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.
In this section
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Want to fish in Washington? Keep up to date with the latest fishing rules and regulations.
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Shellfish harvesters have an assortment of opportunities in Washington.
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Whether hiking to a remote lake or heading out for a day on the ocean, fishing opportunities abound in Washington.
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Find information about the latest creel and stocking reports in Washington waters.
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Learn about fishing techniques and equipment, along with suggested preparation and cooking methods.
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A guide to how WDFW manages fish and shellfish.
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Learn about how the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works with tribal and federal fishery managers to manage the state's fisheries.
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Learn about upcoming adult and youth fishing contests and events around the state.
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Fish and shellfish harvested in Washington waters make their way to markets around the world.
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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.
Fishing news & important dates
See news release for a series of online public meetings this fall to discuss development of the 2023-24 coastal steelhead fishing season.
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.
Conservation starts here
Learn more about how Puget Sound salmon are managed amid a complex web of returning stocks that travel throughout the north Pacific Ocean.
Washington's salmon fisheries are sustainable and carefully regulated.
With higher-than-normal numbers of adult-size sturgeon found dead in several pools of the Columbia River so far this summer, white sturgeon fishing closed on a large portion of the mid-Columbia beginning July 29.
