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For more information on
fishing, please contact the
WDFW Fish Program.
360-902-2700
For fishing regulation
questions, e-mail us at:
fishregs@dfw.wa.gov
For all other questions and comments, e-mail us at:
fishpgm@dfw.wa.gov
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Sportfishing Rule Proposals & Comments
View proposals and comments on proposals that were submitted by the public and WDFW staff.
There are two types of rules available for viewing.
for Public Comment |
for further consideration |
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View by Category
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DFW019644
Licensed guides that fish for hire cannot angle while having paid customers onboard. | DFW031559
Illegal to run internal combustion engines. | DFW084106
Catch and release Coastal Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Varden/Bull Trout in all waters (fresh and marine) in Washington State. | DFW102521
purchase lisence for a second pole to be used while salmon fishing. | DFW119253
WILD STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT ZONES
RECOMMENDATIONS
Establish regional wild steelhead management zones (i.e. zones managed exclusively for wild steelhead without any hatchery in-puts). TCA recommends im... | DFW165725
fishisg season for fresh water starts on the 2nd Saturday in April. | DFW195565
Upon the Columbia River and within Puget Sound, allow one extra rod per watercraft regardless of the number of anglers. IE: Two anglers could fish with three rods or five anglers could fish with six ... | DFW196432
Trout daily limit 2 fish, minimum size 12 inches. | DFW231760
Stream fishing regulations for trout in the remainder of the State need to be converted to the proper format. | DFW234122
Mandatory Retention of all hatchery steelhead - Statewide
| DFW263555
TCA asks the Commission to simplify and harmonize angling regulations rules as follows:
• Wild Steelhead, searun cutthroat and bull trout catch and release only state-wide, year round; no exceptions.... | DFW306243
No wild steelhead may be retained at any time. No exceptions. Catch and Release fishing only for wild steelhead statewide.(Change the present rule(s) that allow wild steelhead retention February 16 ... | DFW330322
It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head, unless otherwise specified. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of... | DFW353607
Maximum leader length beyond a weight of four feet (to reduce snagging of salmon.) | DFW413123
On the list of food fish species the scientific names are incorrect for spiny dogfish and longfish smelt. North Pacific spiny dogfish should be listed as Squalus suckleyi and longfin smelt should be ... | DFW422143
Repeal this eondorsement | DFW450323
must do more regulation on comercial and tribal netting. | DFW476491
Mandatory Retention of all hatchery steelhead - Statewide | DFW486550
We , from Oregon are trying to get the gilnets out of the Columbia because of the damage they do to steelhead, sturgeon and wild salmon . The problem is harvest of the finclipped salmon ....so suppose... | DFW517733
Suggestion for next years fishing regulations.........
Therein lies the question. It says may assist the person's whose name is on the pot while he or she is pulling the pot. However it doe... | DFW530138
All nets are to be out of Washington state waters. So the we can effectively manage our recourses. The curren practices & law are failing
| DFW545835
Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Only barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point or double point but not more than one line with up to two hooks per a... | DFW566217
Let the two-pole endorsement apply to all fisheries state-wide. | DFW593713
2-pole endorsement should also apply to rivers, including salmon and steelhead. If there is a two salmon catch limit, once you have caught one, you can only fish with one pole. The catch rate is so ... | DFW595053
change the steelhead catch to only 10 per year. Period no additional catch card either. | DFW622881
Reduce daily limit to 2 or 3. | DFW711344
All statewide "Public Access" ramps should be constructed with a gradual shallow angle access with hand holds where applicable, in addition to the current general use ramps. This would place &... | DFW725075
Selective Gear Rules ONLY:
Westside Rivers - Trout and Steelhead - February 1 to April 30.
Eastside Rivers - Trout and Steelhead – Year Round
| DFW739004
Increase recreational fishing opportunity and reduce recreational angling impact to wild winter steelhead through these changes:
1.Reopen Puget Sound Streams to catch & release angling for winter s... | DFW750684
The current print outs are ridiculous and bulky. You can't write on the them without smearing ink. Make licenses in a booklet similar to a passport. Easier to maintain for the sportsman. | DFW764139
An angler must stop fishing for the year when they have reached their limit of one wild steelhead harvested or for the day when they have caught and released two wild steelhead. Anglers will immediat... | DFW774544
No cost to people 60 years and older. Also no cost to handicap people. Limit this to people fishing from boat (only two people in the boat). Also fishing from dock or shore, or drop the price of the e... | DFW804631
No min. size. Daily limet 5. First 5 fish caught, reguardless of size or weight. | DFW858808
Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Only barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point or double point but not more than one line with up to two hooks per a... | DFW911592
Selective Gear Rules
Westside Rivers - Trout and Steelhead - February 1 to April 30.
Eastside Rivers - Trout and Steelhead – Year Round
| DFW996354
I would like WDFW to get rid of the rule. |
DFW003073
Convert the entire Naches River to Catch and Release Selective Fishery, there has been success with this in the section from Rattlesnake Creek to the Tieton Section yet the other areas have not thrive... | DFW033405
Klickitat River. Fishing from floating devices is not allowed from September 15 through June 30 on the Klickitat River from the Little Klickitat River confluence to the Yakima reservation. Floating de... | DFW036902
No fishing from a floating device year round above the Cotlets Way Bridge in Cashmere. | DFW046819
Selective gear rules.
Daily limit one.
No min. size
Seasonal lake | DFW078306
This rule was inacted during a time that "Native Steelhead" were returning in the Washougal River in low numbers and the intent was to reduce the hook mortality of them during this return peri... | DFW131682
Restricting or banning the use of sand shrimp on the Klickitat River above the Fisher hill bridge. | DFW158509
To drop the selective gear rule on the Washougal River!!!! | DFW160768
Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors
prohibited.
The whole river should be catch and release, this river has blue ribbon potential if we could keep a few more of the... | DFW193035
The Lake Roosevelt Walleye club proposes to take the size limit off the the smallmouth bass AND also increase the limit of bass to 20 or unlimited. | DFW222196
ROOSEVELT LAKE TRIBUTARIES between Grand Coulee Dam and State Hwy. 25 Bridge at Northport – except Barnaby Creek, Nancy Creek, Onion Creek, and tributaries listed elsewhere in Special Rules
TROUT ... | DFW231912
Methow River: No fishing from a floating device year round above the Highway 153 bridge in Carelton. | DFW239716
Chinook jack is any king less than 25" | DFW252543
Lost River from Monument Creek to the outlet of Cougar Lake. Bull trout. First Saturday in June-October 31. Catch and release only. | DFW271137
Although the "Bank fishing only" area is an excellent and well recieved idea it desparately needs to be improved.The area is way too small and needs to be expanded.There are still too many con... | DFW302191
CRAB CREEK (Grant/Adams/Lincoln Co.) (and tributaries except Columbia Basin Hatchery Creek) From mouth to O'Sullivan Dam (including Marsh Units I and II impoundments). CLOSED WATERS-from Morgan La... | DFW313725
Propose doing away with the selective gear fishery and make the date the 1st of June as the way it used to be. | DFW314235
Make entire Naches river system catch and release | DFW314719
Whitefish angling only open during Steelhead Season on the Klickitat and Wenatchee Rivers | DFW344423
Make the entire river Catch and Release only. | DFW364138
All anglers aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily limit of salmonids for all licensed and juvenile anglers aboard has been retained at Wind River east of the railroad bri... | DFW374822
Anybody that fishes for hire i.e. guide or charter, must use rubberized nets. | DFW393710
Whitefish angling only open during Steelhead Season on the Klickitat and Wenatchee Rivers | DFW433155
Open Sturgeon fishing to catch and release except for the months prior and after the sturgeon spawn. Rule change to Sept. 1 to March 31, Catch and Release. | DFW446883
Open the entire pool to boat fishing if the run supports it. There is nothing preventing the Department from doing so. We dont care if it is not popular with the tribes and the notion of it being to h... | DFW470525
Ban fishing with beads on the Klickitat River. Specifically the beads that are a direct copy of Salmon eggs, that are fished under an indicator or bobber. | DFW471718
Naches River from Little Naches River to confluence with Yakima River. Catch and Release only, only Selective Gear rules, Year Around. | DFW513183
Columbia river. No min size. No daily limit | DFW523157
Suggest that the entire Naches River system be managed as a catch and release area and selective gear rules apply. | DFW537097
Fishing from floating devices is not allowed from September 15 through June 30 on the Klickitat River from the Little Klickitat River confluence to the Yakima reservation. | DFW553784
propose to do away with the existing selective gear rule and go back to the June 1st date that existed in prior years before it was changed. | DFW571431
Divide lower Columbia river between Bouy 10 and I-5 interstate bridge as area 5-A and from I-5 to Bonniville Dam as 5-B. Allocate individual catch limits between each area based upon license held in e... | DFW586216
NACHES RIVER (Yakima Co.)
from mouth to confluence with Little Naches River
Statewide min. size/daily limit. Release all TROUT. Selective gear rules, except Dec. 1-Last day in Feb.: whitefish ge... | DFW593343
You must fish for only 4 hours for salmon each day but you can keep any chinook salmon over 12 inches long that you catch. | DFW597333
Adopt anti-snagging lure restriction on the Klickitat river from Fisher Hill Bridge to Yakima Reservation Boundary. | DFW598559
No selective gear rules on the Washougal River April 16th - first Friday in June. | DFW605863
The additional rules note should also state "release all bull trout" along with the release all steelhead. | DFW651583
After the language that says up to 3 hatchery steelhead can be retained, it should include "barbless hooks required when fishing for steelhead." | DFW660153
NORTHERN PIKE Statewide; No min size. No daily limit. No possession limit. Must be dead before being removed from riparian area (immediate vicinity of water body). NORTHERN PIKE may also be ta... | DFW692600
Change the regulation to make the entire Naches River catch and release, fly fishing only with single barbless hook. | DFW702278
Make the Naches River a Catch and Release Fishery. | DFW723058
Allow two pole endorsement on mainstem columbia for pikeminnow fishing May-Oct. Anglers could only fish for Pikeminnow and no other species allowed to be retained. | DFW739330
Expand number of "catch and release" type flyfishing lakes and streams. | DFW771484
Catch and release only on the Naches River.
| DFW805305
Change Season to June 1-March 15 | DFW813252
Propose to do away with selective gear fishery and make the date the !st of June the way it used to be. | DFW896150
Total Catch and Release from Little Naches to Mouth of Yakima River | DFW932350
Propose changing the rule to "Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited. " from mouth upstream.
| DFW937389
Cowiche Creek (Yakima Co.)and tributaries; All Game Fish; First Sat. in June - Oct. 31; Statewide min. size/daily limit; selective gear rules. | DFW939187
Keep fishery open to one hatchery clipped chinook. | DFW939515
Grande Ronde River: No fishing from a floating device year round below the highway 129 bridge in Boggans Oasis. | DFW949466
Doing away with selective bait fishing. On the washougal an start on June first. PUT BAIT AND BARBS BACK ON THE RIVER. | DFW959513
Allow washington bank anglers to star the season for spring chinook after april 7th and run until May 1 |
DFW079121
allow night fishing for catfish, and brown bullhead in region 4 lowland lakes at wdfw boat launches and other wdfw lowland lake fisheries in region 4. | DFW111966
Allow Whatcom Creek to remain open until end of December for salmon fishing, with a requirement for all steelhead caught to be placed in hatchery tube. This would allow for more hatchery steelhead, a... | DFW214314
Propose to make game fish rules covered by Ereg during 2012-13 permanent. | DFW249550
*All species - Selective gear rules
Trout - Year-round - Min. size 18" - Daily limit 1.
Other game fish - Year-round - Statewide min. size/limit | DFW282576
Proposed rule:
Skagit River (Entire River and Tributaries below fish barriers) - All resident steelhead (rainbow trout) must be immediately released when fishing in the Puget Sound rivers which have ... | DFW327431
Last week in May to Jan. 31st | DFW351364
All resident steelhead (rainbow trout) must be immediately released when fishing in The Puget Sound Steelhead ESA listed rivers and in Wild Steelhead Management Zones. Selective gear is required when... | DFW359813
Apply whitefish fishing rule to on the Carbon, White and Little Puyallup through the month of February, instead of curtailing all fishing opportunity in January. | DFW481118
For all waters that are open for targeting steelhead at anytime of the year would be managed under selective gear rules (SGR)during winter or summer seasons.
| DFW526457
opening south praire creek for general fishing from the carbon river , upstream, selective gear rules and if needed, catch and release only..............thank you | DFW531331
martha lake(wb), snohomish county, trout: catch and release, open year round, selective gears rule in affect. | DFW539213
Implement no bait single barbless hook rule from Mosquito lake rd. bridge to Nooksack falls | DFW583025
Selective gear rules, maximum hook gap of 1/2 inch (size 2 approximately) required during any time periods Skagit is only open to trout and other gamefish. Rule would be superseded by applicable salm... | DFW616241
For Lake Sixteen in Skagit County. All species - Selective gear rules - Internal combustion motors prohibited
Trout - Year-round - Min. size 18" - Daily limit 1.
Other game fish - Year-roun... | DFW627799
Revert to previous regulation allowing year-round fishing, with special gear restrictions, in Skagit River downstream of Mt. Vernon. | DFW631430
Lures such as spinners and spoons that require constant retrieval to be effective do not need to be suspended below a float. | DFW685875
All resident steelhead (rainbow trout) must be immediately released when fishing in The Puget Sound Steelhead ESA listed rivers and in Wild Steelhead Management Zones. Selective gear is required when... | DFW706843
Whatcom Lake Region4 - species- trout & Kokanee & other gamefish except Bass
season rule- 4th sat in Apr -Oct31
additional rules - statewide min. size/daily limit. Release CUTTHROAT.
Whatcom La... | DFW745624
Special Rules: SNOHOMISH RIVER...Sat. before Memorial Day in May - Jan. 31 | DFW756541
Designate the entire Skagit River watershed as a Wild Steelhead Management Zone and manage for improving stock abundance, diversity and recovery. | DFW809852
For Lake Sixteen in Skagit County, all species-Selective gear rules-Internal combustion motors prohibited. Trout year around, Minimum size 18". Daily limit 1.
Other game fish- Year around Statew... | DFW831906
I think that the state should sell raffle tickets to allow 20 or 30 people the ability to fish Minter Creek for Chinook and Coho Salmon. Whoever wins the raffle should be allowed to keep 1 of either s... | DFW865197
do away with this, what are you thinking ? 200-400 people on a busy day all trying to float fish ? It'll never work we now have to pay to access this fishery $125 for the last three years on top o... | DFW935223
Designate the entire Skagit River watershed as a Wild Steelhead Management Zone and manage for improving stock abundance, diversity and recovery. | DFW937303
Lake Samammish, 5 trout limit daily two of which may be kokanee. | DFW938950
My proposed rule change is to make Lost Lake a Quality fishery with selective rules, no Bait, Lure with single Barbless hook or Fly with barbless hook, change retention to One Trout over 16 inches, le... | DFW981781
Open Skagit River below Hwy. 536 at Mt. Vernon to year round for searun cutthroat trout. |
DFW010323 Updated 09/27/2012
Bogachiel River. Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Bogachiel River from the 101 Bridge to the Olympic National Park. Floating devices may be used for t... | DFW021077
Keep Chehalis closed to spring chinook fishing. | DFW027795 Updated 09/27/2012
Ban fishing from a floating device on the Hoh River from Jan 15 to seasons end to protect wild steelhead. | DFW103265
Hoko River. Fishing from floating devices is not allowed December 1 through November 30 in the Hoko River. Floating devices may be used for transportation in the area. | DFW110945
Bogachiel river 101 bridge downstream to the Bogachiel hatchery. April 1 to June 1
As of April 1st extend the all ready existing selective gear/no kill water above 101 down river to the Bogachiel ... | DFW137381 Updated 09/27/2012
As of April 1st extend the all ready existing “no fishing from boat” zone in Olympic National Park down river from the Park boundary to Spruce Creek Boat Launch. | DFW181021 Updated 09/27/2012
Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Hoh River from the Morgan’s Crossing to the Olympic National Park. | DFW452000 Updated 09/27/2012
Sol Duc River Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Sol Duc River from the Sol Duc Hatchery to the 101 Bridge upstream of the Klahowya Campground. Floatin... | DFW470179
Eliminate the one wild fish annual bag limit currently used in steelhead management or, alternatively, impose a 32 inch total lenght maximum size limit for retention of wild steelhead. | DFW471109
Eliminate that one wild fish kill exception on the specific systems noted | DFW477346
Chinook Jack salmon on the Cowlitz river defined as 26 inches or less. | DFW546521 Updated 09/27/2012
Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Calawah River from the Highway 101 Bridge upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks. | DFW663358
Keep Willapa River open to steelhead fishing till April 15. | DFW684721 Updated 09/27/2012
Hoh River. Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Hoh River from the Willoughby Creek to the Olympic National Park. Floating devices may be used for transpo... | DFW737156
I would like to see a moratorum on guide licenses or at least more requirements to get one. I have talked to a lot of people, being a guide myself, and this state is the easiest to get a guide license... | DFW738341 Updated 09/27/2012
Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Bogachiel River from the 101 Bridge to the Olympic National Park. | DFW781021
No wild steelhead may be retained at any time. No exceptions. | DFW804620 Updated 09/27/2012
Calawah River. Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 in the Calawah River from the Highway 101 Bridge to its headwaters. Floating devices may be used for transpor... | DFW822310
JOE CREEK (Grays Harbor Co.) (Pacific Beach) from the MOUTH to the Ocean Beach Rd. Bridge (323) | DFW986676 Updated 09/27/2012
Fishing from floating devices is not allowed February 1 through November 30 on the Sol Duc River from the Sol Duc Hatchery to the 101 Bridge upstream of the Klahowya Campground. Floating devices may ... |
DFW023123
We need to limit the amount of netting that is allowed during the peak of the runs. It should be set up with a schedule similiar to Chambers Creek. | DFW035509
Bottomfish Closure Areas: (TDB based on bottomfish habitat and/or census data, and enforceability)
*Salmon fishing still allowed in these areas.
| DFW070022
We want multiple smaller openings so that NW families can enjoy the resource during vacation months and that more closely approximate tides favorable to shrimp fishing. | DFW126469
LINGCOD May 1-July 30 | DFW183718
Move the closure line of West Point to Alki Point eastward to the Pier 91 to Duwamish Head line. | DFW203159
I propose letting anglers use 2 rods for extra fee. I know this exists in limited freshwater areas now. Extend to marine areas in Puget Sound like it was years ago. | DFW233982
A two fish limit for non-target (ie Closed) species caught as bycatch during the course of legal fishing, with exception of sixgill shark, yellow eye and canary rockfish. | DFW283817
Open rockfish to with a daily limit of 2 during lingcod season. | DFW287624
Rockfish EXCEPT YellowEye and Canary, 1 Fish per day possession limit only during Ling cod season (May 1st to June 15th) | DFW312741
This request is for the WDFW to create and present a comprehensive report on the Puget Sound Spot Shrimp fishery to the Commission and public. | DFW314255
Open rockfish in the sound with a limit of 2. May 1-Nov 30th, or even year-round. | DFW348150
You May Not; Use a downrigger. | DFW353060
Open Marine areas 4, 5, 6, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 the 1st of June for persons with disabilities via the method of wading. | DFW353346
every other year let the sport season open before the indian long-line season. If people could catch a halibut once in a while a lot more would fish for them . After the indians get done raping the ... | DFW380096
Fishing for bottomfish prohibited in waters deeper than 60'. | DFW455583
Bottomfish:
East of Bonilla-Tatoosh Line
Daily limit is a total of 10 BOTTOMFISH (see definition page 10), regardless of species, subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. The first six ... | DFW501116
I would like to propose that recreational geoduck diggers be allowed to harvest Geoduck on state tidelands or on private tidelands using water pumps and nozzles. | DFW509720
Currently anglers may catch and retain certain species of salmon dependant on wild or hatchery (adipose removed). It is my contention that anglers should keep the first two legal fish. Many times whi... | DFW512344
allow clam digging on mcneal island beach while restricting access beyond the beach. | DFW559765
Anchoring for the purpose of fishing to be limited to 50' depth | DFW562316
Move the closure line further east to allow for a greater harvest of surplus Issaquah hatchery Chinook. | DFW563242
Would love to have a two fish lingcod limit plus some rockfish to boot also change in area 11 / 13.
Also change area 13 crab rules back or give us a better limit seeing out so much was taken away! | DFW568437
2. This request is a rule change to allow retention of (2) Quilback rockfish in Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Marine Areas. Fish can only be retained if caught within a maximum depth of 120 ft. Al... | DFW632616
Memorial day holiday through Labor
Day 3 rockfish, excluding Canary and Yellow Eye, per day, to be reported on a catch record card, to help monitor the catch. | DFW651729
Separate Marine Area 12 into two subareas (like Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2) and allow fishing for bottomfish in the northern area (say north of Stavis Bay) that is not affected by oxygen depletion issue... | DFW728962
Fishing Closure Areas: (TDB based on bottomfish habitat and/or census data, and enforceability) | DFW786710
Allow barbs when groundfishing in areas 5-13 | DFW803219
Does anyone remember what a searun cutthroat tastes like? I propose designating one day (some Saturday in the fall?) for keeping one searun cutthroat with no size limitations.
| DFW847304
Make two fishing rods per person more universal in Puget Sound. | DFW862006
Lingcod limit two.
Or, double the lingcod season to 90 days. | DFW868651
Add, open for ring trap only May 24 to July 1 | DFW869627
Rockfish, West of Lip Point - No min size. Daily limit is the FIRST Black or Blue rockfish caught. May 1-June 15 spearfishing allowed. |
DFW013900
Trout,Dolly Varden/Bull Trout- Year Round- Catch and Release except up to 2 hatchery Steelhead.
For clarification purposes
| DFW066592
Eliminate the Grays Harbor control zone and let fishermen fish as long as area 2 is open | DFW180254
I propose that the halibut opener for areas 3 and 4 be moved back to early June | DFW253641
Crabbing is closed to boaters within 150 yards along the North Jetty of the Columbia River. | DFW338816
Open halibut for 30 (or even 60) days. May 1-
| DFW459315
Open May 1st to October 31st. Daily Limit 1. Anglers must possess a valid Catch Tag when fishing for halibut, and a properly notched Catch Tag when in possession of Halibut. Annual Limit of 5 Tags. Ea... | DFW565962
Let recreational fisherman fish with pipe jibs/norweigan jigs for deep water lingcod. | DFW604947
Open May 1st to October 31st. Daily Limit 1. Anglers must posess a valid Catch Tag when fishing for halibut, and a properly nothced Catch Tag when in possession of Halibut. Annual Limit of 5 Tags. ... | DFW648728
Propose to change rules to be the same as Marine area 4, East of the the Bonilla Tatooosh Line, or the same as Marine area 5, West of Slip Point | DFW715984
Keep any legal salmon up to the number needed to complete your limit. | DFW733993
BOTTOMFISH limit.
ROCKFISH Year-round No min. size. Daily limit 10. No CANARY or YELLOWEYE may be retained on non-halibut fishing days. All CANARY or YELLOWEYE must be turned in to WDFW at the dock ... | DFW821902
Open May 10-19, 2 days per week Friday and Saturday | DFW838012
Ban commercial gillnets | DFW923431
Sportsmen may retain their limit regardless off marking |
DFW252111
Dungeness crab 15 per month.
Razor clams 30 per month. | DFW782445
I propose that recreational shrimpers be allowed to shrimp any 4 days in May that he/she chooses. This will avoid gridlock, traffic jams and tempers which currently exist at the boat launches. It wi... |
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