North Puget Sound - Region 4
Phone calls to North Puget Sound Region customer service will go to voicemail during this time. We will return your call as soon as possible. We encourage you to email us at TeamMillCreek@dfw.wa.gov.
16018 Mill Creek Boulevard
Mill Creek, WA 98012-1541
United States
Fishing tips and news
New to fishing in Washington? Check out our Fish Washington blog post for a guide on how to get started.
Purchase your 2024 fishing license
Now that spring has arrived, Washingtonians will need to purchase 2024-2025 recreational hunting and fishing licenses. Licenses can be purchased from WDFW’s licensing website, from regional offices, and hundreds of license vendors around the state.
2023-24 Sport Fishing Rules
The 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet is available online and at hundreds of license dealers around the state. Fishing seasons are in full swing, and the updated rules can help anglers make decisions about how to spend their time on the water.
The 2024-2025 sport fishing rules and pamphlet are expected in June, and go into effect on July 1, 2024.
Current fishing regulations and emergency Fishing Rule Changes are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.
Many rivers, streams, and beaver ponds open May 25
The Saturday before Memorial Day is when many rivers, streams, and beaver ponds typically open for trout and gamefish under the annual Statewide Freshwater Rules. However, this year some rivers are closed to all fishing—including catch and release—to protect wild Chinook salmon and steelhead. These include the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, Stillaguamish, Nooksack rivers, though some sections of these rivers may open later this summer or fall.
Be sure to check the Fish Washington mobile app or online regulations for any emergency fishing rule changes in effect to protect wild salmon and steelhead.
For more information on closures in the Snohomish Basin, please visit our blog post.
Hundreds of lakes around Washington open for fishing
Anglers can look forward to trout fishing in hundreds of lowland lakes throughout the state this spring and summer—and perhaps winning one of more than 800 trout derby prizes along with their catch. More information is available in our news release, or in our blog post recapping opening day.
Most lowland lakes opened for fishing on April 27 and remain open through Oct. 31; while some lakes are open year-round. WDFW planted more than 14.5 million trout and kokanee across Washington in the past year. The catchable-size trout averages 2.5 fish per pound, or 12 to 14 inches.
Depending on the lake, people may encounter rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, and other fish species. Visit WDFW’s fish stocking webpage for information, including the 2024 statewide hatchery trout and kokanee stocking plan and recent catchable trout plant reports.
Visit the WDFW Trout Derby information page to learn more about how the dery works. Or check out the WDFW Medium blog for tips and videos on how to catch trout.
Kill and report invasive pike
Northern pike, a harmful invasive fish, have been caught recently in Lake Washington and on San Juan Island.
If anglers catch northern pike in new areas, WDFW asks that they kill the pike immediately and do not release it, take a photo, and report it by calling 1-888-WDFW-AIS, email at ais@dfw.wa.gov, or use the Washington Invasive Species Council reporting form or mobile app.
It is illegal to possess live invasive species, including pike. Under state regulations, prohibited invasive species may be killed and retained if the person assumes responsibility for correct identification and adherence to fishing regulations. Learn more in our news release.
Recreational spot shrimp fishery opens mid-May
Many Puget Sound marine areas will open for recreational spot shrimp fishing May 16. Hood Canal and Discovery Bay will open May 17.
Overall, the 2024 shrimp season will start with similar opportunities to 2023. Fishery managers selected these dates to offer opportunities to harvest shrimp while distributing participants and reducing the chance of exceeding recreational quotas.
Also known as prawns, spot shrimp are the largest shrimp in Puget Sound and may grow up to nine inches in length. More details, including scheduled and tentative dates as well as regulations, are available in our news release.
Washington salmon fishing seasons tentatively set for 2024-2025
Anglers in Washington can expect similar salmon fishing opportunities in 2024-2025 compared to last season. Learn more in our news release and Salmon Daily Digest blog series.
Continued low returns of some key Puget Sound Chinook salmon stocks are expected to limit some salmon fisheries in the upcoming season. They include the Nooksack, Skagit, Snohomish, and Stillaguamish rivers.
Tulalip Bubble Chinook fishery
The Tulalip Bubble Fishery opens for Chinook from May 24 through Sept. 2 and fishing is allowed from 12:01 a.m. Fridays through Mondays of each week. Fishing is closed on June 1 for the Tulalip Tribal fishing ceremony.
Halibut fishing continues in North Puget Sound marine areas
The 2024 halibut season continues in several Puget Sound marine areas. See our halibut season news release or webpage for details.
There is a one-halibut daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess a maximum of two halibut in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW halibut catch record card. New for 2024, the annual limit is six halibut per angler.
Barbless hooks are required for all species in these marine areas including halibut and bottomfish—except when using forage fish jig gear to target forage fish (herring, sandlance, anchovy, sardine, and smelt). Refer to Marine Area Rules and Definitions in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules.
A descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut in Washington waters. Check out our new blog post for more information descending devices and how to use them.
2024 clam and oyster seasons underway
With the return of spring and daytime low tides, many of Washington’s clam and oyster beaches are now open or will soon reopen for recreational shellfish gathering.
State clam, mussel, and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach. Regulations and season dates as well as shellfishing tips are available at wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches.
We also have a new Safeguard Our Shellfish campaign to protect Washington's shellfish from parasites, diseases, and native species.
Boating safety
With freshwater fishing season openers in April, the Washington State Park and Recreation Commission Boating Program reminds you to take a boater safety education course, if you haven’t already, to be prepared for the season. In Washington, boaters who operate a vessel with a 15-horsepower engine or greater must carry a Boater Education Card to prove they passed an accredited boating safety education course.
Fishing for "sea-run" coastal cutthroat
Among coastal cutthroat trout, some populations are anadromous around Puget Sound, on the Washington Coast including Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, and in lower Columbia River tributaries; meaning they spawn in freshwater but live much of their lives in saltwater.
Learn more about these unique sea-run cutthroat and how to fish for them in this February 2022 WDFW blog post and March 2016 YouTube video.
Sometimes called "harvest trout" due to their autumn run timing in many rivers, sea run cutthroat make excellent catch and release quarry on fly fishing gear or light spinning tackle. They typically range from 10- to 20-inches in length, and once located will aggressively bite flies and small spoons or spinners.
The cooler waters of October into January are typically peak cutthroat fishing season, followed by a lull during late January and February when these trout spawn in rivers and creeks across Western Washington. There is often another fishing peak in many saltwater areas from March into June when sea run cutthroat are feeding on salmon fry and small baitfish.
In North Sound, Coastal and Lower Columbia rivers sea run cutthroat often school up under logjams, overhanging banks, and in other portions of the lower and mainstem rivers where they can ambush smaller fish and insects.
In South Puget Sound and Hood Canal, cutthroat will stay in shallow nearshore saltwater bays and estuaries most the year—typically caught in water ten feet deep or less, and sometimes as shallow as a few inches—before dashing up small creeks and rivers to spawn in late-January and February.
Hunting opportunities and news
For an overview of hunting in Washington and how to get started, visit our Hunt Washington blog post.
2023-24 Hunting Regulations
The 2023-24 Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations and 2024-25 Big Game Hunting Regulations pamphlets are available online and at hundreds of license dealers around the state. The updated rules can help hunters make decisions about how to spend their time in the field.
Current hunting regulations are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations.
Buy your 2024 hunting license
Now that spring has arrived, Washingtonians will need to buy 2024-2025 recreational hunting and fishing licenses. People can buy licenses from WDFW’s licensing website, WDFW regional offices, or hundreds of license vendors around the state.
Special hunt applications now available
Multi-season deer and elk tags allow you to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons, while special hunt permits offer opportunities such as hunting outside general seasons, all increasing your chances for success. Learn more, including details on the May 15 special hunt application deadline, at myWDFW.com.
Spring wild turkey hunting
The statewide spring wild turkey hunting season runs from April 15 to May 31 for the general season, while a special youth-only hunt takes place April 1-7. For additional details, visit the wild turkey hunting webpage.
Most Western Washington turkey hunters travel to central, eastern, or southwest Washington, as there are very few wild turkeys in the Puget Sound Region.
New, prospective hunters must complete hunter education
Before hunting seasons start, be sure to complete your hunter education course.
Students may choose between a traditional classroom or hybrid course. The traditional course is a multi-session instructor-led training with an average of 15 hours of instruction. The hybrid course consists of a self-paced online class followed by a field skills evaluation by certified instructors.
Prospective hunters can learn more about hunter education requirements and register for either a traditional or hybrid course by visiting WDFW’s hunter education webpage.
Per Washington state law, all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972, must complete a hunter education course in order to buy a hunting license. A hunter education deferral is available for hunters 10 and older who want to try hunting with an eligible licensed hunter before completing a hunter education course themselves.
WDFW offers accessible hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds
Did you know WDFW offers hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms throughout Washington that are accessible to people with disabilities? Learn about these Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) designated sites at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/hunting-and-wildlife-viewing-blinds.
Some sites can be reserved through WDFW's Private Lands Hunting Access program. Others can be reserved by calling the wildlife area manager.
Hunters without disabilities should yield ADA hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms to those with disabilities if the site was reserved.
Many of these ADA hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms are built and maintained with support from volunteers, master hunters, and partners including Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and Washington Waterfowl Association. Thank you!
Be aware of avian influenza (bird flu)
With the spring bird migration underway, there is a chance we could also see a resurgence in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or commonly known as bird flu) to the state. The H5N1 virus of avian influenza is making the rounds again, especially in areas of Western Washington. This is confirmed by WDFW testing of sick or dead wild birds and U.S. Department of Agriculture surveillance of hunter-harvested birds.
Hunters are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves and their dogs from the virus. WDFW has specific precautions on our avian influenza webpage under “Human HPAI Safety.” If you encounter a sick or dead wild bird, please report it via our online reporting tool.
Head to myWDFW.com for info on hunting, angling, and more
WDFW has rolled out a promotional website for all things hunting, angling, foraging, recreating, and more. At myWDFW.com, you’ll find informative how-to articles on the season’s major fishing and hunting opportunities, as well as a portal to online license sales and a regular update on WDFW’s latest Life Outdoors articles.
Each quarter, new fishing and hunting highlights are posted to help you get ready and take part in Washington’s current and upcoming opportunities. Dedicated to current agency promotions, outdoor recreation information, and educational content, myWDFW.com preps you to meet with success in the field and on the water.
Hoof disease in elk
As many hunters know, Treponeme-Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) has spread among elk in Western Washington in recent years, including in the North Cascades Elk Herd. While elk are susceptible to many conditions that cause limping or hoof deformities, the prevalence and severity of this new affliction – now known as treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) – suggests something different.
In 2021, WDFW implemented an incentive-based pilot program to encourage Western Washington (400, 500, 600 series GMUs) hunters to harvest limping elk, potentially reducing prevalence of the disease over time. General season or permit hunters can choose to participate in the program by submitting elk hooves at one of the many collection sites in western Washington.
See the WDFW website for the locations of collection sites. Hunters that submit hooves with signs of TAHD (for example, abnormal hooves) will be automatically entered into a drawing for a special incentive permit for the following license year. Multiple bull permits in western Washington with season dates of Sept. 1 – Dec. 31 will be awarded. Additionally, all participants will receive a custom, waterproof license holder.
What hunters can do to help:
- Harvest a limping elk from any 400, 500, 600 series GMUs
- Turn in your elk hooves along with complete registration forms at one of several collection sites in western Washington
- Report elk: Hunters can help WDFW track TAHD by reporting observations of both affected and unaffected elk on the department’s online reporting form.
- Clean shoes and tires: Anyone who hikes or drives off-road in a known affected area can help minimize the risk of spreading the disease to new areas by removing all mud from their shoes and tires before leaving the area.
Wildlife watching and recreation
Searching for places to watch wildlife or recreate on State Wildlife Areas or WDFW Water Access Areas? Visit our Places to Go webpage, Wildlife Area map or Water Access Area webpage for ideas.
Or visit our wildlife viewing webpage for more information and tips on wildlife watching!
Big Ditch Water Access Area closed to vehicles April 15 - Sept. 15
Big Ditch Water Access Area is closed to vehicle entry through September 15 to reduce illegal dumping, vandalism, and target shooting. Walk-in access from the gate is allowed. This site near Stanwood on the southside of Skagit Bay is popular in the fall and winter for waterfowl hunting and birdwatching.
For information on other water access areas nearby, please visit our Skagit Wildlife Area webpage.
Watchable Wildlife
There’s always wildlife to watch across the state. Check out the Great Washington State Birding Trail for maps across the state to find birds and enjoy time outside.
Spotting even more animals like moose or marmots while out on your adventures? When viewing all wildlife, be sure to follow responsible and ethical viewing and photography practices to have a safe and enjoyable experience. More information on wildlife viewing—including how to get started—can be found on our webpage.
#LifeOutdoorsWA
The outdoors fits into everyone’s life in unique and personal ways. We want to help people connect with nature wherever they are. Check out our Life Outdoors resources to plan your next adventure, whether it be birding in your neighborhood or camping across the state. We hope to see you in the field and on the water enjoying the Life Outdoors!
Help protect wildlife by keeping dogs leashed
With summer right around the corner, now’s the time to get out and enjoy Washington’s great outdoors. Also during this time, does are giving birth to fawns, ground-nesting birds are tending to their eggs and young chicks, and sensitive plants are growing to provide food and habitat for wildlife.
If you have a canine companion, chances are they’re eager to join you outdoors, too. While dogs are welcome at WDFW wildlife areas and water access areas, please keep in mind that they must be leashed through July 31. Learn more about how this helps to protect habitat, wildlife, and people in our 2022 blog post.
Practice bear awareness this spring
Black bears are common throughout Washington, including suburban areas. Both when preparing for hibernation and awakening from it, they look for high-calorie foods that are easy to obtain. These may include garbage, bird feeders (both seed and liquid), fruit trees, and pet food.
As human populations encroach on bear habitat, people and bears have greater chances of encountering each other. Food sources provided by humans, whether intentionally or not, can attract bears. Removing these attractants is the best way to encourage bears to move along and focus on natural food sources
Ask your local waste management company if bear-resistant containers are available or if individually purchased bear-resistant containers are compatible with the company’s equipment. Secure your garbage cans, such as in a shed or garage, and put them out the morning of pickup — not the night before. To help reduce odors, freeze meat and fish waste before disposing of it and spray garbage cans with disinfectants.
More information on living with bears is available on our website.
Leave wild babies wild
April is a busy month for the birth of baby animals. If you find fawns, baby birds, or other young animals, please leave them be, even if they appear to be orphaned or abandoned. Most animals have a parent foraging or hunting nearby. Read our blog to learn about when not to rescue wildlife and what to do if you encounter certain species.
For wildlife that do require care, WDFW relies on permitted rehabilitators. Rehabilitators are trained and highly skilled in providing the unique attention needed for injured or orphaned wildlife, and care deeply for the animals entrusted to them.
Visit our website to learn more about Washington’s wildlife rehabilitators and find one near you. Remember to thank the rehabilitators in your region for the important work they do on behalf of our state’s wildlife!
Tips for living with coyotes
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are present across nearly all of Washington state, from the shrubsteppe to the alpine, as well as urban and suburban areas. They are common in many larger, wooded green spaces and parks within cities including Seattle.
You may hear coyotes more frequently than you see them, especially when they have pups. Juvenile coyotes are often heard in summer, trying out their voices. Coyote sightings often increase in winter when they are more active, or in late-winter and spring when they may have dens and pups to care for.
Urban coyotes are a good reminder to keep a close eye on children and small pets or to keep them inside if unsupervised. Visit our coyote webpage or learn more in this recent blog post.
Find ADA-accessible facilities to enjoy the outdoors
Whether you’re looking for fishing, hunting, or wildlife viewing opportunities, our website offers many tools to find ADA-accessible facilities to enjoy the outdoors. WDFW-managed lands with ADA facilities include water access areas and wildlife areas. Our website also has a list of fishing piers that you can filter by county and availability of ADA-accessible facilities. Visit our blog post to learn more.
Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit to remain closed to public
Following heavy rains and flooding, we have determined that the Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit near Conway will remain closed to public access until further notice due to safety concerns. Walk-in access is prohibited.
WDFW hopes to reopen the Skagit Headquarters Unit to the public later in 2024 once critical public safety and habitat protection work is complete. Learn more in our statement.
Since 2016, multiple high-water events have overtopped dikes in the area, resulting in temporary inundation of public and private property. This construction project will raise and widen the dikes in accordance with Army Corps of Engineers standards. More information is available on this webpage.
Conserving species and habitats
Looking for more info on wildlife conservation and species management around Washington? Check out our Bi-Weekly Wildlife Program reports.
WDFW Director's Bulletin: March/April
Read our latest bi-monthly message from WDFW Director Kelly Susewind and get timely updates and news from WDFW's Fish, Wildlife, Habitat, and Police programs.
Annual survey shows growth in Washington gray wolf population in 2023
The report shows a 20% increase in wolf population growth from the previous count in 2022. As of Dec. 31, 2023, WDFW and partnering tribes counted 260 wolves in 42 packs in Washington. Twenty-five of the packs were successful breeding pairs that raised at least two pups through the end of the calendar year. These numbers follow the previous year’s count of 216 wolves in 37 packs and 26 breeding pairs.
“Although the first pack to recolonize the South Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery region only had one wolf during the year end counts in 2023, we have observed multiple collared wolves south of Interstate 90 in the last year,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. “This likely means it is only a matter of time before new packs begin to establish in that recovery region.”
Learn more about wolves in our news release.
Wild Washington Youth Education
Spring is a great time to explore your neighborhood and discover the habitat needs of local wildlife. Did you know that wildlife often use entire neighborhoods to access essential resources such as food, water, shelter, and space?
To understand how your neighborhood supports local wildlife, we’ve put together a scavenger hunt for you and your family to find and identify different elements of wildlife habitat in your community. The hunt will have you search for elements like trees, shrubs, bird feeders, bird and bat houses, and water sources like streams or ponds.
Learn more on our Wild Washington youth education program webpage.
Habitat at Home: Making your lawn wildlife-friendly
Support wildlife, mow less, and conserve water by transforming your lawn! Grassy lawns have replaced healthy wildlife habitat and contribute to water shortages across Washington.
Transforming your lawn into a native wildflower meadow creates habitat for pollinators, birds, and bats. Plus, the native plants need much less water than a conventional lawn!
Submit comments on bald eagles, peregrine falcons
WDFW is seeking public input on its draft periodic status reviews for the bald eagle and peregrine falcon.
Both species have previously been removed from Washington’s list of state endangered species due to population recovery in the state. Based on the latest available information, WDFW biologists recommend that both birds retain their status as successfully recovered.
The public comment periods for the bald eagle and peregrine falcon draft status reviews are open through May 27. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is tentatively scheduled to consider these topics in June. Learn more in our news release.
Updates on WDFW's 25-year Strategic Plan
This winter, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) 25-Year Strategic Plan turned three, launching us a few years into a long forward-thinking vision for the future of fish and wildlife conservation here in Washington through 2045.
As we look back on our progress in 2023, it’s also an opportunity to pause and reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together in these first few years on the goals outlined in our strategic plan. Learn more about implementing our 25-Year Strategic Plan: A Path to an Improved Era for Fish, Wildlife, and People, in this blog post.
Please report suspected European green crabs
Our Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) unit recently received a report from a concerned member of the public who claimed to have collected nine invasive European green crabs from a Hood Canal beach. Upon reviewing their photos, we quickly determined these were in fact helmet crabs, a common native species unlawful to kill or retain.
While we appreciate their concern about invasive species, the reporting party was reminded to photograph and report suspected European green crabs using the form at wdfw.wa.gov/greencrab, leaving the crab in question where it was found.
Incidents like this are one reason why WDFW has not yet opened recreational harvest for European green crabs in Washington. Other reasons include restrictions on access to private tidelands and shellfish beds, and concerns about bycatch of protected fish and shellfish, especially if traps are exposed during low tide. Read more in our blog post.
Keeping Washington's habitat connected
Animals rely on movement to survive, in pursuit of food, resources, and seasonal habitat. As Washington's human population grows, the state's natural habitats grow increasingly fragmented. Habitat connectivity is about ensuring animals have the freedom of movement they need to thrive, and WDFW is working hard with its partners to help improve those connections across Washington.
Join the WDFW Team
If you’d enjoy preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the state’s fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities, then check out some of our current job openings or sign up for job alerts. From fish hatchery specialists to environmental engineers and budget analysts to wildlife biologists, a career with WDFW makes a difference.
Wildlife Program biweekly reports
To read reports published prior to 2023, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.
Meet your Regional Director: Brendan Brokes
Brendan Brokes, North Puget Sound Region Director (Region 4), holds a master's degree in fisheries science from Oregon State University and has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1987. He served as the Habitat Program Manager in this region since 2015, after filling a decade-long role as the Assistant Regional Habitat Program Manager.
Before arriving at WDFW in 2001, Brokes worked at Mount Rainier National Park as a researcher and biological technician in aquatic ecology. He also worked with the National Marine Fisheries Service monitoring foreign commercial fisheries compliance.