Fishing and Shellfishing

Recreational

Q: How much is a fishing license and where can I buy one?

A: Check out the fee schedule or call the Licensing Division at (360) 902-2464. You can buy a license online at the WDFW Online Sales and Services website. You may also purchase a license at more than 600 locations throughout the state, including many sporting goods stores, marinas, convenience stores, and major retailers.

Q: Which fish do I need a license to catch?

A: You need a license to fish for everything but albacore, tuna, carp, crayfish and smelt. You also need a shellfish license to take anything classified under state shellfish regulations, including sea cumbers, sea weed, and squid. Check the current Fishing Regulations pamphlet for exact instructions. There is one exception - Free Fishing Weekend, which corresponds with National Fishing Week, is a great way to catch the fishing bug.

Q: When is "opening day?"

A: There is no official opening day. The traditional opening day to fish trout in lowland lakes is the last Saturday in April; in streams it's June 1. Lakes are open year-round unless special rules apply to them. Rivers are open June 1 through October 31 for gamefish unless special rules apply. See the current Fishing Regulations pamphlet for more information.

Q: What is the Warm Water Enhancement Fee for?

A: The fee is used to provide more opportunities to fish for and catch bass, channel catfish, crappie, tiger musky and walleye. See our Warmwater Fishing Enhancement Program FAQ for more information.

Q: What is the difference between a food fish and a game fish?

A: Food fish are generally those that have commercial value: halibut, salmon, sturgeon and surf perch, to name a few. Game fish are typically pursued for recreational purposes only. Examples of game fish are freshwater species such as bass, steelhead and trout.

Q: Why are fishing regulations so complicated?

A: Managing fish is a complex process due to several factors, including the number of people in the state competing for space with fish, the variety of fish species and the health of each stock, types of water (ocean, river, lake), concerns that everyone can catch their fair share, and more. In short, regulations have to change as factors change.

Q: Does the Department offer any programs for Women?

A: Yes. Please see Washington Outdoor Women.

Commercial

Q: How do I get a commercial fishing license?

A. Because of the variety and complexity of commercial licenses and their requirements, commercial licenses are issued only in the main office in Olympia. You may visit our License Division or call (360) 902-2464 for more information.

Shellfish

Q: When will there be a razor clam season?

A. See the Razor Clam Season Update page for up-to-date information. We try to have both a fall and a spring season on all or most beaches. Usually digging starts on the first of or mid-October for about a month; spring season occurs in March and/or April. We also provide some winter digging if the population allows. Tentative seasons are announced well in advance. We try to give as much notice as possible through the local media once a final decision is made. You may call the Coastal regional office at any time (360) 249-4628 or check this site for the latest information.

Razor clam seasons are based on two simple concepts: (1) how many clams are available for harvest, and (2) how many people we expect to harvest those clams. That's the simple answer, but in reality there is more to it than that.

We manage five separate beaches; two are for recreational digging only, and three are co-managed with one or more coastal tribes. After determining the number of clams available and their average sizes, we go through a mathematical formula that determines how many clams are available and how many we should harvest so as to not deplete the standing stock of clams. We apply this formula to each beach, dividing in half that number on beaches that are co-managed with the tribes.

Using historical data about the number of people and average harvest per day per beach, we determine the number of days to harvest. We then try to balance some of the digging between fall and spring digging. We also try to maintain some similar structure to the season overall to minimize confusion. The final factor in opening the seasons is conducting and waiting for the results of the marine toxin testing. Final testing must occur no more than seven days prior to opening of a season.