Welcome to Washington Fish Reports

Biennial report outlines adaptive management recommendations for recreational boaters, commercial whale watching operators  OLYMPIA – A new report released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommends that the Legislature increase the vessel buffer for recreational boaters, commercial whale

Interested in fishing Banks Lake in central Washington for walleye but curious what the prospects are? You can find 2023 Banks Lake Walleye Fishing Prospects at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.../2023-banks-walleye-fishing...

OLYMPIA – Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today their final approach for the 2022-2023 coastal steelhead season, following another year of low coastal steelhead returns to Washington’s coast. The upcoming season is structured similarly

Action: Closes Marine Area 11 to all salmon fishing Effective date: Dec. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022 Species affected: All salmon Location: Marine Area 11 from the north tip of Vashon Island to the northernmost Tacoma Narrows Bridge Reason for action: The current estimate of Chinook

OLYMPIA – The recreational razor clam season on all coastal beaches remains closed until further notice, shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. Test results, released on Nov. 23 for razor clams, indicate domoic acid

OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission met over two days this week to discuss coastal steelhead and spring bear policy, among other topics. On Thursday, the Commission's Fish Committee discussed the upcoming coastal steelhead season and the draft Coastal Steelhead

Action: Closes steelhead fishing and retention Effective date: Nov. 20, 2022, until further notice Species affected: Steelhead Location: I-182 Bridge (Richland/Pasco) upstream to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing Reason for action:  This year's return of Ringold Springs Hatchery steelhead is projected to be the second lowest

Over the past few years, water levels in Sprague Lake, which straddles the Lincoln and Adams County lines, have been slow to recede following storm events. In 2017, high water levels combined with heavy rain and frozen ground caused significant

Action: Increases the adult salmon daily limit to three fish. Locations and effective dates: from the mouth to Fisher Hill Bridge – Nov. 17 through Jan. 31, 2023 from 400 feet above #5 Fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon hatchery – Nov.

OLYMPIA – Forget about standing in lines on the day after Thanksgiving this year, and think instead about casting a line in one of the many lakes the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is still stocking this November. Every

OLYMPIA – Recreational crab fishing will open beginning Nov. 15 in marine areas 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. The openings were approved based on harvest estimated using catch record cards

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington modified the permanent rules for 2023 Columbia River sturgeon retention seasons upstream of Bonneville Dam during a hearing today. Fisheries in both The Dalles Pool and Bonneville Pool will shift to a three-day-per-week season