Washington Administrative Code

The department and license dealers may charge a license issuance fee as follows:(1) Two dollars for the issuance of any of the following fishing licenses:(a) A combination license.(b) A saltwater license.(c) A freshwater license.(d) A one-, two-, or three-day temporary fishing li…

The point-of-sale transaction fee shall be used to operate an automated licensing system or for other uses that support providing fish and wildlife related opportunities, customer service, and enhanced experiences for department license holders. This fee shall be applied to all a…

A recreational license dealer issuing catch record cards for salmon, sturgeon, halibut, and steelhead is subject to the following rules:(1) Catch record card books may not be transferred from one dealer to another without written permission from the department.(2) All catch recor…

The provisions of this chapter apply to the department's authority under chapter 77.15 RCW to issue orders that revoke licenses, tags, or permits issued by the department, or to suspend privileges administered by the department.(1) "Revoke" and "revocation" mean issuance of a dep…

Upon a determination that there are grounds for an order of revocation or suspension provided by statute, the director, or the director's authorized designee, is authorized to issue a revocation or suspension order. (1) Time limit for orders. An order shall be issued no later tha…

An order of revocation or suspension shall include the information required by this section.(1) A statement of material facts, such as the fact of conviction or other material facts set by statute or rule, and a statement of the legal authority that authorizes the order.(2) A sta…

A person who is subject to an order of revocation or suspension shall have the rights provided by this section to request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the order. No person other than the recipient of the order or the recipient's legal representative shall have standing t…

An adjudicative proceeding to review a department order of revocation or suspension shall reverse or modify an order only when the order was not authorized by law, or as otherwise provided in this section. Where an issue of fact is material to determining the validity of an order…

(1) The presiding officer shall enter findings, conclusions, and an order that affirms, modifies, or vacates the original order revoking or suspending. If the presiding officer enters an order that includes any period of revocation or suspension, then the order shall expressly st…

There shall be no reinstatement petitions authorized for any order of revocation or suspension except as provided by this section.(1) A person under an indefinite order of suspension or an order that prohibits issuance of licenses for an indefinite period, based on statutes in ex…

"Adult salmon" is defined as a chinook salmon greater than 24 inches in length, a coho salmon greater than 20 inches in length, or a chum, pink or sockeye salmon greater than 12 inches in length.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. …

"Anadromous waters" is defined as all waters that are not landlocked.[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 § 220-300-020, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: R…

The taking or possession of food fish for bait is defined as capturing food fish which will be used to entice or lure other fish or shellfish to a hook, lure, trap or other fishing gear for the purpose of capture for sport or commercial use and shall not include food fish or shel…

The term "bottomfish," unless otherwise provided, is defined as including Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, Pacific hake, walleye pollock, lingcod, ratfish, sablefish, cabezon, buffalo sculpin, great sculpin, red Irish lord, brown Irish lord, Pacific staghorn sculpin, wolf-eel, giant …

"Bottomfish pot" shall be defined as a portable, enclosed device with one or more gates or entrances and one or more lines attached to surface floats. Bottomfish pots must have biodegradable escape panels constructed with #21 or smaller untreated cotton twine in such a manner tha…

It shall be unlawful to operate in any area of the state of Washington or any area over which the state of Washington has concurrent jurisdiction any of the types of fishing gear defined hereinafter in this section for any purpose or by any means whatsoever except at the times, p…

"Shellfish dive gear" is defined as compressed gas delivery equipment required for breathing underwater and attire required to provide thermal protection during underwater shellfish dive harvest operations.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and …

"Hand held tool" is defined as tools that are held by hand and are not powered by internal combustion, hydraulics, pneumatics, or electricity.[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), recodified as § 220-300-…

The taking, fishing for, possession, processing, or otherwise dealing in or disposing of food fish and shellfish for commercial purposes is defined as the taking or fishing for food fish with any gear unlawful for fishing for personal use, or taking or possessing food fish and sh…

The term "explosive substance" includes, but is not limited to, any gaseous discharge that generates pressure waves capable of harming food fish or shellfish.[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 …

The length of a fish, unless otherwise provided, is defined as the shortest distance between the extreme tip of the tail and extreme tip of the snout or jaw, whichever extends the farthest, measured while the fish is lying in a prone and normal position, except:The term "fork len…

(1) It is permissible to fish for food fish, game fish, and unclassified fish twenty-four hours per day during any open period for the species, except as otherwise provided. Unless otherwise provided, fishing seasons open at 12:01 a.m. on the first day and end at 11:59 p.m. on th…

"Forage fish" is defined as anchovy, herring, sand lance, sardine, and all species of smelt.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, and 77.04.055. WSR 20-04-058 (Order 20-19), § 220-300-130, filed 1/30/20, effective 7/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 7…

A jack salmon is defined as any salmon which has matured and begun its spawning migration one or more years before the normal term of maturity of other members of its species, and which has visibly developed eggs or milt.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, …

Any reference to the term "mile" shall mean a nautical mile.[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), recodified as § 220-300-150, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17; Order 817, § 220-16-250, filed 5/29/69. For…

The following definitions apply to personal-use fishing rules in Title 220 WAC:(1) "Anadromous game fish" means steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, and sea-run Dolly Varden and bull trout.(2) "Anti-snagging rule" means:(a) Except when fishing with a buoyant lure (with no weights …

The taking or possession of food fish or shellfish for personal use is defined as the taking or fishing for food fish and shellfish or parts thereof by angling or by such other means, with such gear and for such limits as the director may authorize for personal use, or possessing…

"SMCRA" means Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Area.[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), recodified as § 220-300-180, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 88-18-…

"Spawn on kelp" is defined as herring eggs which have been deposited on any type of aquatic vegetation. It is unlawful to take spawn on kelp for commercial purposes unless a person has a spawn on kelp permit issued by the director.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 7…

The term "spawning male salmon" is one from which the milt flows freely. The term "spawning female salmon" is one from which the eggs flow freely or has matured to the point that the eggs may be extruded by pressure applied to the abdomen of the salmon.[Statutory Authority: RCW 7…

"Wild" when used to describe the difference between a hatchery fish and a nonhatchery fish, except salmon, means a fish with all fins intact. A fish missing an adipose or ventral fin with a healed scar at the site is not a wild fish. When "wild" is used to describe a salmon, "wil…

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 "ou…

The term "coastal waters" shall be construed to include those waters of the Pacific Ocean lying within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington, unless otherwise provided, and all streams tributary thereto, exclusive of the Grays Harbor, Willapa Harbor and Columbia River distr…

The term "Grays Harbor" shall be construed to include all the waters of Grays Harbor outside the mouth of any tributary river or stream inside and easterly of a line projected from the outermost end of the north jetty to the outermost end of the south jetty.[Statutory Authority: …

The term "Willapa Bay" shall be construed to include all the waters of Willapa Bay outside the mouth of any tributary river or stream inside and easterly of a line from Leadbetter Point (46°39'12"N, 124°3'31"W) due west to 46°39'12"N, 124°5'20"W then due north to the westerly mos…

The term "Columbia River" shall be construed to include all the waters of the Columbia River, including sloughs tributary thereto, upstream and easterly of a line projected true north-south through Buoy 10 located between the north and south jetties at the mouth of the Columbia R…

"Lower Columbia River" is defined as Columbia River Salmon Management and Catch Reporting Areas 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E as defined in WAC 220-301-010 and tributaries to these areas.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (…

The term "Puget Sound" shall be construed to include all the waters of Puget Sound outside the mouth of any river or stream including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Georgia Strait, and all bays and inlets thereof.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, …

The term "Puget Sound tributaries" includes the waters of all fresh water rivers and streams tributary to Puget Sound as defined in WAC 220-300-280 and all tributaries flowing into said rivers and streams.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 7…

"Westport Boat Basin" shall include those waters of Grays Harbor inside the breakwater surrounding the boat basin and inside of lines drawn between lighted day markers 10 and 11 and between lighted day markers 1 and 2 which mark the two entrances to the boat basin.[Statutory Auth…

"English Camp Tidelands" includes those waters of Wescott Bay lying inside the boundaries of San Juan Island National Historical Park (English Camp).[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 recod…

The term "Buoy 13 line" is defined as a line drawn true north-south through Grays Harbor Channel Marker Number 13 near the mouth of Grays Harbor.[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 recodifie…

The "Light 26 Line" is defined as a line in the Columbia River from the landward end of the Chinook Jetty following the jetty to Chinook Jetty Light No. 7, then southerly in a straight line to Desdemona Sands Light, then southeasterly in a straight line through Light 26 to the Or…

The "Bonilla-Tatoosh Line" is defined as a line projected from the most westerly point on Cape Flattery (48°22.863' N. lat., 124°43.907' W. long.) to the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island, WA (48°23.493' N. lat., 124°44.207' W. long.) then to the light on Bonilla Point on Vancouver Is…

The following species are classified as food fish under RCW 77.12.047 and are subject to the provisions of this title:BarracudaPacific barracuda Sphyraena argenteaCyprinidsCarp Cyprinus carpioCodfishesPacific hake or whiting Merluccius productusWalleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus…

As provided in RCW 77.12.020 and in addition to those species identified in RCW 77.08.020 the following species of the class Osteichthyes are classified as game fish:Scientific NameCommon NameSalvelinus confluentusBull TroutCatostomus columbianusBridgelip SuckerCatostomus macroch…

(1) Area 1A includes those waters of the Columbia River easterly of a line projected from the inshore end of the north jetty in the state of Washington to the knuckle of the south jetty in the state of Oregon, and westerly of a line projected from Grays Point in Washington to Ton…

(1) Area 1 shall include those waters within 3 nautical miles of the Oregon and Washington coasts north of a line projected true west from Tillamook Head (approximate latitude 45.94640 degrees N), westerly of a line projected from the inshore end of the north Columbia River jetty…

(1) Area 4B shall include those waters of Puget Sound easterly of a line projected from Bonilla Point (48°35'43.5"N, 124°42'59.7"W) on Vancouver Island to the Cape Flattery Light on Tatoosh Island (Light List No. 16145 Fl(2)20s112ft 14M, 48°23'31.2"N, 124°44'12.9"W), thence to th…

(1) Area 20A shall include those waters of Puget Sound north of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island and from the westernmost poi…