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Washington

Fishing

Fishing

Marine Area 4

Neah Bay

(From Cape Alava north and inside Juan de Fuca Strait to the Sekiu River)

Bonilla-Tatoosh Line: A line running from the western end of Cape Flattery 48°22.86’N, 124°43.91’W, to Tatoosh Island Lighthouse 48°23.49’N, 124°44.21’W, then in a straight line to Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island 48°35.73’N, 124°43’W. See map below.

Map of Washington Marine Areas 4, 5, and 6, showing fishing boundaries from Cape Alava and Sekiu River through Port Angeles, Dungeness Bay, and Discovery Bay, with key landmarks and closure zones marked.
Washington Marine Areas 4–6 map, covering Sekiu, Clallam Bay, Port Angeles, Dungeness Bay, and Discovery Bay, with detailed fishing boundaries and closures.

Species

Season

Additional Rules

Trout

Year-round

Catch-and-release

Steelhead

Year-round

Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.

Sturgeon

Year-round

Catch-and-release.

Tuna and Mackerel

Year-round

No min. size. No daily limit except Northern bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna daily limit of 2 each.

Herring, Sand Lance, and Smelt

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

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: dipnets and jigs may be used 7 days a week.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

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.

Anchovy and Sardine

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 25 lbs., all species combined. May be taken by a cast net.

Pacific Halibut

For the most current information on Pacific halibut seasons and fishing regulations, visit the WDFW halibut regulations page or call 360-902-2700 in April. No min. size. Daily limit 1. Annual limit 6. Descending device required onboard vessels.

Other Food Fish

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 2 of each species. See Food Fish definition.

All Other Fish

CLOSED

CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.

Salmon

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line
(See 1 on map below)

June 21-July 3, 2025

Chinook - min. size 24”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 1. Release coho.

July 4-July 31

Chinook - min. size 24”. Coho - min. size 16”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release wild coho.

Aug. 1-Sept. 15

Chinook - min. size 24”. Coho - min. size 16”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release chum and wild coho.

May-June, 2026

Check the WDFW website or call (360) 902-2700 in late April for information on the 2026 salmon season.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line to north-south line through Sail Rock (See 2 on map below)

June 21-July 3, 2025

Chinook - min. size 24”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 1. Release coho.

July 4-July 31

Chinook - min. size 24”. Coho - min. size 16”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release wild coho.

Aug. 1-Sept. 15

Coho - min. size 16”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.

May-June, 2026

Check the WDFW website or call (360) 902-2700 in late April for information on the 2026 salmon season.

From Sail Rock to mouth of Sekiu River (See 3 on map below) (See exception for Kydaka Point Area below)

June 21-July 31, 2025

CLOSED

Aug. 1-Sept. 15

Coho - min. size 16”. Other salmon species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.

Kydaka Point Area (See 4 on map below)

Year-round

CLOSED

Bottomfish

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.- May 31

Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish (see Bottomfish definition) except surfperch and flatfish. Subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. Descending device required onboard vessels.

June 1-July 31

Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish (see Bottomfish definition) except surfperch and flatfish. Subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. Fishing for or possession is prohibited seaward of the 20 Fathom Depth Restriction except sablefish and Pacific cod when halibut is open. (see 20 Fathom Depth Restriction below). Descending device required onboard vessels.

Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.

Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish (see Bottomfish definition) except surfperch and flatfish. Subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. Descending device required onboard vessels.

Note: Duncan and Duntze Rocks are seaward of the 20 fathom line.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Year-round

Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish (see Bottomfish definition), except surfperch. Subject to individual limits, seasons, and exceptions shown below. Fishing for bottomfish prohibited in waters seaward of the Bottomfish Closure, except lingcod, sablefish, and Pacific cod when halibut is open (see Bottomfish Closure below). Descending device required onboard vessels.

Lingcod

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-May 31

Daily limit 2. See Additional Restrictions below.

June 1-July 31

Daily limit 2. Fishing for or possession is prohibited seaward of the 20 Fathom Depth Restriction except when halibut is open (see 20 Fathom Depth Restriction below).

Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.

Daily limit 2.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct.

Daily limit 2. See Bottomfish Closure below. Fishing for or possession prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure, except when halibut is open (see Bottomfish Closure below)

Surfperch

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct.
Year-round from beach

Not included in bottomfish limit. No min. size. Daily limit 12 surfperch. Except shiner perch daily limit 15: not included in bottomfish limit.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Year-round

Not included in bottomfish limit. No min. size. Daily limit 12 surfperch. Except shiner perch daily limit 15: not included in bottomfish limit.

Rockfish

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-Apr. 30

No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye. See Additional Restrictions below.

May 1-May 31

No min. size Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye, copper, quillback and vermilion.

June 1-June 30

No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye, copper, quillback and vermilion. Fishing for or possession of rockfish other than boccacio, silvergray, canary, widow and yellowtail is prohibited seaward of the 20 Fathom Depth Restriction except when halibut is open. See 20 Fathom Depth Restriction below.

July 1-July 31

No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye, copper, quillback and vermilion. Fishing for or possession of rockfish other than yellowtail and widow is prohibited seaward of the 20 Fathom Depth Restriction except when halibut is open. See 20 Fathom Depth Restriction below.

Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.

No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

July 1-Aug. 31

No min. size. Daily limit 7. Only blue/deacon, yellowtail, widow, and black may be retained. Fishing for or possession of rockfish other than yellowtail and widow is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. See Bottomfish Closure below.

Sept. 1-June 30

No min. size. Daily limit 7. Only blue/deacon, yellowtail, widow, and black may be retained. Fishing for or possession of rockfish is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. See Bottomfish Closure below.

Cabezon

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-May 31

Daily limit 1. See Additional Restrictions below.

June 1-July 31

Daily limit 1. Fishing for or possession prohibited seaward of the 20 Fathom Depth Restriction (see 20 Fathom Depth Restriction below).

Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.

Daily limit 1.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Year-round

Daily limit 1. See Bottomfish Closure below. Fishing for or possession is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line.

Flatfish (Dabs, Sole, Flounder)

West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct.

No min. size. In addition to the 9 bottomfish daily limit, 5 additional flatfish may be retained. See Additional Restrictions and Bottomfish Closure below.

East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

Year-round

No min. size. Daily limit 9.

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.

Map of Washington’s Marine Areas 3 and 4, showing fishing boundaries near La Push, Cape Alava, Tatoosh Island, and the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line, with halibut and bottomfish closure zones marked.
Washington Marine Areas 3 and 4 map highlighting La Push, Cape Alava, and Tatoosh Island, with designated halibut and bottomfish closure areas for sustainable fishing.

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS

Halibut and Bottomfish Closure Area ("C"-shaped YRCA) Fishing for halibut and bottomfish is closed, and anglers may not fish for salmon with bottomfish aboard in the area described as an eastward facing “C” beginning at:

48°18’N, 125°18’W and continuing to

48°18’N, 124°59’W, then to

48°11’N, 124°59’W, then to

48°11’N, 125°11’W, then to

48°04’N, 125°11’W, then to

48°04’N, 124°59’W, then to

48°00’N, 124°59’W, then to

48°00’N, 125°18’W, and back to the point of origin.

20 Fathom Depth Restriction Bottomfish A line approximating 20 fathoms from the Bonilla-Tatoosh line south to the Queets River in Marine Area 3 and 4 as described by the coordinates below. Pacific cod, sablefish, lingcod, bocaccio, silvergray, canary, widow, and yellowtail rockfish retention is allowed seaward of 20 fathoms when halibut is open.

48°23.90’ N, 124°44.20’ W,

48°23.60’ N, 124°44.90’ W,

48°18.60’ N, 124°43.60’ W,

48°18.60’ N, 124°48.20’ W,

48°10.00’ N, 124°48.80’ W,

48°02.40’ N, 124°49.30’ W,

47°37.60’ N, 124°34.30’ W,

47°31.70’ N, 124°32.40’ W.

Note: Duncan and Duntze Rocks are seaward of the 20 fathom line.

Map of Washington Marine Areas 4, 5, and 6 highlighting the 20-fathom bottomfish management contour from Tatoosh Island through the Strait of Juan de Fuca with key landmarks and closure boundaries.
Washington Marine Areas 4–6 bottomfish management map showing the 20-fathom contour line and fishing closure zones.

Bottomfish Closure

Shown by the red dashed line on map. Coordinates beginning at:

  1. 48°23.90'N, 124°44.20'W then continuing to
  2. 48°24.10'N, 124°40.00'W then to
  3. 48°23.61'N, 124°36.46'W then to
  4. 48°17.71'N, 124°21.24'W then to
  5. 48°15.96'N, 124°14.43'W then to
  6. 48°11.91'N, 124°02.02'W then to
  7. 48°09.93'N, 123°34.51'W then to
  8. 48°11.02'N, 123°31.13'W then to
  9. 48°08.53'N, 123°24.13'W then to
  10. 48°11.45'N, 123°06.02'W then to
  11. 48°08.22'N, 123°06.02'W

Marine Area 4, 5 and 6 Map

Map of Washington Marine Areas 4, 5, and 6, showing fishing boundaries from Cape Alava and Sekiu River through Port Angeles, Dungeness Bay, and Discovery Bay, with key landmarks and closure zones marked.
Washington Marine Areas 4–6 map, covering Sekiu, Clallam Bay, Port Angeles, Dungeness Bay, and Discovery Bay, with detailed fishing boundaries and closures.

1 Marine Area 4 West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

2 Marine Area 4 East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line to a north-south line through Sail Rock

3 Marine Area 4 (East) from Sail Rock to mouth of Sekiu River

4 Kydaka Point Area: Waters south of a line from Kydaka Point westerly approximately 4 miles to Shipwreck Point.

5 Marine Area 5

6 Marine Area 6 Chinook Selective Fishery: West of a true north/south line through the #2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook

7 Freshwater Bay Closure - July 1-Oct. 31: Waters of Freshwater Bay south of a line from Angeles Point westerly approximately 4 miles to Observatory Point (Bachelor Rock) closed to fishing for ALL species.

8 Port Angeles Harbor: Waters of Port Angeles Harbor west of a line from the tip of Ediz Hook to the ITT Rayonier Dock.

Map of Port Angeles Harbor in Washington’s Marine Area 6 showing Ediz Hook, Angeles Point, Green Point, and Buoy #2 fishing boundary.
Fishing boundary map of Port Angeles Harbor in Marine Area 6, highlighting Ediz Hook, Angeles Point, Green Point, and Buoy #2.

9 Marine Area 6 Chinook Release Area: East of a true north/south line through the #2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook

10 Dungeness Bay: Waters of Dungeness Bay inside of a line from Dungeness Spit Lighthouse to the #2 Red Buoy, then to the Port Williams boat ramp.

Map of Dungeness Bay in Washington’s Marine Area 6 showing Dungeness Spit, Dungeness Spit Light, Dungeness River, Port Williams Boat Ramp, and #2 Red Buoy fishing boundary.
Fishing boundary map of Dungeness Bay in Marine Area 6, highlighting Dungeness Spit, Dungeness Spit Light, Dungeness River, Port Williams Boat Ramp, and #2 Red Buoy.

11 Sequim Bay: Waters of Sequim Bay south of a line from the southern end of Gibson Spit to the west end of Travis Spit.

12 Discovery Bay: Waters of Discovery Bay south of a line from the Gardiner boat ramp to Beckett Point.

13 Snow and Salmon Creek Mouth Area: Waters of Discovery Bay from the mouths of Snow and Salmon creeks to the overhead utility lines that cross Discovery Bay

14 Herring Closure Area: Waters south of a line from Ediz Hook to Partridge Point.

Map of Washington’s Marine Area 6 showing herring spawning closure zone near Port Angeles, Ediz Hook, Sequim Bay, Discovery Bay, Partridge Point, and Smith Island.
Marine Area 6 herring closure map highlighting Port Angeles, Ediz Hook, Sequim Bay, Discovery Bay, Partridge Point, and Smith Island to protect herring spawning habitat.