Section 220-20-010. General rules—Fish.

(1) It is unlawful to take, fish for, possess or transport fish, shellfish, or fish or shellfish parts, in or from any waters or land within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington, or from the waters of the Pacific Ocean, except as provided by department rule. Specifically, persons delivering fish or shellfish caught in Pacific Ocean waters into Washington are subject to all Washington personal use fishing, possession, and licensing regulations.

(2) It is unlawful for any person who takes or possesses fish or shellfish taken from any of the waters or beaches of the Columbia River, the state of Washington, or the Pacific Ocean, for any purpose, to fail to submit the fish or shellfish for inspection by authorized department personnel. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.360 Unlawful interfering in department operations—Penalty.

(3) It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any fishing gear to refuse to submit to inspection of the gear in any manner specified by a fish and wildlife officer. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.470.

(4) It is unlawful for any person to fish for fish or shellfish while in possession in the field of fish or shellfish that are in violation of the rules for the area fished. This subsection does not apply to vessels in transit. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.380 or RCW 77.15.550, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(5) It is unlawful to take, fish for, possess, injure, kill, or molest fish in any fishway, fish ladder, fish screen, holding pond, rearing pond, or other fish protective device, or to interfere with the proper operation of a fish protective device in any way. Violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.370 or 77.15.380, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(6) It is unlawful to take or possess any fish or shellfish smaller or larger than the minimum or maximum size limits or in excess of catch or possession limits prescribed by department rule. A person must immediately return to the water any fish or shellfish snagged, hooked, netted or gilled that do not conform to department size requirements or are in excess of catch or possession limits with the least possible injury to the fish or shellfish. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable under RCW 77.15.380 or 77.15.550, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(7) It is unlawful for any person or entity licensed by the department or bringing fish or shellfish into the state to fail to comply with the directions of authorized department personnel related to the collection of sampling data or material from fish or shellfish. It is also unlawful for any person or entity to fail to relinquish to the department, upon request, any part of a salmon or other fish containing coded-wire tags including, but not limited to, the snouts of salmon with clipped adipose fins.

(8) For the purposes of this section "delivery" means transportation by a private or commercial recreational fishing vessel. Delivery in Washington is complete when, within the state, the vessel anchors, moors, ties to a float or pier, or is placed or attempted to be placed on a boat trailer. Delivery is also complete if the fish or shellfish are offloaded from the vessel within state waters.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 77.12.047, and C.F.R. Title 50, Part 660. WSR 16-17-017 (Order 16-200), § 220-20-010, filed 8/5/16, effective 9/5/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-010, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 10-06-095 (Order 10-33), § 220-20-010, filed 3/2/10, effective 4/2/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.047, 50 C.F.R. § 660.370, and 50 C.F.R. § 300.63. WSR 10-02-002 (Order 09-262), § 220-20-010, filed 12/23/09, effective 1/23/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-21-128 (Order 07-266), § 220-20-010, filed 10/23/07, effective 11/23/07; WSR 07-04-030, § 220-20-010, filed 1/29/07, effective 3/1/07; WSR 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-20-010, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; WSR 05-08-056 (Order 05-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/30/05, effective 4/30/05; WSR 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. WSR 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 00-01-096 (Order 99-214), § 220-20-010, filed 12/15/99, effective 1/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. WSR 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 98-15-031 (Order 98-120), § 220-20-010, filed 7/7/98, effective 8/7/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. WSR 98-06-031, § 220-20-010, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 93-15-051, § 220-20-010, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; WSR 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-20-010, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; WSR 91-01-023, § 220-20-010, filed 12/10/90, effective 1/10/91; WSR 89-02-022 (Order 88-186), § 220-20-010, filed 12/29/88; WSR 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-20-010, filed 4/26/88; WSR 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-20-010, filed 4/9/85; WSR 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-010, filed 4/1/85; WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-20-010, filed 3/27/84; WSR 82-15-040 (Order 82-83), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/82; WSR 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-20-010, filed 3/18/82; WSR 81-02-053 (Order 81-3), § 220-20-010, filed 1/7/81; WSR 80-10-058 (Order 80-83), § 220-20-010, filed 8/6/80; WSR 80-07-017 (Order 80-45), § 220-20-010, filed 6/11/80; WSR 79-10-013 (Order 79-75), § 220-20-010, filed 9/7/79; Order 77-14, § 220-20-010, filed 4/15/77; Order 76-148, § 220-20-010, filed 12/2/76; Order 1193, § 220-20-010, filed 3/4/75; Order 1179, § 220-20-010, filed 11/19/74; Order 1106, § 220-20-010, filed 1/10/74; Order 1057, § 220-20-010, filed 5/22/73; Order 945, § 220-20-010, filed 8/16/71; Order 920, § 220-20-010, filed 5/13/71; Order 817, § 220-20-010, filed 5/29/69; Order 810, § 220-20-010, filed 4/17/69; Order 771-A, § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/68; Order 767, § 1, filed 12/22/67; Order 758, § 3, filed 10/16/67; Order 726, §§ 2, 3, filed 4/24/67; Order 721, § 1, filed 3/9/67; Subsections 1, 2 from Orders 405 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 3 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 16 from Order 525, filed 5/3/61; Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 4 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Orders 479 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 5 from Orders 383 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 6, 26, 35 from Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 7-11, 13-15, 17, 18, 22 from Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 12 from Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 19, 27 from Orders 480 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 20 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Orders 483 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 23 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 24 from Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 25 from Orders 449 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 28-33 from Orders 456 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 34 from Orders 486 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 36 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Subsections 37 and 38 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 39 from Order 672, filed 12/28/65.]

RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, 77.12.047, and C.F.R. Title 50, Part 660. WSR 16-17-017 (Order 16-200), § 220-20-010, filed 8/5/16, effective 9/5/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 13-03-153 (Order 13-16), § 220-20-010, filed 1/23/13, effective 2/23/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 10-06-095 (Order 10-33), § 220-20-010, filed 3/2/10, effective 4/2/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.047, 50 C.F.R. § 660.370, and 50 C.F.R. § 300.63. WSR 10-02-002 (Order 09-262), § 220-20-010, filed 12/23/09, effective 1/23/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-21-128 (Order 07-266), § 220-20-010, filed 10/23/07, effective 11/23/07; WSR 07-04-030, § 220-20-010, filed 1/29/07, effective 3/1/07; WSR 06-13-023 (Order 06-135), § 220-20-010, filed 6/13/06, effective 7/14/06; WSR 05-08-056 (Order 05-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/30/05, effective 4/30/05; WSR 02-08-048 (Order 02-53), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/02, effective 5/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. WSR 00-08-038 (Order 00-29), § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/00, effective 5/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 00-01-096 (Order 99-214), § 220-20-010, filed 12/15/99, effective 1/15/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080, 77.12.040. WSR 98-15-081 (Order 98-122), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/98, effective 8/15/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 98-15-031 (Order 98-120), § 220-20-010, filed 7/7/98, effective 8/7/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 75.08.080. WSR 98-06-031, § 220-20-010, filed 2/26/98, effective 5/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 75.08.080. WSR 93-15-051, § 220-20-010, filed 7/14/93, effective 8/14/93; WSR 91-08-054 (Order 91-13), § 220-20-010, filed 4/2/91, effective 5/3/91; WSR 91-01-023, § 220-20-010, filed 12/10/90, effective 1/10/91; WSR 89-02-022 (Order 88-186), § 220-20-010, filed 12/29/88; WSR 88-10-013 (Order 88-15), § 220-20-010, filed 4/26/88; WSR 85-09-017 (Order 85-20), § 220-20-010, filed 4/9/85; WSR 85-08-023 (Order 85-24), § 220-20-010, filed 4/1/85; WSR 84-08-014 (Order 84-24), § 220-20-010, filed 3/27/84; WSR 82-15-040 (Order 82-83), § 220-20-010, filed 7/15/82; WSR 82-07-047 (Order 82-19), § 220-20-010, filed 3/18/82; WSR 81-02-053 (Order 81-3), § 220-20-010, filed 1/7/81; WSR 80-10-058 (Order 80-83), § 220-20-010, filed 8/6/80; WSR 80-07-017 (Order 80-45), § 220-20-010, filed 6/11/80; WSR 79-10-013 (Order 79-75), § 220-20-010, filed 9/7/79; Order 77-14, § 220-20-010, filed 4/15/77; Order 76-148, § 220-20-010, filed 12/2/76; Order 1193, § 220-20-010, filed 3/4/75; Order 1179, § 220-20-010, filed 11/19/74; Order 1106, § 220-20-010, filed 1/10/74; Order 1057, § 220-20-010, filed 5/22/73; Order 945, § 220-20-010, filed 8/16/71; Order 920, § 220-20-010, filed 5/13/71; Order 817, § 220-20-010, filed 5/29/69; Order 810, § 220-20-010, filed 4/17/69; Order 771-A, § 220-20-010, filed 3/29/68; Order 767, § 1, filed 12/22/67; Order 758, § 3, filed 10/16/67; Order 726, §§ 2, 3, filed 4/24/67; Order 721, § 1, filed 3/9/67; Subsections 1, 2 from Orders 405 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 3 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 16 from Order 525, filed 5/3/61; Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 4 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Orders 479 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 5 from Orders 383 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 6, 26, 35 from Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 7-11, 13-15, 17, 18, 22 from Orders 355 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 12 from Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 19, 27 from Orders 480 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 20 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Orders 483 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 23 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Order 568, filed 3/26/63; Order 543, filed 3/20/62; Order 507, filed 4/13/60; Order 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 24 from Order 605, filed 4/21/64; Orders 407 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 25 from Orders 449 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsections 28-33 from Orders 456 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 34 from Orders 486 and 256, filed 3/1/60; Subsection 36 from Order 591, filed 10/28/63; Subsections 37 and 38 from Order 677, filed 3/31/66; Subsection 39 from Order 672, filed 12/28/65.