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Washington

Fishing

Fishing

Marine Area 13

(All waters south of northernmost Tacoma Narrows Bridge)

Map of Marine Area 13
Inset Map of Budd Inlet in Marine Area 13

1Minter Creek Mouth Area: Waters at Minter Creek mouth within 1,000’ of outer oyster stakes.

2Titlow Beach Marine Preserve: All waters due west from the southern end of the Tacoma Outboard Association building near the boat launch ramp to the outer harbor line, then south following the outer harbor line to a line due west from the old ferry landing dock at the 6th Ave. Extension, then following the line to the high water line, then to the point of origin, CLOSED to the harvesting of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, except salmon fishing, using lures only, is permitted from shore or non-motorized craft.

3Saltar’s Point Conservation Area: Tidelands owned by the town of Steilacoom at Saltar’s Point Beach located between Montgomery Street and Martin Street, and the water column above these tidelands, CLOSED to fishing for, harvesting, and possession of fish and shellfish.

4Fox Island Public Fishing Pier

5Z’s Reef Marine Preserve: Waters and bedlands beginning at the extreme low water line on the northeast side of Fox Island at 47°14.56’N, 122°35.98’W, then 0.5 nautical mile northwesterly along the extreme low water line to 47°14.96’N, 122°36.37’W, then northeast to the 85’ contour line, southeast along 85’ contour, then southeast along the 85’ depth contour to a point on a due northeast-southwest line through the point of origin, then southwest to the point of origin, CLOSED to all harvest, except for fly fishing for salmon allowed.

6Toliva Shoal: June 16-Apr. 30: closed to fishing for fin fish in waters within 500 yards of the buoy on Toliva Shoal.

7Days Island (Octopus Protection Area): CLOSED to the harvest of octopus.

8Northern Budd Inlet: Waters of Budd Inlet south of a line projected true west from the KGY Radio Station Tower to the western shore of the inlet and north of a line from the northwest corner of the Thriftway Market building to a point 100 yards north of the railroad bridge located on the western side of the inlet.

9Southern Budd Inlet: Waters between the Fourth Ave. Bridge and a line from the northwest corner of the Thriftway Market building to a point 100 yards north of the railroad bridge located on the western side of the inlet

10Fourth Ave. Bridge: Waters of Budd Inlet at Olympia south of the Fourth Ave. Bridge are CLOSED to fishing year-round.

See Department of Health (DOH) Fish Consumption Advisories.

Species

Season

Additional Rules

Trout

Year-round

Catch-and-release.

Steelhead

Year-round

Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.

Sturgeon

Year-round

Catch-and-release.

Mackerel

Year-round

No min. size. No daily limit.

Herring, Anchovy, Sardine, Sand Lance, and Smelt

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs., all species combined. All smelt caught must be kept and count toward the daily limit except Closed to eulachon (Columbia River smelt). For smelt: Jig gear may be used 7 days a week. Dipnets may be used from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Fridays through Tuesdays.

Pacific Halibut

CLOSED

CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.

Other Food Fish

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 2 of each species. See Definitions.

All Other Fish

CLOSED

CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.

Salmon

Entire Area
(see exceptions for Minter Creek, Toliva Shoal, Northern/Southern Budd Inlet, and Fox Island Public Fishing Pier below)
(see marine preserves )

July 1-Sept. 30

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Oct. 1-June 30

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Minter Creek Mouth Area
(see 1 boundaries)

Apr. 16-Sept. 15

CLOSED

Sept. 16-Sept. 30

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Oct. 1-April 15

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Toliva Shoal
(see 6 boundaries)

June 16-Apr. 30

CLOSED.

May 1-June 15

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Northern Budd Inlet
(see 8 boundaries)

July 1-July 15

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

July 16-Sept. 30

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Night closure and anti-snagging rule. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Oct. 1-Oct. 31

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Night closure and anti-snagging rule. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Nov. 1-June 30

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Southern Budd Inlet
(see 9 boundaries)
(see 10 closure)

July 1-July 15

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

July 16-Oct. 31

CLOSED.

Nov. 1-June 30

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement.

Fox Island Public Fishing Pier

May 1-June 30

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum.

July 1-Sept. 30

Chinook - min. size 20”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum.

Oct. 1-Apr. 30

Chinook - min. size 22”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release chum.

Bottomfish

Year-round season. Daily limit is a total of 15 bottomfish (see Definitions) subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. See closures . Fishing for bottomfish prohibited in waters deeper than 120’. Descending device required onboard vessels.

Lingcod

May 1-June 15

Hook and line season. Min. size 26”. Max. size 36”. Daily limit 1.

May 21-June 15

Spearfishing season. Max. size 36”. Daily limit 1.

Surfperch

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 10. Except shiner perch daily limit 15: not included in bottomfish limit.

Rockfish

CLOSED

CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.

Pacific Cod, Pollock, Hake, and Wolf-Eel

Year-round

CLOSED to retention.

Sixgill, Sevengill, and Thresher Sharks

CLOSED

CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing. Sixgill shark may not be removed from the water.

Cabezon

May 1-Nov. 30

Min. size 18”. Daily limit 1.