Washington Marine Area Fishing Rules
Washington saltwater rules for 2026-27 by marine area: 443 rows across Marine Areas 1 to 13 for salmon, bottomfish, lingcod, rockfish, halibut and forage fish.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Ilwaco: Upupa4me, CC BY-SA 2.0
Why Washington salt water comes in numbered marine areas
WDFW divides Washington salt water into 13 numbered marine areas, from Ilwaco at the Columbia mouth (Area 1) north along the outer coast, east through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and down Puget Sound to the South Sound inlets (Area 13). Areas 2 and 8 have lettered parts: Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor (2-1 and 2-2), and Deception Pass to Skagit Bay and Port Susan to Port Gardner (8-1 and 8-2). Each area prints its own seasons, daily limits and gear rules.
The 2026-27 pamphlet carries 443 marine rows: 169 salmon, 128 bottomfish, 112 general, 14 rockfish, 6 herring, sand lance, and smelt, 4 lingcod, 4 cabezon, 4 flatfish (dabs, sole, flounder) and 2 surfperch.
Anglers 16 and older fishing marine water carry a Saltwater license ($40.71 resident, $81.70 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license, plus a catch record card for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead or halibut.
Washington marine areas with their rule counts
| Marine area | Name | Rows | Salmon rows | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Area 1 | Ilwaco | 24 | 2 | Pacific County |
| Marine Area 2 | Westport-Ocean Shores | 37 | 14 | Grays Harbor County |
| Marine Area 2-1 | Willapa Bay | 37 | 14 | Pacific County |
| Marine Area 2-2 | Grays Harbor | 37 | 14 | Grays Harbor County |
| Marine Area 3 | La Push | 31 | 4 | Jefferson County |
| Marine Area 4 | Neah Bay | 47 | 12 | Clallam County |
| Marine Area 5 | Sekiu and Pillar Point | 30 | 10 | Clallam County |
| Marine Area 6 | East Juan de Fuca Strait | 30 | 12 | Clallam County and 3 other counties |
| Marine Area 7 | San Juan Islands | 31 | 14 | San Juan County and 2 other counties |
| Marine Area 8-1 | Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay | 38 | 6 | Island County and 2 other counties |
| Marine Area 8-2 | Port Susan and Port Gardner | 38 | 6 | Snohomish and Island counties |
| Marine Area 9 | Admiralty Inlet | 26 | 10 | Jefferson County and 3 other counties |
| Marine Area 10 | Seattle-Bremerton | 59 | 43 | Kitsap and King counties |
| Marine Area 11 | Tacoma-Vashon Island | 28 | 12 | Pierce County and 2 other counties |
| Marine Area 12 | Hood Canal | 35 | 19 | Jefferson County and 2 other counties |
| Marine Area 13 | South Puget Sound | 27 | 11 | Thurston County and 2 other counties |
Printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), as posted on eRegulations; read October 31, 2026.
Marine areas with the most salmon rows
Barbless Hooks – are required for all species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage fish jig gear. When fishing for salmon in Areas 1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used.
Lingcod, rockfish and halibut in the marine rules
Rockfish – It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess yelloweye rockfish in all Marine Areas in 2026. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut for 2027 yelloweye rockfish rules. It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess rockfish in Areas 6-13.
It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess rockfish in Areas 6-13.
- Marine Area 1: Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of the Deepwater Lingcod Depth Restriction Line. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river for the 2027Second Sat. in Mar.-May 31
- Marine Area 1: Daily limit 2.June 1-June 15
- Marine Area 1: Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of a line drawn from 46°38.17’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon., to 46°33.00’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishingJune 16-Aug. 31
- Marine Area 1: Daily limit 2.Sept. 1-Sept. 30
- Marine Area 1: Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of a line drawn from 46°38.17’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon., to 46°33.00’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon.,Oct. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.
- Marine Area 2: Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of a line drawn from, 47°31.70’ N, 124°45.00’ W to 46°38.17’ N, 124°30.00’ W (Area 2 Deepwater Lingcod) except when the primary halibut season is openSecond Sat. in Mar.-Apr. 30
- Marine Area 2: Daily limit 2. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/south-coast for 2027 regulations regarding the 30 Fathom Lingcod Depth Restriction.May 1-May 31
- Marine Area 2: Daily limit 2.June 1-June 15
- Marine Area 1 halibut: Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in April for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. see the pamphlet
- Marine Area 2 halibut: Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in April for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. see the pamphlet
- Marine Area 3 halibut: Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in April for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. see the pamphlet
- Marine Area 5 halibut: Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in March for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. see the pamphlet
- Marine Area 6 halibut: Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in March for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. see the pamphlet
Hours, gear and vessel limits that apply in every area
- During an open season, marine waters are open 24 hours per day, except as noted for night closures.hours
- Salmon – Single-point barbless hooks and a hand-held rod and line must be used.salmon gear
- Barbless Hooks – are required for all species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage fish jig gear. When fishing for salmon in Areas 1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used.barbless
- Vessel Limits Marine areas 1-6: Anglers aboard a boat may only possess one daily limit of fish or shellfish in fresh form.vessel limits
- Halibut – Two daily limits in any form, except only one limit while aboard a fishing vessel. Annual limit is 6. You may not land both a Canadian and a Washington limit of halibut the same day (one or the other, but not both).halibut
- Shark closure – Closed to fishing for, retention, or possession of sixgill, sevengill, and thresher sharks. Sixgill shark may not be removed from the water.sharks
- Other Food Fish – See definition. Daily limit is 2 of each species.other food fish
Sound, river and lake views for Washington Marine Area Fishing Rules
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Remarksman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0
Marine area rules in Washington, cleared up
How many marine areas does Washington have?
13 numbered areas; Areas 2 and 8 are split into lettered parts, so this guide has 16 marine area pages.
Which marine area covers Seattle?
Marine Area 10, Seattle-Bremerton; Tacoma and Vashon Island are Marine Area 11.
Can I keep rockfish in Puget Sound?
It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess rockfish in Areas 6-13.
Do I need a catch record card in salt water?
Yes for salmon, sturgeon, halibut and Puget Sound Dungeness crab; record each fish as the card directs.
Are barbless hooks required?
Barbless Hooks – are required for all species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage fish jig gear. When fishing for salmon in Areas 1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used.
Where does Marine Area 1 start?
At the Columbia River mouth, out of Ilwaco; the Buoy 10 fishery on the lower Columbia has its own page here.
Do emergency rules change marine seasons?
Often; WDFW opens and closes salmon and halibut days by emergency rule, which overrides the pamphlet.
Which license covers marine fishing?
Anglers 16 and older fishing marine water carry a Saltwater license ($40.71 resident, $81.70 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license, plus a catch record card for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead or halibut.
Washington rule pages beyond the marine areas
- Washington Special Rules by Waterlakes and rivers with rules of their own
- Columbia River Fishing Rules in Washingtonthe Oregon line, CRC areas and the CRSSE
- Washington licenses and regulationsfees, endorsements and the freshwater table