Washington Administrative Code › Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of › FISH › Chapter 220-312 - Personal-use fisheries-Freshwater specific rules › Section 220-312-010 - Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules-General rules

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
The following provisions and definitions apply to this
				  section through WAC
				  220-312-060.
(1) It is unlawful to fish for, take, or
				possess salmon from freshwater streams and lakes that are not specifically
				listed as open for salmon fishing.
(2) Waters listed as open during a specific
				date range that do not reference a particular species are open during the date
				range for game fish only.
(3) All
				limits are daily limits, unless otherwise provided.
(4) Beaver ponds located within or adjoining
				streams that are listed as open to trout and other game fish follow the same
				rules as the stream, except as otherwise provided.
(5) It is permissible to retain up to two
				hatchery steel-head in waters where the season is open for game fish or salmon
				in WAC
				220-312-020
				through
				220-312-060,
				unless explicitly listed as closed to hatchery steelhead in WAC
				220-312-020
				through
				220-312-060.
(6) A "float" or "bobber" means a hookless,
				floating device that is attached to or slides along the mainline or leader
				above the hook(s) for the purpose of suspending hook(s) (which are not part of
				the bait, lure, or fly) off the bottom of the stream or lake and visually
				signal (from the surface of the water) a fish's strike at the
				hook(s).
(7) "Lead jig" means a
				lure consisting of a hook permanently or temporarily attached directly to a
				lead weight by any method.
(8)
				"Lead weight" means material constructed of lead and applied to a fishing line
				or lure and designed to help keep the hook, bait, or lure underwater.
(9) "Unmarked salmon" means salmon without
				either a clipped ventral fin or a clipped adipose fin as evidenced by a healed
				scar.
(10) Kokanee/sockeye
				definition for Lake Washington and the Lake Washington Ship Canal in King
				County: Kokanee and sockeye less than fifteen inches in length are considered
				kokanee and kokanee and sockeye fifteen inches and over in length are
				considered sockeye salmon.
(11)
(a) A violation of this section through WAC
				220-312-060
				is an infraction, punishable under
				RCW
				77.15.160, unless the person has harvested
				fish. If the person has harvested fish, the violation is punishable under
				RCW
				77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in
				the second degree-Penalty, unless the fish are taken in the amounts or manner
				to constitute a violation of
				RCW
				77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in
				the first degree-Penalty.
(b)
				Freshwater terminal gear restrictions:
(i)
				Terminal gear restrictions apply to all species, including salmon, unless
				otherwise provided.
(ii) In all
				waters with freshwater terminal gear restrictions including, but not limited
				to, night closures, selective gear rules, whitefish gear rules, single-point
				barbless hooks required, fly-fishing only, and anti-snagging rules, violation
				of the gear rules is an infraction, punishable under
				RCW
				77.15.160.
(iii) It is unlawful to possess fish taken
				with gear in violation of the freshwater terminal gear restrictions. Possession
				of fish while using gear in violation of the freshwater terminal gear
				restrictions is a rebuttable presumption that the fish were taken with such
				gear. Possession of such fish is punishable under
				RCW
				77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in
				the second degree-Penalty, unless the fish are taken in the amounts or manner
				to constitute a violation of
				RCW
				77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in
				the first degree- Penalty.