What's NEW for 2008 Washington Fishing Prospects

2008 is a “major rule cycle year,” and several changes have been made in regards to Fishing Regulations. Some of the rule changes are briefly described here; regulation changes usually take effect on May 1. Please check the 2008/2009 “Fishing in Washington” regulations pamphlet (available on or before May 1, 2008) and online at www.wdfw.wa.gov for the actual regulatory language and rules.

For a complete listing of the changes made by the WDFW Commission at the February 2008 meeting, please refer to http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/index.htm. Some of the rule changes that take affect this year include:

• Definition of Bass: The term Bass will apply only to Smallmouth and Largemouth bass. Rock Bass and Stripped Bass will be managed without size or daily limits.

• Separate statewide rules for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass: unless stated in specific waters as listed in the Fishing in Washington Sportfishing regulations pamphlet:

• Statewide Smallmouth Bass rule: No minimum size. Only 1 over 14 inches may be retained. Daily limit 10. Bass may be caught, retained and released alive from a livewell until a daily limit is in possession.

• Statewide Largemouth Bass rule: No minimum size. Only bass less than 12 inches may be retained, except one (1) over 17 inches may be retained. Daily limit 5. Bass may be caught, retained and released alive from a livewell until a daily limit is in possession.

• Allow Anglers to Purchase a Subsequent Catch Record Card for Hatchery Steelhead: This change allows anglers to continue to catch hatchery origin steelhead by allowing them to purchase additional catch record cards. Should a steelhead angler retain the one-wild steelhead per year, that fish shall be recorded on first catch record card and kept with the angler until the end of the season. Any additional catch record cards would only be valid for hatchery fish.

• Fishing Tournaments – The three changes to fishing tournaments were as follows:

• No tournaments allowed on wild steelhead.

• During tournaments where anglers target tiger muskies, no retention is allowed. Tiger muskies may be caught, measured for length, and photographed but all fish must be immediately released alive.

• This proposal changes the requirements for aquatic invasive species decontamination for boats involved in tournaments. The full text is found on page 16 in the “2008-2009 Sportfishing Rule Proposals Concise Explanatory Statement” found at (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/2008-2009ces.pdf)

• Tiger Muskie Rule: This proposal sets the minimum size for tiger muskie at 50 inches with a daily limit of one fish.

• Fork Length Measurement For Sturgeon: The change is for anglers to use fork length when measuring fish. Fork length is defined as the distance from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail.

A Sturgeon has a cyclic tail with the tip lobe being longer than the bottom. Measuring total length requires that the tail is lying in a “normal position: It is often difficult for the angler to keep the fish in a “normal position: long enough to measure the top of the tail. This is particularly a problem with fish that are near the upper and lower ends of the slot limit. The result is an increase in handling time. Many anglers hold the fish vertically by the tail and measure from the floor of the boat to the top of the tail. All of this increases the handling stress and impacts survival of released fish. Converting to fork length will reduce handling time since the angler will not have to get the top of tail in a “normal position”. It is much easier to measure fork length, so fish not within the slot limit can be released more quickly. Fork length is less ambiguous, making enforcement more clear- cut and the rule easier for anglers to comply with.)

Remember, when preparing to enjoy a day on the water fishing,
it is each angler’s responsibility to know the rules for the waters they are fishing in.
Keep a copy of the current Fishing in Washington Sportfishing regulations pamphlet
with you at all times, be sure to check the WDFW website for any changes
that may have occurred after the publication of regulation pamphlet.