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Licensing Requirements for Charter Boats and Fishing Guides
From bass fishing on inland lakes to salmon charters off the Pacific coast, licensed fishing guides and charter boats offer a wide range of fishing opportunities in Washington state. In 2002, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) licensed 624 fishing guides and 143 charter boats for several types of fisheries, including salmon, game fish, shellfish and other food fish. These licenses are required by law in most cases (See exception for freshwater sturgeon fishing) for anyone who accepts fees to take people fishing – or to operate a vessel from which people fish – in Washington state.
This document describes the various types of licenses required by WDFW for fishing guides and charter boats in state waters. It also notes some additional licenses and inspections required by other agencies, although it does not purport to include all such requirements for local, state and federal jurisdictions. For additional assistance with WDFW licensing requirements, please call (360) 902-2464.
TYPES OF LICENSES
Game Fish (e.g. steelhead, cutthroat, kokanee, landlocked salmon, walleye, bass, etc.)
If you accept a fee to take a person fishing for game fish in any state waters, you must:
Salmon
If you accept a fee to take a person fishing for salmon in Marine Areas 1 through 13 (including 2-1 Willapa Bay, 2-2 Grays Harbor, 8-1 and 8-2), Lake Washington, or the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, you must:
If you accept a fee to take a person fishing for salmon in freshwater, except Lake Washington and the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, you must:
Other Food Fish (e.g. sturgeon, lingcod, halibut, rockfish, etc.)
If you accept a fee to take a person fishing for food fish other than salmon in Marine Areas 1 through 13 (including 2-1 Willapa Bay, 2-2 Grays Harbor, 8-1 and 8-2), Lake Washington, or the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, you must:
Shellfish
If you accept a fee to take a person fishing for shellfish in Marine Areas 1 through 13 (including 2-1 Willapa Bay, 2-2 Grays Harbor, 8-1 and 8-2), Lake Washington, or the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, you must:
REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A LICENSE
You must complete an application, submit the appropriate fees, provide a copy of your vessel registration or documentation if applicable, and meet the following criteria:
Game Fish Guide (residents $180; non-residents $600)
Professional Salmon Guide (residents $150; non-residents $730)
Salmon Charter (renewal fee: residents $480; non-residents $785)
Angler Permits (renewal fee: residents $0; non-residents $0)
Non-salmon Charter (residents $225; non-residents $375)
U.S. COAST GUARD OPERATOR’S LICENSE.
U.S. COAST GUARD OPERATOR’S LICENSE. If you use a motorboat in your business to carry passengers for hire on federally navigable waters:
You must be licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard and meet certain safety requirements. Federally navigable waters include many rivers and lakes, such as the Columbia River, Lake Washington, the Skagit River, and others. A list of navigable waters can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/d13/Exhibit11_K1.pdf. Additional information on U.S. Coast Guard Operator’s licenses and federally navigable waters can be obtained from the U.S. Coast Guard Office in Seattle at (206) 220-7327, Portland at (503) 240-9346, or at http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/home.htm.
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES INSPECTION AND LICENSE.
If you use a motorboat in your business to carry more than 6 passengers for hire on waters within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington that are not federally navigable waters:
The U.S. Coast Guard or the Department of Labor and Industries must inspect your boat annually. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard or the Department of Labor and Industries must license the boat operator. Additional information on Department of Labor and Industries inspections and licenses can be obtained at (360) 902-4669.
WHITEWATER RIVER GUIDES.
If you carry passengers for hire on whitewater rivers:
You need a whitewater river guide license. Information on obtaining a whitewater river guide license may be obtained from the Washington State Parks at (360) 586-6593. A licensed fishing guide does not need a whitewater river guide license if guiding anglers. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not regulate whitewater river guides.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a guide?
Although not specifically defined by rule, in general, “guide” means a person who, for compensation, offers services to transport, or accompany people in their fishing activities, and instructs them by sharing fishing techniques, expertise and knowledge of the fish and waters being fished. Washington has two categories of guides. Game fish guides can operate statewide, but are limited to offering services relating only to game fish. Professional salmon guides offer services relating only to salmon and only in freshwater areas, but they may not provide services in Lake Washington nor the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge.
What is a charter boat?
"Charter boat" means a vessel from which persons may, for a fee, fish for food fish or shellfish for personal use, and which brings food fish or shellfish into state ports. "Charter boat" does not mean a vessel used by a guide for clients fishing for food fish for personal use in freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes, other than Lake Washington or that part of the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview. In some parts of the country, a charter boat is referred to as a “head boat” or “party boat.”
What are food fish, game fish and shellfish?
Food fish include salmon, sturgeon, halibut, bottomfish (such as rockfish and lingcod), forage fish (such as anchovy, herring and sardine), common carp, shad, tuna, mackerel, and others.
Game fish include bass, burbot, catfish, crappie, grayling, perch, northern pike, tiger musky, suckers, sunfish, trout (including steelhead), landlocked salmon (such as chinook and coho salmon, and kokanee in designated waters listed in the Sport Fishing Pamphlet), walleye, whitefish and others.
Shellfish include crab, clams, oysters, mussels, shrimp and others.
More complete lists are available in the Fishing in Washington, Sport Fishing Pamphlet.
Do I need to renew my guide or charter license?
Yes. Guide and charter licenses must be renewed annually. If a salmon charter license is not renewed each year, it will not be renewed further.
If I don’t use a boat, do I need a license to guide from the shore?
Yes, except for salmon or other food fish in Marine Areas 1 through 13 (including Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor), the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, and Lake Washington.
If I accept a fee to transport scuba divers on my boat to a diving location, can the divers harvest shellfish or bottomfish?
Yes, but only if you have either a salmon or non-salmon charter license.
If I charge a fee to students for instruction in fishing techniques on the water, do I need a guide or charter license?
Yes, if the class includes on-the-water instruction with gear capable of catching fish.
Can a person hold several different licenses at once?
Yes.
Can a holder of an Oregon guide or charter license pick up passengers in Washington?
No.
Can a holder of an Oregon guide license operate in Washington waters of the Columbia River?
This question is under review by WDFW. More information will be available in the near future.
Can a professional salmon guide or a salmon charter license holder offer guide services for game fish (for example, steelhead, cutthroat) in marine or fresh waters?
No. Only a game fish guide may guide for these species.
Can a professional salmon guide license holder offer guide services for salmon in Marine Areas 1 through 13 (including Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor), in Lake Washington, or in the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge?
No. Only a salmon charter license holder may guide for salmon in these waters.
What license do I need to guide for salmon in Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) or Grays Harbor (Area 2-2)?
In either location, you need a salmon charter license and angler permit. Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) includes the North River downstream of Highway 105, Willapa River downstream of the South Bend boat launch, and the Niawiakum, Palix, North Fork Nemah, Naselle, and Bear rivers downstream of Highway 101. Grays Harbor (Area 2-2) includes the Hoquiam and Chehalis rivers downstream of Highway 101, and the Johns and Elk rivers downstream of Highway 105.
Can I apply for a salmon charter license?
No. No new Washington salmon charter licenses nor angler permits will be issued. However, salmon charter licenses and angler permits can be transferred from one person to another, or bought and sold.
Do I need a license to guide for sturgeon?
A non-salmon charter license or a salmon charter license is required to guide for sturgeon in the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, Marine Areas 1-13 (including 2-1 Willapa Bay, 2-2 Grays Harbor, 8-1 and 8-2), or Lake Washington. A license is not required at this time to guide for sturgeon in freshwater, except for the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge and Lake Washington.
Can a game fish guide license holder offer guide services for salmon or other food fish?
No.
Can a game fish guide license holder offer guide services for steelhead in the Columbia River downstream of the Longview Bridge, Lake Washington, or Marine Areas 1-13 (including 2-1 Willapa Bay, 2-2 Grays Harbor, 8-1 and 8-2)?
Yes.
Is my guide required to carry insurance or demonstrate their competence with a boat?
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not require insurance, demonstrated competence with a boat, first aid, or CPR training. However, a reputable guide or charter operator will be able to show proof of insurance, current first aid and CPR cards, and if using a motorized vessel, a U.S. Coast Guard license. Passengers are putting their lives in the guides’ hands and should feel free to ask to see the guides’ qualifications.
Can I continue to fish after I have retained my daily limit of adult salmon?
In areas where a saltwater fishing license is valid, each fisher aboard a vessel may continue to fish until the daily limit of food fish or shellfish for all licensed anglers and juvenile anglers aboard has been retained. In areas where only a freshwater fishing license is valid, you may not continue to fish for salmon after you have retained a daily limit of adult salmon. However, you may continue to fish for game fish if you have a valid fishing license and catch record card (if necessary) and the guide has a valid game fish guide license.
If I am fishing legally, can I hook a fish and hand the rod to another person to land?
Yes, as long as the other person has a valid fishing license and, if required, a valid catch record card.
If I catch a salmon, do I get to keep the roe (eggs)?
For salmon caught on charter boats, the roe (eggs) is the property of the angler until the roe is given to the skipper or crew member. The skipper or crew member must notify the angler of this fact.