2009 Fishing Prospects
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LICENSING

License requirements are merely summarized here. For more information, including list of species for which a recreational license is required, refer to the latest sport fishing rules in the 2009/2010 edition of the pamphlet “Fishing in Washington.” Recreational licenses are sold through a computerized point of sale license system at dealers throughout the state, by toll free telephone and over the Internet. Be sure to consider making a donation to the youth fishing program (Go Play Outside), when you purchase your license. The” Fishing in Washington” pamphlet includes phone number and the Internet address where you can buy your license.

• Annual recreational licenses and catch record cards run from April 1 through March 31 of the following year.
• Recreational licenses are required for both residents and nonresidents 15 years of age and older (see “Juvenile, Youth and Senior Anglers” below for more information). Reduced fee licenses are available for qualified disabled persons, disabled veterans, youth age 15 years and younger, and resident seniors (age 70 +; see below).
• A recreational saltwater fishing license is required to fish for most marine and anadromous species in saltwater. Salmon, Steelhead, Halibut and Sturgeon also require a catch record card, see below. A recreational shellfish/seaweed license is required for all shell fishing and gathering of seaweeds.
• A recreational freshwater fishing license is required to fish for most freshwater fish species and anadromous species (salmon and steelhead) in freshwater. Some species require a catch record card, see below.
• A recreational combination freshwater/saltwater and shellfish/seaweed license is available to all license buyer categories except resident seniors.
• Recreational short-term combination freshwater/saltwater and shellfish/seaweed licenses are available to both residents and non-residents for one through five-day periods.
• Annual and 3 day recreational razor clam only licenses are available to resident and non-resident adults and seniors.
• A combination catch record card is required to fish for and retain steelhead, salmon, sturgeon, halibut or Dungeness crab. A card (one only) is issued free upon request with any appropriate license purchase (but not with razor clam only licenses). Catch record cards for fish need to be returned to the mailing address on the card or to a regional office no later than April 30^th each year. Effective in 2007, crab catch record cards were separated in two reporting seasons (Summer and Winter) and must be reported according information as described on the license for each. Electronic reporting has been made available and is easy to do through the Internet for Crab Catch Records. WDFW uses this information to help manage fisheries that recreational harvesters participate in each year. Remember, even if you do not harvest any fish or shellfish it is important to return your catch record card. Without this critical data, it becomes very difficult to measure the success or failure of each fishery.

Recreational License Fee Schedule *

* Final License fees are current as of April 1, 2009, user fees may also apply for Puget Sound Crab and other species. See Fishing in Washington regulations pamphlet for more details.

Juvenile, Youth and Senior Anglers

Juvenile anglers include residents or non-residents 14 years of age or under. Juveniles can fish for free; no licenses required for all legal species, in all open waters during open seasons. A free catch record card is still required in most areas for steelhead, salmon, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab.

Youth anglers include residents or non-residents 15 years of age. They can buy the recreational freshwater, saltwater and shellfish/seaweed combination license for $ 7.67 (includes Razor Clam license). At age 16 they are required to purchase the standard adult resident or non-resident recreational license.

Resident seniors, 70 years of age or older, can purchase reduced-fee freshwater, saltwater, or shellfish/seaweed and razor clam licenses. Non-resident seniors pay the standard non-resident fee.

Military and Veteran Licenses

Currently legislation is being considered by the Washington Legislature that may modify the information contained below. Please consider this issue when reading what is in place at this time for the requirements to purchase or secure a fishing license in the State of Washington if you are currently active or are a veteran of any of our Armed Forces.

Military Personnel Stationed in Washington

All military personnel stationed in the state of Washington may purchase a resident recreational fishing license from a local licensing vendor at the resident rates for the calendar year. A valid military ID with a copy of orders showing Washington as duty station will be required to meet this qualification. For fee rates see chart above, referring to the Adult (Age 16-69) Resident column.

Military and Veterans

Currently the state of Washington does not provide a reduced rate or free license for Veterans unless there is a medical or service related disability. These are as follows:

• Resident veterans with a service connected disability of 30% or more.
• Resident veterans 65 years of age or older with a service connected disability

If these conditions apply, an application for reduced fees or a designated Harvester card must be processed through a Department of Fish and Wildlife office. To request an application or for more information write: WDFW Licensing Division, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091; or call ((360) 902-2464; or visit the agency website at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov

Fishing Kids Events

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, and several local and national sponsors offer a number of “Fishing Kids” events throughout the state. These events are designed to introduce youth ages 5 through 14 to sport fishing. Fifteen events are schedule for this year. For more information, including a list of events plus sigh-up forms, you can download; go to the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation website at http://www.castforkids.org.

• Vancouver, Klineline Pond, April 18^th, contact info: WDFW (360) 906-6706
• Lacey, Long’s Pond, April 18^th, contact info: Lacey Parks Dept. (360) 491-0857
• Seattle, Green Lake, April 18^th, contact: C.A.S.T. for Kids (425) 251-3214
• Longview, Lake Sacajawea, April 25^th, contact: Longview Parks (360) 442-5400
• Kennewick, Columbia Park Pond, May 2^nd, contact: Kennewick Parks (509) 585-4293
• Spokane, Clear Lake, May 2^nd, contact: Spokane Co. 4H (509) 477-2166
• Everett, Silver Lake, May 9^th, contact: Everett Parks (360) 257-8300
• Yakima, Sarg Hubbard Pond, May 9^th, contact: Yakima Greenway Foundation (509) 453-8280
• Seattle, Lake Washington (Seward Park) May 16^th, contact: C.A.S.T. for Kids ((425) 251-3214
• Lakewood, American Lake, May 16^th, contact: Pierce Co. Parks Dept. (253) 798-4176
• Renton, Lake Washington (Gene Coulon Park), June 6^th, Renton Parks and Rec. (425) 430-4700
• Wenatchee, Leavenworth Hatchery, June 6^th, contact: Hooked on Toys (509) 663-0740
• Moses Lake, Moses Lake, June 13^th, contact: Moses Lake Park and Rec. (509) 766-9240
• Colfax, Gilchrist Pond, June 13^th, contact: Whitman Co. 4H (509) 397-6290
• Silverdale, Island Lake, June 20^th, contact: Kitsap Co. Parks (360) 337-5370

Other youth fishing activities happen throughout the year with many different local community groups, associations and business entities. These may have a WDFW component, but many do not and are not advertised by WDFW, rather are done so by the group directly involved. All youth related fishing activities are indeed important and of value as educational activities.

“Go Play Outside™” Initiative

“Go Play OutsideÔ” is an effort with the objective of increasing interest, support, and participation in outdoor recreation. This effort helps WDFW reconnect with traditional users and build bridges to new ones. Included in the initiative are public workshops on fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and wildlife watching sponsored by WDFW or presented through partnerships. This initiative creates new partnerships and expands existing ones; recruits new outdoor recreationists; encourages mentoring efforts; while providing information, outreach, and education to the public. A primary role of WDFW in this initiative process will be to act as a catalyst, and to provide statewide coordination and consistency for "Go Play OutsideÔ" clinics and other activities conducted by our partners. If you are interested in making a tax deductible donation to this program, sponsoring an event or activity, presenting a workshop, or providing mentoring services for hunting, fishing, shooting sports, or wildlife watching, please contact a local license vendor or visit WDFW by internet to make a donation at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/donate.html, to contact WDFW about scheduling an event or activities or to get your organization involved in the “Go Play Outside™” program, please email: goplayoutside@dfw.wa.gov or by mail: Go Play Outside, FISH Program - WDFW, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 for more information on this great program.