WDFW launches new version of Fish Washington mobile application with upgrades for anglers

OLYMPIA – Beginning April 9, Washington anglers will see a wave of improvements when they need to find regulations on the go. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) launched an upgraded version of the Fish Washington application (app) now available to download on both Apple iOS and Android devices. Anglers who already have the Fish Washington app should see an automatic update in the coming days.

Fish Washington is a free mobile application designed to convey up-to-the-minute fishing regulations for every lake, river, stream, and marine area in the state. The new version is ad-free and fixes common issues that users have reported on both iOS and Android platforms. 

Following a testing process in winter 2024, the new version is designed to run more smoothly while using less data and device memory. Developers completely rewrote the app’s code, which now features a single code base for both iOS and Android platforms. This means a smaller app size, less frequent updates, and fewer bugs. 

Other improvements include location-enabled United States Geological Service (USGS) river gauges, more consistent emergency regulation delivery, and map upgrades. The new version will show the full water body name and description on emergency regulation cards. With a data connection, the app also includes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) tidal predictions for marine waters and portions of the Columbia River, as well as river gauges from multiple data providers. 

“Anglers should see several improvements with the new version of the Fish Washington app,” said Jacob Shapely, lead mobile developer with WDFW. “The single code base resolves several bugs, particularly with the Android app. Users will have fewer issues, and we hope they enjoy using new features.” 

Users can ask questions or report issues at MobileAppDev@dfw.wa.gov.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.