minimum size for Manila, native littleneck, and butter clams((, and cockles)) is 1 1/2 inches across the widest dimension of the shell.
(iii) Minimum size for cockles is 2 1/2 inches across the widest dimension of the shell.
(b) Geoduck clams:
(i) Daily limit ((is first 3 clams dug))1 clam, regardless of size or condition. Must retain the first clam that is dug. A broken clam((s)) counts towards the daily limit. No minimum size limit.
(ii) It is unlawful to maim, injure or attempt to capture a geoduck by thrusting any instrument through its siphon or to possess only the siphon or neck portion of a geoduck.
(c) Horse clams: Daily limit is first 7 clams dug, regardless of size or condition. Broken clams count towards daily limit. No minimum size limit.
(d) Razor clams: Daily limit is 15 clams. No minimum size limit.
(e) ((
It is unlawful for any person digging clams (other than razor clam) for personal use to fail to refill holes created during the digging operation. Beach terrain must be returned to its approximate original condition by the clam diggers before leaving immediate site of harvest. Violation of provisions of this subsection is an infraction punishable under RCW 77.15.160. (f)))Relic shells: No license or permit is required to take or possess up to 5 pounds of relic shells per day. It is unlawful to take or possess more than 5 pounds of relic shells from public tidelands without first obtaining a scientific collection permit. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, it is unlawful to remove relic oyster shells from public tidelands.
(2) Crab:
(a) General provisions:
(i) All crab measurements must be made at the widest part of the shell (carapace) immediately in front of the points (tips) on the carapace.
(ii) It is unlawful to possess in the field any crab or crab parts without also retaining the back shell of each crab.
(iii) It is unlawful for any person to take or possess any female Dungeness crab.
(iv) It is unlawful to possess soft-shelled crab for any purpose. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(b) Dungeness crab:
(i)(A) In Marine Area 1 (except when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River), Marine Areas 2, 3, and 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (Coastal waters): Daily limit is 6 male crab.
(B) Minimum size limit is 6 inches.
(ii)(A) In the Columbia River upstream of a line from the outermost end of the north jetty to the exposed end of the south jetty, and when fishing from the north jetty of the Columbia River: Daily limit is 12 male crab.
(B) Minimum size limit is 5 3/4 inches.
(iii)(A) In Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Puget Sound): Daily limit is 5 male crab.
(B) Minimum size limit is 6 1/4 inches.
(c) Red rock crab:
(i) Daily limit is 6 crab. Either sex may be retained.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 5 inches.
(d) King and box crab: Closed in all waters.
(e) Tanner crab:
(i) Daily limit is 6 crab. Either sex may be retained.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 4 1/2 inches.
(3) Crawfish:
(a) Daily limit is 10 pounds, whole crawfish in the shell.
(b) Minimum size limit 3 1/4 inches from tip of rostrum to tip of tail.
(c) Female crawfish with eggs or young attached to the abdomen must be released immediately.
(d) Take or possession of crawfish must also comply with provisions of chapter 220-640 WAC.
(4) Goose barnacles: Daily limit is 10 pounds of whole barnacles in the shell or 5 pounds of barnacle stalks. No minimum size limit.
(5) Mussels: Daily limit is 10 pounds in the shell, all species in the aggregate. No minimum size limit.
(6) Octopus: Daily limit is one octopus. No minimum size limit.
(7) Oysters:
(a) Daily limit is 18 oysters.
(b) Minimum size limit before shucking is 2 1/2 inches along the widest dimension of the shell. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(c) Oysters taken for personal use must be shucked before removing oysters from the intertidal zone and the shells replaced on the tidelands at the approximate tide level from which original was taken. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(8) Scallops:
(a) Rock scallops:
(i) Daily limit is 6 scallops.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 4 inches. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(b) Pink and spiny scallops:
(i) Combined daily limit is 40 scallops in the shell.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 2 inches. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(c) Weathervane scallops:
(i) Daily limit((s)) is 12 scallops.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 4 inches.
(9) Sea cucumbers: Daily limit is 18 California sea cucumbers. No minimum size limit.
(10) Sea urchins:
(a) Red sea urchins:
(i) Daily limit is 18 red sea urchins.
(ii) Minimum size limit 3 1/4 inch shell diameter exclusive of the spines. Maximum size limit is 5 inch shell diameter exclusive of the spines. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(b) Purple sea urchins:
(i) Daily limit is 18 purple sea urchins.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 2 1/4 inch shell diameter exclusive of the spines.
(c) Green sea urchins:
(i) Daily limit is 18 green sea urchins.
(ii) Minimum size limit is 2 1/4 inch shell diameter exclusive of the spines.
(11) Shrimp:
(a) In Marine Areas 1, 2, and 3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Daily total weight limit is 25 pounds, maximum of 200 spot shrimp as part of the 25-pound limit.
(b)(i) In Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13: Daily limit is 80 spot shrimp; with a total daily weight limit of 10 pounds (whole shrimp) all species combined.
(ii) If retaining nonspot shrimp, all shrimp heads (spot and nonspot) must be retained in the field until ashore and finished fishing for the day.
(c) Ghost and mud shrimp: Daily limit is 120 shrimp.
(12) Squid:
(a) Humboldt squid: 1 squid. No minimum size limit.
(b) All other species of squid: Daily limit is 10 pounds or 5 quarts of squid. No minimum size limit.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-06-060, filed 3/3/25, effective 4/3/25)
WAC 220-330-110Clams other than razor clams, and mussels—Areas and seasons.
It is lawful to take, dig for, and possess clams and mussels for personal use from public tidelands year-round, except the following restrictions apply to the public tidelands at the beaches listed below:
(1) Ala Spit: All public tidelands of Ala Spit are open May 1 through May 31 only.
(2) Alki Park: Closed year-round.
(3) Alki Point: Closed year-round.
(4) Bay Center Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Palix River channel, extending from the Palix River bridge to beyond Bay Center to the north of Goose Point, is closed year-round.
(5) Bay View State Park: Closed year-round.
(6) Belfair State Park: Open August 1 through September 30 only.
(7) Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: All state-owned tidelands of the Nisqually River delta south of a line drawn from Luhr Beach boat ramp to Sequalitchew Creek are closed year-round.
(8) Blaine Marine Park: Closed year-round.
(9) Blake Island State Park Marina: Closed year-round.
(10) Blowers Bluff North: Closed year-round.
(11) Brown's Point Lighthouse: Closed year-round.
(12) Brownsville Marina: Closed year-round.
(13) Brownsville Ogle: Closed year-round.
(14) Budd Inlet: All state-owned tidelands of Budd Inlet south of a line drawn from the southern boundary of Burfoot Park west to the opposite shore near 68th Avenue N.W. are closed year-round.
(((13)))(15) Cama Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((14)))(16) Camano Island State Park: Closed year-round.
(((15)))(17) Carkeek Park: Closed year-round.
(18) Chuckanut Bay: All tidelands of Chuckanut Bay north of the railroad trestle are closed year-round.
(((16)))(19) Coupeville: Closed year-round.
(((17)))(20) Cultus Bay: Closed year-round.
(((18)))(21) Dash Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((19)))(22) Dash Point State Park: Open September 1 through May 31 only.
(((20)))(23) Dave Mackie County Park: Closed year-round.
(((21)))(24) Deception Pass State Park: Open year-round, except the tidelands of Rosario Bay from the northern park boundary, south to Rosario Head (48.4172°, -122.6663°) are closed year-round.
(((22)))(25) Des Moines Beach City Park: Closed year-round.
(((23)))(26) Discovery Park: Closed year-round.
(((24)))(27) DNR-142: Closed year-round.
(((25)))(28) DNR-144 (Sleeper): Closed year-round.
(((26)))(29) Dockton County Park: Closed year-round.
(((27)))(30) Dosewallips State Park: The area defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach is closed year-round.
(((28)))(31) Dosewallips State Park South: Closed year-round south of the line defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((29)))(32) Drayton Harbor: All public tidelands of Drayton Harbor are open year-round, except tidelands identified as prohibited by the department of health and defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach are closed year-round.
(((30)))(33) Duckabush: Open November 1 through April 30 only.
(((31)))(34) Dungeness Spit and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Tidelands: Open May 15 through September 30 in areas identified by the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge only.
(((32)))(35) Eagle Creek: Open August ((1))15 through September 15 only.
(((33)))(36) East San de Fuca: Tidelands east of the Rolling Hills Glencairn Community dock are closed year-round.
(((34)))(37) Eld Inlet Oyster Reserves (Mud Bay reserves): Closed year-round.
(((35)))(38) English Camp: Tidelands between the National Park Service dinghy dock to the southern park boundary are closed year-round.
(((36)))(39) Evergreen Rotary Park (Port Washington Narrows): Closed year-round.
(((37)))(40) Fay Bainbridge Park: Closed year-round.
(((38)))(41) Fort Flagler State Park: Open ((January 1 through April 15 and July))August 1 through ((December 31))September 30 only, except that portion of Rat Island and the spit west and south of the park boundary is closed year-round from two white posts on the north end of the island at the vegetation line south to the end of the island.
(((39)))(42) Freeland County Park: Open October 1 through May 31 only.
(((40)))(43) Frye Cove County Park: Open May 1 through May 31 only.
(((41)))(44) Fudge Point State Park: Closed year-round.
(((42)))(45) Gertrude Island: All tidelands of Gertrude Island are closed year-round.
(((43)))(46) Golden Gardens: Closed year-round.
(((44)))(47) Graveyard Spit: Closed year-round.
(((45)))(48) Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve: Closed year-round.
(((46)))(49) Guss Island: All tidelands of Guss Island are closed year-round.
(((47)))(50) Hope Island State Park (South Puget Sound): Open May 1 through May 31 only.
(((48)))(51) Howarth Park/Darlington Beach: Closed year-round.
(((49)))(52) Illahee State Park: Open March 1 through June 30 only.
(((50)))(53) Indian Island County Park/Lagoon Beach: From the jetty boundary with Port Townsend Ship Canal east to the beach access stairs on Flagler Road near milepost 4 open ((April))August 1 through ((May 31))September 30 only.
(((51)))(54) Indian Island County Park/Isthmus Beach: From the beach access stairs on Flagler Road near milepost 4 eastward toward the bridge between Marrowstone and Indian Islands open August 1 through May 15 only.
(55) Ingvald J. Gronvold Park: Open April 1 through May 31 only.
(56) Jacoby (Shorecrest) County Park: Closed year-round.
(((52) Ingvald J. Gronvold Park: Open April 1 through May 31 only.
(53)))(57) Joemma Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((54)))(58) Kayak Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((55)))(59) Kitsap Memorial State Park: Closed year-round.
(((56)))(60) Kopachuck State Park: Closed year-round.
(((57)))(61) Lent Landing (Port Washington Narrows): Closed year-round.
(((58)))(62) Liberty Bay: All state-owned tidelands in Liberty Bay north and west of the Keyport Naval Supply Center are closed year-round, except the western shoreline of Liberty Bay from the unincorporated Kitsap County line south to Virginia Point is open October 1 through April 30 only.
(((59)))(63) Lilliwaup State Park: Open February 15 through September 30 only.
(64) Lincoln Park: Closed year-round.
(((60)))(65) Lions Park (Bremerton): Closed year-round.
(((61)))(66) Lisabuela Park: Closed year-round.
(67) Lofall: Closed year-round.
(((62)))(68) Long Island Oyster Reserve, Diamond Point and Pinnacle Rock (Willapa Harbor reserves): Diamond Point on the northwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 39 and 41 and Pinnacle Rock on the southwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 58 and 59 is open year-round.
(((63)))(69) Long Island Slough Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Closed year-round.
(((64)))(70) Long Point West: Closed year-round.
(((65)))(71) Lost Lake (Vashon Island): Closed year-round.
(72) Lower Roto Vista Park: Closed year-round.
(((66)))(73) Maple Grove County Park: Closed year-round.
(((67)))(74) March Point Recreation Area: Closed year-round.
(((68)))(75) McNeil Island: All tidelands of McNeil Island are closed year-round.
(((69)))(76) Meadowdale County Park: Closed year-round.
(((70)))(77) Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park: Closed year-round.
(((71)))(78) Monroe Landing: Closed year-round.
(((72)))(79) Mukilteo/Lighthouse Park: Closed year-round.
(((73)))(80) Mystery Bay State Park: Open October 1 through April 30 only.
(((74)))(81) Nahcotta Tidelands: State-owned tidelands east of the Willapa Bay Field Station and Nahcotta Tidelands interpretive site are closed year-round.
(((75)))(82) Nemah Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Oyster reserves between reserve monuments 10 and 11 are closed year-round.
(((76)))(83) North Bay (Case Inlet): All state-owned tidelands north of the power transmission lines and those extending 1,900 feet south of the power transmission lines along the eastern shore are open March 1 through April 30 and September 1 through October 31, from one hour before official sunrise until one hour after official sunset only.
(((77)))(84) North Beach County Park: Closed year-round.
(((78)))(85) Oak Bay County Park: Closed year-round.
(((79)))(86) Oak Harbor Marina: Closed year-round.
(((80) Oak Harbor Beach Park: Closed year-round.
(81) Oak Harbor City Park: Closed year-round.
(82)))(87) Oakland Bay: State-owned oyster reserves are open year-round except in areas defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((83)))(88) Old Mill County Park (Silverdale): Closed year-round.
(((84)))(89) Olympia Shoal: Closed year-round.
(((85)))(90) Pat Carey Vista Park: Closed year-round.
(((86)))(91) Penrose Point State Park: ((Open March 1 through April 30 only, except))Closed year-round, including that part of Mayo Cove within the commercially prohibited growing area ((is closed year-round)).
(((87)))(92) Picnic Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((88)))(93) Pierce County: All tidelands from the southern boundary of Titlow Marine Preserve (Tacoma) to the northern boundary of Pioneer Orchard Park (Steilacoom) and from the mouth of Chambers Creek (Burlington-Northern Railroad Bridge) to the Boise-Cascade Dam are closed year-round.
(94) Pitship Point: Closed year-round.
(((89)))(95) Pitt Island: All tidelands on Pitt Island are closed year-round.
(((90)))(96) Pleasant Harbor State Park: Closed year-round.
(((91)))(97) Pleasant Harbor WDFW Boat Launch: Closed year-round.
(((92)))(98) Point Defiance-Owen Beach: Closed year-round.
(((93)))(99) Point Vashon: Closed year-round.
(100) Point Whitney Tidelands and Point Whitney Lagoon: Closed year-round.
(((94)))(101) Port Angeles Harbor: All public tidelands of Port Angeles Harbor and interior tidelands of Ediz Hook are closed year-round.
(((95)))(102) Port Gamble Heritage Park Tidelands: Open ((September 1))August 15 through September 30 only.
(((96)))(103) Port Gardner: Closed year-round.
(((97)))(104) Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Beach: ((Open April 1 through May 31 only))Closed year-round.
(((98)))(105) Post Point: Closed year-round.
(((99)))(106) Potlatch State Park and Potlatch DNR tidelands: Open April 1 through May 31 only.
(((100)))(107) Purdy Spit County Park: The southern shore of the spit from the boat ramp east to the ((southern utility tower near)) Purdy Bridge and northward into Burley Lagoon up to a western line defined by posts on the beach on the north side of the spit is open ((April))September 1 through ((April))September 30 only.
(((101)))(108) Quilcene Bay Tidelands: All state-owned tidelands in Quilcene Bay north of a line drawn from the Quilcene Boat Haven to Fisherman's Point are closed to the harvest of clams year-round, except those state-owned tidelands on the west side of the bay north of the Quilcene Boat Haven are open year-round.
(((102)))(109) Quilcene Bay Boat Ramp: Open January 1 through May 15 only.
(((103) Retsil: Closed year-round.
(104)))(110) Raab's Lagoon (Vashon Island): Open September 1 through September 30.
(111) Redondo: Closed year-round.
(112) Redondo North: Closed year-round.
(113) Redondo South: Closed year-round.
(114) Richmond Beach Saltwater Park: Closed year-round.
(((105)))(115) Salt Creek Recreation Area (DNR-419): Closed year-round.
(((106)))(116) Saltair Beach (Kingston Ferry Terminal): Closed year-round.
(((107)))(117) Saltwater State Park: Closed year-round.
(((108)))(118) Samish Bay: Public tidelands of Samish Bay between Scotts Point and a point on the shore (48.5745°, -122.4440°) are closed year-round.
(((109)))(119) Scenic Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((110)))(120) Seahurst County Park: Closed year-round.
(((111)))(121) Semiahmoo County Park: Closed year-round.
(((112)))(122) Semiahmoo Marina: Closed year-round.
(((113)))(123) Sequim Bay State Park: Open January 1 through May ((15))31 only.
(((114)))(124) Shine Tidelands State Park: Open January ((1))15 through ((May))April 15 only.
(((115)))(125) Silverdale Waterfront Park: Closed year-round.
(((116)))(126) Sinclair Inlet: All public tidelands of Sinclair Inlet west of a line drawn from the intersection of Bancroft Road and Beach Drive East northerly to Point Herron are closed year-round.
(((117)))(127) Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Areas: All public tidelands of Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Area, Fir Island Farms Reserve Wildlife Area, Island Wildlife Area, Camano Island Wildlife Area and Leque Island Wildlife Area are closed year-round.
(((118)))(128) South Carkeek Park: Closed year-round.
(((119)))(129) South Lilliwaup: Open ((November 1 through April))February 15 to September 30 only.
(((120) Southworth: Closed year-round.
(121)))(130) Spencer Spit State Park: Open March 1 through July 31 only.
(((122) Squaxin Park (Priest Point County Park): Closed year-round.
(123)))(131) Stuart Island State Park - Reid Harbor (South Beach): Closed year-round.
(((124)))(132) Taylor Bay: Closed year-round.
(((125)))(133) Totten Inlet Oyster Reserve (Oyster Bay reserves): Closed year-round.
(((126)))(134) Triton Cove Tidelands: Open June 1 through August 31 only.
(((127)))(135) Twanoh State Park: Open ((August 1 through August 31))May 15 through June 15 only.
(((128)))(136) VFW Memorial Park (Oak Harbor): Closed year-round.
(137) Walker County Park: Closed year-round.
(((129)))(138) WDFW Hoodsport Hatchery: Tidelands at Hoodsport Salmon Hatchery are closed year-round.
(((130)))(139) West Dewatto: DNR Beach 44A open July 1 through September 30 only.
(((131)))(140) West Pass Access: Closed year-round.
(((132)))(141) West Penn Cove: From the property boundary at the Grasser's Lagoon access on Highway 20 to the dock extending across the tidelands from Captain Whidbey Inn on Madrona Road is open June 1 through September 30 only.
(((133)))(142) Willapa River Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Reserves located in the Willapa River channel extending west and upriver from a point approximately one-quarter mile from the blinker light marking the division of Willapa River channel and the North River channel are closed year-round.
(((134)))(143) Windjammer Park complex (Oak Harbor): Closed year-round.
(144) Wolfe Property State Park: Open January ((1))15 through ((May))April 15 only.
(((135)))(145) Woodard Bay Natural Resource Conservation Area: Closed year-round.
(((136)))(146) It is lawful to take, dig for, and possess clams and mussels, not including razor clams, for personal use from the Pacific Ocean beaches from November 1 through March 31 only.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-04-058, filed 1/30/20, effective 7/1/20)
WAC 220-330-120Clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, squid, octopus—Gear and gear-related unlawful acts.
It is unlawful to take, dig for, fish for, or possess clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, squid, or octopus for personal use, except using gear outlined in the following subsections:
(1) Clams (excluding razor clams and geoducks): By hand or with hand-operated forks, picks, mattocks, rakes and shovels.
(2) Razor clams: By hand, shovels or with cylindrical cans, tubes or hinged digging devices. The opening of tubes or cans must be either circular or elliptical with the circular can/tube having a minimum outside diameter of 4 inches and the elliptical can/tube having a minimum dimension of 4 inches long and 3 inches wide outside diameter. The hinged digging device when opened in a cylindrical position, must have a minimum outside diameter of 4 inches at the bottom.
(3) Geoducks:(((a))) By hand or with nonmechanized hand-operated forks, picks, mattocks, rakes, and shovels and a cylindrical can or tube not exceeding 24 inches in diameter may be used to dig geoduck.
(((b) It is unlawful for any person digging clams, other than razor clams, for personal use to fail to fill in holes created during the digging operation. Beach terrain must be returned to its approximate original condition by the clam diggers immediately after harvest.))
(4) It is unlawful to return any horse clams or geoducks to the beach or water regardless of size or condition. All such clams taken for personal use must be retained by the digger as part of their daily limit.
(5) Oysters and scallops: By hand or with the aid of a hand-held manually operated prying tool. It is unlawful to use a hammer, mallet or other object to strike oysters and rock scallops during the removal process.
(6) Sea cucumbers: By hand or hand-operated, nonmechanized instrument which does not penetrate the animal.
(7) Sea urchins: By hand or hand-operated, nonmechanized instrument which does not penetrate the shell.
(8) In the field each harvester, including holders of razor clam disability permits, must have their daily limit in a separate container. Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW
77.15.160.
(9) Squid: It is unlawful to take, fish for or possess squid taken for personal use with more than one line. A maximum of four squid lures may be used. If gear utilizes conventional hooks, it shall not exceed a total of nine points. Herring rakes and hand dip net gear may be used to take squid. In the field each person taking squid must use a separate container to hold their catch.
(10) Octopus: Octopus may be taken by hand, only except that one octopus per person per day may be retained when caught incidentally using shellfish pot gear during a lawful shellfish pot fishery. Shellfish pots may not be used to capture octopus outside of a lawful shellfish pot fishery. It is unlawful to take octopus using chemical irritants or by any instrument which will penetrate or mutilate the body, except that it is permissible to retain octopus taken while angling with hook and line gear during a lawful hook and line fishery.
(11)
It is unlawful for any person digging clams (other than razor clams) for personal use to fail to refill holes created during the digging operation. Beach terrain must be returned to its approximate original condition by the clam diggers before leaving immediate site of harvest. Violation of provisions of this subsection is an infraction punishable under RCW 77.15.160.(12) A violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW
77.15.160,
77.15.380, or
77.15.370, depending on the circumstances of the violation. Possession of shellfish while using gear in violation of the provisions of this section is a rebuttable presumption that the shellfish were taken with such gear.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-06-060, filed 3/3/25, effective 4/3/25)
WAC 220-330-140Oysters—Areas and seasons.
It is lawful to take and possess oysters for personal use from public tidelands year-round except the following restrictions apply to the public tidelands at the beaches listed below:
(1) Ala Spit: All public tidelands of Ala Spit open May 1 through May 31 only.
(2) Alki Park: Closed year-round.
(3) Alki Point: Closed year-round.
(4) Bay Center Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Palix River channel, extending from the Palix River bridge to beyond Bay Center to the north of Goose Point, is closed year-round.
(5) Bay View State Park: Closed year-round.
(6) Belfair State Park: Open August 1 through September 30 only.
(7) Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge: All state-owned tidelands of the Nisqually River delta south of a line drawn from Luhr Beach boat ramp to Sequalitchew Creek are closed year-round.
(8) Blaine Marine Park: Closed year-round.
(9) Blake Island State Park Marina: Closed year-round.
(10) Blowers Bluff North: Closed year-round.
(11) Brown's Point Lighthouse: Closed year-round.
(12) Brownsville Marina: Closed year-round.
(13) Brownsville Ogle: Closed year-round.
(14) Budd Inlet: All state-owned tidelands of Budd Inlet south of a line drawn from the southern boundary of Burfoot Park west to the opposite shore near 68th Avenue N.W. are closed year-round.
(((13)))(15) Cama Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((14)))(16) Camano Island State Park: Closed year-round.
(((15)))(17) Carkeek Park: Closed year-round.
(18) Chuckanut Bay: All tidelands of Chuckanut Bay north of the railroad trestle are closed year-round.
(((16)))(19) Coupeville: Closed year-round.
(((17)))(20) Cultus Bay: Closed year-round.
(((18)))(21) Dash Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((19)))(22) Dash Point State Park: Open September 1 through May 31 only.
(((20)))(23) Dave Mackie County Park: Closed year-round.
(((21)))(24) Deception Pass State Park: Open year-round, except the tidelands of Rosario Bay from the northern park boundary to Rosario Head (48.4172°, -122.6663°) are closed year-round.
(((22)))(25) Des Moines Beach City Park: Closed year-round.
(((23)))(26) Discovery Park: Closed year-round.
(((24)))(27) DNR-142: Closed year-round.
(((25)))(28) DNR-144 (Sleeper): Closed year-round.
(((26)))(29) Dockton County Park: Closed year-round.
(((27)))(30) Dosewallips State Park: Open year-round only in the area defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((28)))(31) Dosewallips State Park South: Closed year-round south of the line defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((29)))(32) Drayton Harbor: All public tidelands of Drayton Harbor are open year-round, except the tidelands identified as prohibited by the department of health and defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach are closed year-round.
(((30)))(33) Duckabush: Open November 1 through April 30 only.
(((31)))(34) Dungeness Spit/National Wildlife Refuge: Open May 15 through September 30 in areas identified by the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge only.
(((32)))(35) East San de Fuca: Tidelands east of the Rolling Hills Glencairn Community dock are closed year-round.
(((33)))(36) Eld Inlet Oyster Reserves (Mud Bay reserves): Closed year-round.
(((34)))(37) English Camp: Tidelands between the National Park Service dinghy dock to the southern park boundary are closed year-round.
(((35)))(38) Evergreen Rotary Park (Port Washington Narrows): Closed year-round.
(((36)))(39) Fay Bainbridge Park: Closed year-round.
(((37)))(40) Fort Flagler State Park: Open ((January 1 through April 15 and July))August 1 through ((December 31))September 30 only, except that portion of Rat Island and the spit west and south of the park boundary is closed year-round from two white posts on the north end of the island at the vegetation line south to the end of the island.
(((38)))(41) Freeland County Park: Open October 1 through May 31 only.
(((39)))(42) Frye Cove County Park: Open May 1 through May 31 only.
(((40)))(43) Fudge Point State Park: Closed year-round.
(((41)))(44) Gertrude Island: All tidelands of Gertrude Island are closed year-round.
(((42)))(45) Golden Gardens: Closed year-round.
(((43)))(46) Graveyard Spit: Closed year-round.
(((44)))(47) Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve: Closed year-round.
(((45)))(48) Guss Island: All tidelands of Guss Island are closed year-round.
(((46)))(49) Hope Island State Park (South Puget Sound): Open May 1 through May 31 only.
(((47)))(50) Howarth Park/Darlington Beach: Closed year-round.
(((48)))(51) Illahee State Park: Open March 1 through June 30 only.
(((49)))(52) Indian Island County Park/Lagoon Beach: From the jetty boundary with Port Townsend Ship Canal east to the beach access stairs on Flagler Road near milepost 4 open ((April))August 1 through ((May 31))September 30 only.
(((50)))(53) Indian Island County Park/Isthmus Beach: From the beach access stairs on Flagler Road near milepost 4 eastward toward the bridge between Marrowstone and Indian Islands open August 1 through May 15 only.
(54) Ingvald J. Gronvold Park: Open April 1 through May 31 only.
(((51)))(55) Jacoby (Shorecrest) County Park: Closed year-round.
(((52)))(56) Joemma Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((53)))(57) Kayak Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((54)))(58) Kitsap Memorial State Park: Closed year-round.
(((55)))(59) Kopachuck State Park: Closed year-round.
(((56)))(60) Lent Landing (Port Washington Narrows): Closed year-round.
(((57)))(61) Liberty Bay: All state-owned tidelands in Liberty Bay north and west of the Keyport Naval Supply Center are closed year-round, except the western shoreline of Liberty Bay from the unincorporated Kitsap County line south to Virginia Point is open October 1 through April 30 only.
(((58)))(62) Lilliwaup State Park: Open February 15 through September 30 only.
(63) Lincoln Park: Closed year-round.
(((59)))(64) Lions Park (Bremerton): Closed year-round.
(((60)))(65) Lisabuela Park (Vashon Island): Closed year-round.
(66) Lofall: Closed year-round.
(((61)))(67) Long Island Oyster Reserve, Diamond Point and Pinnacle Rock (Willapa Harbor reserves): Diamond Point on the northwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 39 and 41 and Pinnacle Rock on the southwest side of Long Island between reserve monuments 58 and 59 is open year-round.
(((62)))(68) Long Island Slough Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Closed year-round.
(((63)))(69) Long Point West: Closed year-round.
(((64)))(70) Lost Lake (Vashon Island): Closed year-round.
(71) Lower Roto Vista Park: Closed year-round.
(((65)))(72) Maple Grove County Park: Closed year-round.
(((66)))(73) March Point Recreation Area: Closed year-round.
(((67)))(74) McNeil Island: All tidelands of McNeil Island are closed year-round.
(((68)))(75) Meadowdale County Park: Closed year-round.
(((69)))(76) Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park: Closed year-round.
(((70)))(77) Monroe Landing: Closed year-round.
(((71)))(78) Mukilteo/Lighthouse Park: Closed year-round.
(((72)))(79) Mystery Bay State Park: Open October 1 through April 30 only.
(((73)))(80) Nahcotta Tidelands: State-owned tidelands east of the Willapa Bay Field Station and Nahcotta Tidelands interpretive site are open year-round.
(((74)))(81) Nemah Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Oyster reserves between reserve monuments 10 and 11 are closed year-round.
(((75)))(82) North Bay (Case Inlet): All state-owned tidelands north of the power transmission lines and those extending 1,900 feet south of the power transmission lines along the eastern shore are open March 1 through April 30 and September 1 through October 31, from one hour before official sunrise until one hour after official sunset only.
(((76)))(83) North Beach County Park: Closed year-round.
(((77)))(84) Oak Bay County Park: Closed year-round.
(((78)))(85) Oak Harbor Marina: Closed year-round.
(((79) Oak Harbor Beach Park: Closed year-round.
(80) Oak Harbor City Park: Closed year-round.
(81)))(86) Oakland Bay: State-owned oyster reserves are open year-round except in areas defined by boundary markers and signs posted on the beach.
(((82)))(87) Old Mill County Park (Silverdale): Closed year-round.
(((83)))(88) Olympia Shoal: Closed year-round.
(((84)))(89) Pat Carey Vista Park: Closed year-round.
(((85)))(90) Penrose Point State Park: ((Open March 1 through April 30 only, except))Closed year-round, including that part of Mayo Cove within the commercially prohibited growing area ((is closed year-round)).
(((86)))(91) Picnic Point County Park: Closed year-round.
(((87)))(92) Pierce County: All tidelands from the southern boundary of Titlow Marine Preserve (Tacoma) to the northern boundary of Pioneer Orchard Park (Steilacoom) and from the mouth of Chambers Creek (Burlington-Northern Railroad Bridge) to the Boise-Cascade Dam are closed year-round.
(93) Pitship Point: Closed year-round.
(((88)))(94) Pitt Island: Closed year-round.
(((89)))(95) Pleasant Harbor State Park: Closed year-round.
(((90)))(96) Pleasant Harbor WDFW Boat Launch: Closed year-round.
(((91)))(97) Point Defiance-Owen Beach: Closed year-round.
(((92)))(98) Point Vashon: Closed year-round.
(99) Point Whitney Tidelands and Point Whitney Lagoon: Open January ((1))15 through July 31 only.
(((93)))(100) Port Angeles Harbor: All public tidelands of Port Angeles Harbor and interior tidelands of Ediz Hook are closed year-round.
(((94)))(101) Port Gamble Heritage Park Tidelands: Open ((September 1))August 15 through September 30 only.
(((95)))(102) Port Gardner: Closed year-round.
(((96)))(103) Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Beach: ((Open April 1 through May 31 only))Closed year-round.
(((97)))(104) Post Point: Closed year-round.
(((98)))(105) Potlatch State Park and Potlatch DNR tidelands: Open April 1 through May 31 only.
(((99)))(106) Purdy Spit County Park: The southern shore of the spit from the boat ramp east to the ((southern utility tower near)) Purdy Bridge and northward into Burley Lagoon up to a western line defined by posts on the beach on the north side of the spit is open ((April))September 1 through ((April))September 30 only.
(((100)))(107) Quilcene Bay Tidelands: All state-owned tidelands in Quilcene Bay north of a line drawn from the Quilcene Boat Haven to Fisherman's Point are closed year-round except those state-owned tidelands on the west side of the bay north of the Quilcene Boat Haven are open year-round.
(((101)))(108) Quilcene Boat Ramp: Open January ((1))15 through May 15 only.
(((102) Retsil: Closed year-round.
(103)))(109) Raab's Lagoon (Vashon Island): Open September 1 to September 30 only.
(110) Redondo: Closed year-round.
(111) Redondo North: Closed year-round.
(112) Redondo South: Closed year-round.
(113) Richmond Beach Saltwater Park: Closed year-round.
(((104)))(114) Salt Creek Recreation Area (DNR-419): Closed year-round.
(((105)))(115) Saltair Beach (Kingston Ferry Terminal): Closed year-round.
(((106)))(116) Saltwater State Park: Closed year-round.
(((107)))(117) Samish Bay: Public tidelands of Samish Bay between Scotts Point and a point on the shore (48.5745°, -122.4440°) are closed year-round.
(((108)))(118) Scenic Beach State Park: Closed year-round.
(((109)))(119) Seahurst County Park: Closed year-round.
(((110)))(120) Semiahmoo County Park: Closed year-round.
(((111)))(121) Semiahmoo Marina: Closed year-round.
(((112)))(122) Sequim Bay State Park: Open January 1 through May ((15))31 only.
(((113)))(123) Shine Tidelands State Park: Open January ((1))15 through ((May))April 15 only.
(((114)))(124) Silverdale Waterfront Park: Closed year-round.
(((115)))(125) Sinclair Inlet: All public tidelands of Sinclair Inlet west of a line drawn from the intersection of Bancroft Road and Beach Drive East northerly to Point Herron are closed year-round.
(((116)))(126) Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Areas: All public tidelands of the Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Area, Fir Island Farms Reserve Wildlife Area, Island Wildlife Area, Camano Island Wildlife Area and Leque Island Wildlife Area are closed year-round.
(((117)))(127) South Carkeek Park: Closed year-round.
(((118)))(128) South Lilliwaup: Open ((November 1 through April))February 15 through September 30 only.
(((119) Southworth: Closed year-round.
(120)))(129) Spencer Spit State Park: Open March 1 through July 31 only.
(((121) Squaxin Park (Priest Point County Park): Closed year-round.
(122)))(130) Stuart Island State Park - Reid Harbor (South Beach): Closed year-round.
(((123)))(131) Taylor Bay: Closed year-round.
(((124)))(132) Totten Inlet Oyster Reserve (Oyster Bay reserves): Closed year-round.
(((125)))(133) Twanoh State Park: Open March 1 through September 30 only.
(134) VFW Memorial Park (Oak Harbor): Closed year-round.
(135) Walker County Park: Closed year-round.
(((126)))(136) WDFW Hoodsport Hatchery: Open April 1 through July 31, from one hour before official sunrise until one hour after official sunset only.
(((127)))(137) West Pass Access: Closed year-round.
(((128)))(138) West Penn Cove: From the property boundary at the Grasser's Lagoon access on Highway 20 to the dock extending across the tidelands from Captain Whidbey Inn on Madrona Road is open June 1 through September 30 only.
(((129)))(139) Willapa River Oyster Reserve (Willapa Harbor reserves): Reserves located in the Willapa River channel extending west and upriver from a point approximately one-quarter mile from the blinker light marking the division of Willapa River channel and the North River channel are closed year-round.
(((130)))(140) Windjammer Park complex (Oak Harbor): Closed year-round.
(141) Wolfe Property State Park: Open January ((1))15 through ((May))April 15 only.
(((131)))(142) Woodard Bay Natural Resource Conservation Area: Closed year-round.
(((132)))(143) It is lawful to take and possess oysters for personal use from the Pacific Ocean beaches from November 1 through March 31 only.