Rules & Etiquette
You've learned to rig up, cast, identify fish, release them right, and stay safe. The last piece is understanding the rules that protect fish populations and the etiquette that keeps fishing enjoyable for everyone on the water.
Rules aren't just paperwork — they're how Washington keeps its fisheries healthy for the next generation. And etiquette is how you make sure you're welcome back at any spot you visit.
Washington Fishing Licenses
Washington State requires a fishing license for anyone 16 years old and older. If you're under 16, you can fish without a license — but there are still rules that apply to you.
Even though kids under 16 don't need a fishing license, everyone — including children — must carry a Catch Record Card when fishing for salmon, steelhead, halibut, sturgeon, or Puget Sound Dungeness crab. The card must be filled out immediately after keeping a fish. Cards are free for youth and available from WDFW or any license dealer.
| Who | License Required? | Catch Record Card? |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | No license needed | Yes — required for salmon, steelhead, halibut, sturgeon, Dungeness crab |
| 16 and older | Yes — annual or short-term license required | Yes — same species as above |
| All ages | — | Record your catch immediately after keeping — not at the end of the day |
Licenses and catch record cards can be purchased through the WDFW licensing system, the Fish Washington app, or at license dealers throughout the state.
The Core Rules Every Angler Must Know
Many species have a minimum size limit. A fish shorter than the legal size must be released immediately and carefully. Measure from the tip of the closed mouth to the end of the tail fin. The regulations pamphlet lists limits by species and water body.
A daily bag limit is the maximum number of fish you can keep in one day. Once you've reached your limit, you must stop fishing for that species for the rest of the day — even if you plan to release anything you catch.
Most species have open and closed seasons. Fishing outside the open season — even for catch-and-release — is illegal for some species. Always check current regulations before you go, as dates can change year to year and even week to week.
Some waters are restricted to single barbless hooks, artificial lures only, or specific rod-and-reel types. These rules protect fish in sensitive areas and during spawning. Check the regulations for the specific water you're fishing.
For salmon and steelhead, only fish with a clipped adipose fin (hatchery fish) may be kept in most waters. Wild fish — those with an intact adipose fin — must be released. We covered this in Lesson 4, but it's the single most important rule for salmon fishing.
The WDFW Fishing Regulations pamphlet is published each year and covers every rule for every water in Washington. It's free, available online, and at license dealers. Regulations change — always check the current year's pamphlet, not last year's.
Washington fishing regulations can change mid-season through emergency rules. A spot that was open last week might be closed today. Always check wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations or the Fish Washington app before heading out, especially for salmon, steelhead, and halibut.
Stream & River Etiquette
Rivers and streams often have multiple anglers working the same water. The way you move and position yourself affects everyone's experience — and the fish.
- Give space. Don't crowd another angler. A general rule: stay at least 50–100 feet away from someone already fishing a run or hole, unless they invite you closer.
- Don't jump ahead. If anglers are working their way downstream, don't wade in above them and fish the water they haven't reached yet. This is one of the most common sources of conflict on rivers.
- Wade quietly. Crunching through gravel and splashing alerts fish downstream that something is coming. Slow, deliberate wading keeps fish calm for everyone.
- The person already fishing has right of way. If you arrive at a spot and someone is already set up there, find another spot or wait. Don't fish the same hole from the opposite bank without asking.
- Don't litter. Pack out every piece of line, leader, packaging, and bait container. Monofilament line is one of the most dangerous items you can leave behind — birds and mammals get entangled in it. Washington has a monofilament recovery program with recycling tubes at many popular access points.
Lake & Stillwater Etiquette
- Give kayaks and small boats room to move. If you're fishing from shore, don't cast toward boats anchored nearby. If you're in a boat, don't anchor right next to shore anglers who were there first.
- Keep noise down. Shouting, loud music, and running engines near shallow water scares fish and frustrates other anglers. Sound travels far and fast on open water.
- Respect private property. Many lake shores are privately owned. Access through private land to public water requires landowner permission. Trespassing to fish is illegal, not just rude.
- Watch your wake. If you're in a motorized boat, slow down near shore anglers, docks, and other small watercraft. A large wake can swamp a kayak or tip a kid off a dock.
Saltwater & Pier Etiquette
- Piers are crowded spaces. Keep your gear organized and your lines clear of other anglers'. Call out "fish on!" when you hook up so nearby anglers can reel in and give you room to land it.
- Don't monopolize space. A single angler doesn't need five feet of rail space plus a rod holder on each side. Be compact and share the rail.
- Clean up bait and fish remains. Leaving bait scraps, fish carcasses, and blood on a pier is disrespectful to the next angler and can attract seagulls and vermin. Use the fish cleaning stations if available.
- Mind crab pot buoys. When fishing from a boat in saltwater, give crab pot buoys a wide berth — running over a line can tangle your prop and destroy someone's gear.
The Dos and Don'ts
✓ Do
- Read the current regulations before every trip
- Carry your catch record card for regulated species
- Fill out your catch record card immediately after keeping a fish
- Check the adipose fin before keeping any salmon or steelhead
- Give other anglers plenty of space
- Pack out all your trash, especially monofilament line
- Use barbless hooks where required — and consider using them everywhere
- Greet fellow anglers and share local knowledge generously
- Report poaching to WDFW's Poaching Hotline: 1-877-933-9847
✗ Don't
- Fish without a license once you turn 16
- Keep fish over your daily bag limit
- Keep undersized fish
- Fish outside the open season
- Keep a wild salmon or steelhead with an intact adipose fin
- Wade in above other anglers already working downstream
- Leave monofilament, hooks, or bait packaging behind
- Fish private property without permission
- Ignore emergency rule closures — they can happen any time
Reporting Poaching
Poaching — keeping fish illegally, fishing out of season, or exceeding limits — hurts every angler. It takes fish from the fishery that everyone depends on. If you see it happening, report it.
1-877-933-9847 (1-877-9-WDFWPD) — available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reports can be made anonymously. The more detail you can provide (location, description of vehicle, what you saw), the more useful the report.