Fishing & Shellfishing

Some of the best fishing opportunities in the nation are available in Washington. From fly-fishing for bass and trout on freshwater lakes and streams east of the Cascades to trolling for salmon along the coast to crabbing in Puget Sound, Washington offers a diverse and unique outdoors experience. Find the experience that's right for you, whether you're a long-time angler or a first-time fisher.

Several boats and anglers on Puget Sound

In this section

  • Fishing regulations

    Want to fish in Washington? Keep up to date with the latest fishing rules and regulations.

  • Shellfishing regulations

    Shellfish harvesters have an assortment of opportunities in Washington.

  • Places to go fishing

    Whether hiking to a remote lake or heading out for a day on the ocean, fishing opportunities abound in Washington.

  • Fishing and stocking reports

    Find information about the latest creel and stocking reports in Washington waters.

  • Fishing and shellfishing basics

    Learn about fishing techniques and equipment, along with suggested preparation and cooking methods.

  • Managing fish populations

    A guide to how WDFW manages fish and shellfish.

  • Tribal fishing

    Learn about how the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works with tribal and federal fishery managers to manage the state's fisheries.

  • Fishing events

    Learn about upcoming adult and youth fishing contests and events around the state.

  • Commercial fishing

    Fish and shellfish harvested in Washington waters make their way to markets around the world.

  • Monofilament recovery and recycling program

    Monofilament line can cause problems throughout the environment when it is lost during fishing or improperly discarded overboard. Learn where you can discard used fishing line.

Buy a license
Emergency fishing rules
Catch reporting

Fishing news & important dates

Grays Harbor river system steelhead
Public invited to Oct. 25 virtual town hall meeting on coastal steelhead

See news release for a series of online public meetings this fall to discuss development of the 2023-24 coastal steelhead fishing season.

Read more on coastal steelhead
Winter crab fishing season opens Oct. 1 in several Puget Sound marine area
Winter recreational crab fishing season opens Oct. 1 in several Puget Sound marine areas

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that many Puget Sound marine areas will reopen for recreational crab fishing beginning Oct. 1.

See news release for details
Visit the Newsroom for more news

Conservation starts here

Anglers fish in Marine Area 10
Understanding Puget Sound salmon fisheries management

Learn more about how Puget Sound salmon are managed amid a complex web of returning stocks that travel throughout the north Pacific Ocean.

Read the blog
Fishing boats at the dock
Conservation-minded approach to fisheries management validates sustainable salmon for Southern Resident orcas — and people

Washington's salmon fisheries are sustainable and carefully regulated.

Learn more in our blog post
Boat propeller encrusted with invasive mussels. Zebra and quagga mussels are easily transported on recreational boats and can live out of water for up to a month. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Invasive quagga mussels detected in Idaho; monitoring and prevention efforts ramp up in Washington

Preliminary results from 2023 detected no presence in Washington. In response to the Idaho detection, WDFW is redirecting staff from statewide monitoring to the Snake River.

Learn more in our blog

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