Coastal commercial troll fisheries hotline

Updated: April 24, 2024

2024 spring season added.

COASTAL COMMERCIAL TROLL

Spring Season

Washington Catch Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 from Cape Falcon, Oregon north to the United States - Canada border will be open for a Chinook directed, all-salmon-except-coho season May 1-June 29.  The season will close the earlier of June 29 or attainment of the quota of 24,600 Chinook, no more than 5,600 of which may be caught in the area between the U.S./Canada border and the Queets River and no more than 5,710 of which may be caught in the area between Leadbetter Point and Cape Falcon.  If the Chinook quota is exceeded, the excess will be deducted from the all-salmon season.  Fishing is open seven days per week.  All salmon except coho are legal. 

Landing and Possession Limits

For the period May 1-8:

Landing and possession limit combined across all subareas of 150 Chinook per vessel for the open period.

Landing and possession limits per vessel for the open period are in place for the following sub-areas:

• U.S./Canada border to the Queets River: 60 Chinook
• The Queets River to Leadbetter Point: 150 Chinook
• Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon, Oregon: 60 Chinook

Beginning May 9:

Landing and possession limit for the entire area between Cape Falcon and the U.S./Canada border of 150 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday).

Landing and possession limits per vessel per landing week (Thursday through Wednesday) are in place for the following sub-areas:

• U.S./Canada border to the Queets River: 60 Chinook
• The Queets River to Leadbetter Point: 150 Chinook
• Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon, Oregon: 60 Chinook

Please be aware that landing and possession limits may be added or modified in-season.

Vessel Landing and Call-in Requirements

• Vessels in possession of salmon north of the Queets River or vessels in possession of salmon south of the Queets River may not cross the Queets River line without first notifying WDFW by phone at (360) 249-1215 or by email at Danielle.Williams@dfw.wa.gov with area fished, total Chinook and halibut catch aboard, and destination.   
• Vessels fishing, or in possession of salmon north of Leadbetter Point must land and deliver all species of fish in a Washington port and must possess a Washington troll and/or salmon delivery license.  Vessels may not land fish east of the Sekiu River or east of Tongue Point, Oregon.  For delivery to Washington ports south of Leadbetter Point, vessels must notify WDFW at (360) 249-1215 or by email at Danielle.Williams@dfw.wa.gov prior to crossing the Leadbetter Point line with area fished, total Chinook and halibut catch aboard, and destination with approximate time of delivery. During any single trip, only one side of the Leadbetter Point line may be fished. 
• Vessels fishing or in possession of salmon while fishing south of Leadbetter Point must land and deliver their fish within the area and south of Leadbetter Point except Oregon permitted vessels may land their fish in Garibaldi, Oregon.   
• Vessels fishing in a subarea north of Cape Falcon with a higher limit may transit through and land in a subarea with a lower limit.  Prior to crossing the subarea line at Leadbetter Point or Queets River, vessels must notify WDFW at (360) 249-1215 or by email at Danielle.Williams@dfw.wa.gov with area fished, total Chinook and halibut catch aboard, and destination with approximate time of delivery.

General Rules

Halibut

The operator of a vessel that has been issued an incidental halibut harvest license may retain Pacific halibut caught incidentally in area 2A during authorized periods while trolling for salmon.  License holders may land no more than 1 halibut per each 2 Chinook, except 1 halibut may be landed without meeting the ratio requirement.  No more than 35 halibut may be landed per trip. Halibut minimum size limit is 32 inches total length with head on.  In-season action may be taken to avoid exceeding the commercial halibut allocation. 

Quick Reporting

The Washington State Quick Reporting System is in effect throughout the 2024 commercial troll fishery.  All wholesale dealers or trollers retailing their fish are required to report their landing by 10:00 a.m. the day following delivery.   Reports can be made by faxing to (360) 902-2949, or by calling (866) 791-1279.  Buyers and dealers can also Quick Report by sending a photo of their filled-out fish ticket to: trollfishtickets@dfw.wa.gov either by email or text message. To send a photo via text message to the e-mail address: open a new text message, select the photo, and put the email address in the phone number line. Please report dealer name and license number, the date of landing, the fish ticket number, the gear, the area fished, the number of days fished, the number of fish by species and the total weight by species including halibut.  

All commercial troll fishery participants are encouraged to provide a vessel name and/or vessel ID when completing a Quick Report, in addition to the Washington State Quick Reporting System requirements currently in place.  A vessel name and/or vessel ID associated with a Quick Report is a benefit to accurate inseason assessment of the commercial troll fishery. 

Coastal commercial troll fisheries are managed on a quota.  Open days, landing and possession limits, or any other regulation could change at any time.  The fisheries hotline is also available by calling (360) 515-4313.