LICENSING

License requirements are merely summarized here. For more information, including lists of species for which a license is required, refer to the latest sport fishing regulations pamphlet. Licenses are sold through a computerized point-of-sale license system at dealers throughout the sate, by toll free telephone, and over the internet. See the inside front cover for the phone number and internet address where you can buy your licenses.

• Annual licenses and catch record cards run from April 1 through March 31 of the following year.
  
• Licenses are required for both residents and nonresidents 15 years of age and older (see “Kids and Seniors” for more information). Reduced-fee licenses are available for qualified disabled persons, disabled veterans, youths age 15, and resident seniors (age 70+; see below).
  
• A saltwater license is required to fish for most marine and anadromous species in saltwater.
  
• A shellfish/seaweed license is required for all shell fishing and gathering of seaweeds.
  
• A freshwater fishing license is required to fish for most freshwater species and steelhead
  
• A combination freshwater/saltwater and shellfish / seaweed license is available to all license buyer categories except resident seniors.
  
• Short-term combination freshwater/saltwater and shellfish / seaweed licenses are available to both residents and non-residents for one- through five day periods. Check the current regulations pamphlet for rates and additional information.
  
• Annual and 3-day razor-clam-only licenses (not shown below) are available to resident and nonresident adults and seniors.
  
• A combination catch record card is required to fish for or 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).

Recreational License Fee Schedule

Kids and Seniors

Juvenile anglers are residents or non-residents 14 years of age and under. Juveniles can fish for free, no licenses required, for all legal species, in all open waters during open seasons. See Juveniles-only Fishing Waters below. A free catch record card is still required in most areas for steelhead, salmon, sturgeon, halibut and Dungeness crab. Youth fishers are residents or non-residents 15 years of age. They can buy the freshwater plus saltwater plus shellfish/seaweed combination license for $7.67. At age 16 they are considered adults, and pay the standard adult resident or non-resident fee.

Resident seniors, 70 years of age or older, can buy reduced-fee freshwater, saltwater, or shellfish/seaweed licenses for $5.48. each. Non-resident seniors pay the standard non-resident fee.

Disability Reduced-Fee Licenses

Persons with certain permanent disabilities as defined in RCW 77.32.490 may qualify for a reduced-fee $7.67 combination freshwater, saltwater and shellfish license. Persons who are blind, permanently use a wheelchair, or have a developmental disability as defined in RCW 71A.10.020 qualify for this reduced-fee license. Some veterans with certain service-connected disabilities also qualify for the reduced fee license. Contact the WDFW Licensing Division at (360) 902-2456, or at any of the regional offices listed on the inside front cover, or on the internet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/formpage.htm to obtain an application, which must be approved by the WDFW Licensing Division in Olympia. Persons with certain permanent disabilities may also obtain a free “Designated Harvester Card,” which allows any licensed angler to assist them in the taking of fish and shellfish if they are unable to do so; see WAC 220-55-065. A free “Fly Fishing Only” special use permit is available to persons with permanent physical disabilities who cannot use conventional fly-fishing equipment; see WAC 220-56-210. Contact the Department’s ADA Coordinator in Olympia at (360) 902-2349 for more details.

Vehicle Use Permits

Users of most WDFW access areas must have a Vehicle Use Permit decal displayed in their vehicle. Each decal can be moved between two vehicles, placed on the dash or hung from the mirror rather than permanently affixed. One decal is issued free when you buy your fishing or hunting license. Extra decals cost $5.48 each. Decals can also be purchased separately (without a fishing or hunting license purchase) for $10.95 each. This program is designed to let non-hunters and non-anglers share the cost of maintaining these facilities.

Juveniles-only Fishing Waters

These lakes and streams are set aside for juveniles (14 years old and younger), and in a few cases disability license holders, seniors and families. These bodies of water are listed alphabetically by county (see index for page location). Check the regulations pamphlet for size and catch limits and other possible special rules.