What about Licenses?

Kids 14 and younger do not need a fishing license to fish in the state of Washington. Anglers 15 years of age are required to have a youth fishing license, which costs $7.67 and allows them to fish in both fresh and saltwater. Costs for resident adult fishing licenses (age 16-69) are $21.90 for an annual freshwater license, $19.71 for an annual saltwater license, and $41.61 for an annual combination (freshwater/saltwater) license. Short-term combination licenses also are available for periods of one day to five days.

The exception to youth and adult license requirements is Free Fishing Weekend, which is the Saturday and Sunday at the end of the first full week in June each year. On that weekend, no license is required for anyone to fish in Washington.

Anglers of any age who fish for salmon, Pacific halibut, sturgeon, steelhead or Dungeness crab must have a catch record card in their possession while fishing, even on Free Fishing Weekend. These catch record cards are available free of charge from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offices and license vendors throughout the state.