Fishing in Washington state is a very common activity. Given the fact that there are many different bodies of water makes it a sport which covers a multitude of fishing interests.
For starters, the state categorizes the sport fishing industry into two separate classifications. These include those fish which are considered game fish and those known as food fish. The rules and regulations for these are quite different.
Game fish include: large mouth bass, small mouth bass, tiger muskies, walleye, white fish, burbot (freshwater ling), channel catfish, crappie, perch, sunfish, rock bass and stripped bass. Bullfrogs are also listed in this category as well. The entire trout family is considered game fish. These include brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, kokanee, tiger trout, grayling, eastern brook trout and steelhead.The Washington State Fishing Regulations Pamphlet gives the daily limit for each of these species as well as the minimum size for legal fish.
A large bulk of these fish is native to eastern Washington. The water conditions of the east and west are considerably different, and so it is easy to see why some fish thrive in warm water and others in colder habitats. Trout will generally prefer colder water, and therefore they are more prevalent in western Washington. There are deep water lakes in eastern Washington that will host a variety of trout.
The list for food fish, on the other hand, is not as exhaustive. This category includes common carp, shad salmon, white sturgeon and forage fish. Forage fish are herring sardines, anchovies, and smolt. Again, the Washington State Fishing Regulations Pamphlet will give details pertaining to size and legal catch limits.
All these fish are posted under the freshwater scope of fishing. There are also marine water fish which also completes the big picture of Washington fishing.
The bodies of water range from the Pacific Ocean to streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and even beaver ponds. Many of the game fish are a protected species and others have a very generous catch limit.
The rules surrounding each fishery are clearly laid out by the Department of Fisheries. A simple understanding will help anglers in pursuit of fish. The understanding is that no matter where these fish may be, they are all “owned” by the state. Every angler must acquire permission to access these fish by way of fishing license. It is the law that the fish must be pursued in accordance with the rules and regulations that the State of Washington sets forth. In conjunction with this understanding is the respect of the fish habitat and adjacent private property.
It can take a lifetime to pursue all the species of fish available in Washington state. Our moderate weather in western Washington makes fishing a year round event in pursuit of fish when available. However, the summer months are good times to go after some new varieties. Vacation minded anglers can make such an event a destination or a part of a getaway. It is a good time of the year to expand one’s fishing interests.
