Coastal - Region 6
Customer service staff in the Montesano Regional Office are available for walk-in service 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding legal holidays.
The Port Townsend District Office will be open by appointment only. Please call 360-302-3030 to schedule an appointment.
48 Devonshire Road
Montesano, WA 98563
United States
Fishing tips and news
New to fishing in Washington? Check out our Fish Washington blog post for a guide on how to get started.
Buy your 2024 fishing license
Now that spring has arrived, Washingtonians will need to buy 2024-2025 recreational hunting and fishing licenses effective April 1. People can buy licenses from WDFW’s licensing website, WDFW regional offices, or hundreds of license vendors around the state.
2023-24 Sport Fishing Rules
The 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet is available online and at license dealers. The updated rules can help anglers make decisions about how to spend their time on the water.
Current fishing regulations and emergency Fishing Rule Changes are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.
Participate in the annual North of Falcon salmon season setting process
Each year state, federal, and tribal fishery managers gather to plan the Northwest’s recreational and commercial salmon fisheries. This salmon-setting process is known as North of Falcon, which refers to Oregon’s Cape Falcon, the southern border of active management for Washington salmon stocks.
Learn more about the process, upcoming virtual public meetings, and other opportunities to share your feedback on our website including the public meeting schedule.
Or visit our new Salmon Daily Digest blog series for regular updates during North of Falcon.
Coastal recreational bottomfishing now open
Recreational coastal bottomfishing season is now open. Learn more and review regulations in our news release.
Bottomfish regulations remain the same as in 2023. Anglers are reminded that possession of copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish will be prohibited in May, June, and July, when peak effort for bottomfish occurs.
Yelloweye rockfish retention is prohibited in all areas of Washington and yelloweye rockfish must be released. Anglers are reminded that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut. Information about descending devices can be found on WDFW’s webpage.
A bottomfish limit doesn’t include halibut, which have a daily limit of one halibut and separate fishing seasons depending on marine area. See our halibut news release for more information.
Surfperch and shiner perch are not part of the bottomfish limit in coastal marine areas. Surfperch has a daily limit of 12 and shiner perch has a daily limit of 15 with no minimum size restriction. Fishing is open through the third Saturday in October except fishing for surfperch is open year-round from the beach.
Fishing for, retaining or possessing sixgill, sevengill, and thresher sharks is closed in all marine areas. A sixgill shark may not be removed from the water.
2024 clam and oyster seasons underway
With the return of spring and daytime low tides, many of Washington’s clam and oyster beaches are now open or will soon reopen for recreational shellfish gathering.
State clam, mussel, and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach. Regulations and season dates as well as shellfishing tips are available at wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches.
Shellfishing at Kopachuck State Park will remain closed for the 2024 season due to a planned park improvement project led by Washington State Parks. The park will be closed to the public while work is completed. Project timelines are still in development. Please visit the park’s webpage for updates.
For more details, including rules and regulations, see our news release.
Lowland lakes trout fishing, annual trout derby open April 27
The statewide lowland lakes trout-fishing season opens April 27. Search for local fishing spots, with information on bank access, what’s in the water, and when it’s biting on our lowland lakes page. You can also find out how many fish were stocked in each lake by checking the stocking reports.
April 27 also kicks off WDFW's annual statewide trout derby at more than 100 stocked lakes and runs through Oct. 31. Over 100 businesses are offering more than 800 prizes valued at over $42,000. There is no entrance fee or registration required; just catch a tagged trout during this timespan and you win!
Winter Chinook salmon in marine areas
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca is scheduled to be open through April 30 for hatchery Chinook. Look for winter Chinook off the Caves, Eagle Point, and between Slip Point and Pillar Point. See our recent blog post for tips.
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) remains open four days per week – Wednesdays through Saturdays only – through April 15 or until the fishery guidelines are met. Commencement Bay (east of a line from Cliff House Restaurant to Sperry Ocean Dock) in Marine Area 11 is closed to salmon fishing.
Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) is open year-round and has been slow to fair for winter Chinook in the Fox Island area. You can also try for resident coho in Marine Area 13 casting a fly or spinner, and they’re often accessible from shore at spots such as Purdy Bridge and Narrows Park. Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton Areas) is closed after winter Chinook guidelines were met.
For tips, go WDFW's salmon fishing webpage.
Coastal razor clam digs tentatively planned through April
Coastal razor clam digs are tentatively planned through April 29 depending on biotoxin levels. Open beaches may include Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Copalis, though not all beaches will be open for every dig.
The daily limit is 15 clams per person, and you must keep the first 15 clams you dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
See our latest news release for more information. Check the razor clam page before heading out to confirm beach openings. Domoic acid toxin levels are tested regularly by WDFW and Department of Health; more information is available on the domoic acid webpage.
Hunting opportunities and news
For an overview of hunting in Washington and how to get started, visit our Hunt Washington blog post.
2023-24 Hunting Regulations
The 2023-24 Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations and Big Game Hunting Regulations pamphlets are available online and at hundreds of license dealers around the state. The updated rules can help hunters make decisions about how to spend their time in the field.
Current hunting regulations are also available online at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations.
Special hunt applications now available
Multi-season deer and elk tags allow you to hunt archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons, while special hunt permits offer opportunities such as hunting outside general seasons, all increasing your chances for success. Learn more, including details on the May 15 special hunt application deadline, at myWDFW.com.
Buy your 2024 hunting license
Now that spring has arrived, Washingtonians will need to buy 2024-2025 recreational hunting and fishing licenses effective April 1. People can buy licenses from WDFW’s licensing website, WDFW regional offices, or hundreds of license vendors around the state.
Wild turkey hunting
The statewide spring wild turkey hunting season runs from April 15 to May 31 for the general season, while a special youth-only hunt takes place April 1-7. For additional details, visit the wild turkey hunting webpage. Most Western Washington turkey hunters travel to eastern, northeastern, or southwest Washington, as there are few wild turkeys in the Coastal Region.
New, prospective hunters must complete hunter education
Before hunting seasons start, be sure to complete your hunter education course.
Students may choose between a traditional classroom or hybrid course. The traditional course is a multi-session instructor-led training with an average of 15 hours of instruction. The hybrid course consists of a self-paced online class followed by a field skills evaluation by certified instructors.
Prospective hunters can learn more about hunter education requirements and register for either a traditional or hybrid course by visiting WDFW’s hunter education webpage.
Per Washington state law, all hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972, must complete a hunter education course in order to buy a hunting license. A hunter education deferral is available for hunters 10 and older who want to try hunting with an eligible licensed hunter before completing a hunter education course themselves.
WDFW offers accessible hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds
Did you know WDFW offers hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms throughout Washington that are accessible to people with disabilities? Learn about these Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) designated sites at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/hunting-and-wildlife-viewing-blinds.
Some sites can be reserved through WDFW's Private Lands Hunting Access program. Others can be reserved by calling the wildlife area manager.
Hunters without disabilities should yield ADA hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms to those with disabilities if the site was reserved.
Many of these ADA hunting and wildlife-viewing blinds and platforms are built and maintained with support from volunteers, master hunters, and partners including Inland Northwest Wildlife Council and Washington Waterfowl Association. Thank you!
Wildlife watching and recreation
Find more tips on our wildlife viewing webpage.
Volunteer with WDFW during outreach events
As a way of increasing the Department’s public engagement capacity to connect with Washingtonians, we’re excited to announce we are piloting a volunteer outreach team and invite you to apply.
This core team of volunteers will assist WDFW staff at events ranging from wildlife festivals to family fishing events to regional workshops, and more!
You don’t have to be an expert in wildlife or natural resources to be part of the volunteer outreach team. We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about natural resource conservation and are willing and excited to learn. The Department is committed to belonging and inclusion, and members of the volunteer outreach team must be comfortable interacting and engaging with people from all walks of life.
Learn more about the commitment, benefits, and how to apply by reviewing the volunteer opportunity details. The deadline for applications for our first training is April 14. The first training will be in person in Spanaway in the afternoon of May 11. The second training will be in Olympia on the evening of May 15, with a virtual option.
There are limited positions available so apply early! The form will close after all positions have been filled.
Leave wild babies wild
April is a busy month for the birth of baby animals. If you find fawns, baby birds, or other young animals, please leave them be, even if they appear to be orphaned or abandoned. Most animals have a parent foraging or hunting nearby. Read our blog to learn about when not to rescue wildlife and what to do if you encounter certain species.
For wildlife that do require care, WDFW relies on permitted rehabilitators. Rehabilitators are trained and highly skilled in providing the unique attention needed for injured or orphaned wildlife, and care deeply for the animals entrusted to them.
Visit our website to learn more about Washington’s wildlife rehabilitators and find one near you. Remember to thank the rehabilitators in your region for the important work they do on behalf of our state’s wildlife!
Practice black bear awareness this spring
Black bears are common throughout Washington, including suburban areas. Both when preparing for hibernation and awakening from it, they look for high-calorie foods that are easy to get. These may include garbage, bird feeders (both seed and liquid), fruit trees, and pet food.
As human populations encroach on bear habitat, people and bears have greater chances of encountering each other. Food sources provided by humans, whether intentionally or not, can attract bears. Removing these attractants is the best way to encourage bears to move along and focus on natural food sources
Ask your local waste management company if bear-resistant containers are available or if individually purchased bear-resistant containers are compatible with the company’s equipment. Secure your garbage cans, such as in a shed or garage, and put them out the morning of pickup — not the night before. To help reduce odors, freeze meat and fish waste before disposing of it and spray garbage cans with disinfectants.
More information on living with bears is available on our website.
Conserving species and habitats
Looking for more info on wildlife conservation and species management around Washington? Check out our Bi-Weekly Wildlife Program reports.
Wild Washington: April 22 is Earth Day
April 22 is the 54th annual Earth Day. This holiday is a great way to celebrate Earth and the services it provides, like clean air and water, pollution control, and food. It’s also a great time to give back to our planet through volunteering.
Check out official Earth Day events throughout Washington or Earth Day events WDFW is attending on our calendar. Many events will take place on April 20 this year. You can also celebrate Earth Month with your family through WDFW family educational resources focused on stewardship. These resources are a great way to become a fish and wildlife steward in or near your home.
Learn more on our Wild Washington youth education program webpage.
Habitat at Home: Take the City Nature Challenge
From April 26-29, cities around the world are teaming up with community members and iNaturalist to observe the wildlife around them. To participate, take pictures of all of the wild animals and plants you see and upload them to the iNaturalist app or website.
Following the challenge, experts will identify the wildlife in your images! Communities around the state are hosting wildlife viewing events. Join the Palouse Region, Kitsap County, Seattle-Tacoma, Vancouver, Thurston County, Spokane, or Global Project challenges!
Submit comments on bald eagles, peregrine falcons
WDFW is seeking public input on its draft periodic status reviews for the bald eagle and peregrine falcon.
Both species have previously been removed from Washington’s list of state endangered species due to population recovery in the state. Based on the latest available information, WDFW biologists recommend that both birds retain their status as successfully recovered.
The public comment periods for the bald eagle and peregrine falcon draft status reviews are open through May 27. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is tentatively scheduled to consider these topics in June. Learn more in our news release.
Please report suspected European green crabs
Our Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) unit recently received a report from a concerned member of the public who claimed to have collected nine invasive European green crabs from a Hood Canal beach. Upon reviewing their photos, we quickly determined these were in fact helmet crabs, a common native species unlawful to kill or retain.
While we appreciate their concern about invasive species, the reporting party was reminded to photograph and report suspected European green crabs using the form at wdfw.wa.gov/greencrab, leaving the crab in question where it was found.
Incidents like this are one reason why WDFW has not yet opened recreational harvest for European green crabs in Washington. Other reasons include restrictions on access to private tidelands and shellfish beds, and concerns about bycatch of protected fish and shellfish, especially if traps are exposed during low tide. Read more in our blog post.
Wildlife Program biweekly reports
To read reports published prior to 2023, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.
Regional Director: Heather Hall
Heather Hall will assume the role of Coastal Washington (Region 6) Director on May 1, 2024.
Heather is excited to return to Region 6, where she began her career at WDFW in 1995. Most recently, she served as Intergovernmental Ocean Policy Manager, overseeing state fisheries and fisheries extending into federal waters.
Heather is committed to public service. She brings expertise to her new role ranging from fieldwork to policymaking, giving her a unique perspective on fish and wildlife management in the Coastal Region.
Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Western Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys recreating along the Washington coast, including kayaking, standup paddleboarding, crabbing, and gathering oysters on Hood Canal.