Where to Go Fishing

Fish Washington® This Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife app provides anglers with up-to-the-minute fishing regulations for every lake, river, stream, and marine area in Washington. The free app is available in the Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Explore more than six hundred places to access the state’s lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Find your favorite place to fish!

Recreation.Gov: Find places with fish-related activities.

TakeMeFishing.org: The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, a national, nonprofit organization, offers this site with information on where to fish around the nation, along with helpful fishing tips.

Get Your License

Licenses and fees are categorized by type (freshwater, saltwater, shellfish, and combination), your age, and the amount of time you want to fish. Kids ages fourteen and younger do not need a license, though Catch Record Cards are still required for certain species including including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab in Puget Sound.

Buy a License

  • In person at hundreds of license vendors or Fish and Wildlife regional offices
  • Online
  • By telephone: 1-360-902-2464

Fishing Regulations

Use the Fish Washington® mobile app to view current regulations or review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for detailed fishing seasons, daily limits, gear rules, and more.

Be aware that fishing regulations, open dates, and other rules may change through emergency fishing rule changes, especially for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and halibut, or areas where protected species may be present. Anglers in saltwater marine areas and rivers or streams should always check for emergency rule changes online or through the Fish Washington® app before hitting the water. During the year, regulations may change as fish runs change. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for updated rules.

If boating, be sure you know the laws before deploying your vessel.

Parking

If you park at state-managed wildlife areas or water access sites, you must display a Discover Pass or vehicle access pass on your vehicle. There are exemptions, so please check in with the land manager before you go.