Washington fishing seasons

77 species profiles in our database list Washington waters among their fisheries — including Walleye, Mountain Whitefish, White Sturgeon, Green Sturgeon. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Washington

Months when the largest share of Washington's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Washington fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Washington

Species	Season
Alewife	Varies by watershed and local regulation
American Shad	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Atlantic Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Green Sturgeon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Gulf Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Mountain Whitefish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Olympic Mudminnow	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Pallid Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Shortnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Shovelnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Steelhead	Jan–Feb–Jun–Jul–Aug–Dec
Walleye	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Sturgeon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov

Saltwater & brackish species in Washington

Species	Season
Albacore Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Arrowtooth Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Atlantic Saury	Varies by region and regulation
Bank Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Black Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Blackgill Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Blue Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Bocaccio	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Brown Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Canary Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Capelin	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Chilipepper Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
China Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Chinook Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Chum Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Coho Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Copper Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Coral Trout	Varies by region and regulation
Darkblotched Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Dover Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
English Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
European Pilchard	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Flag Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Gopher Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Grass Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Kelp Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
King-of-the-Salmon	Varies by region and regulation
Lingcod	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Longhorn Sculpin	Varies by region and regulation
Mangrove Jack	Varies by region and regulation
Northern Anchovy	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Olive Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Pacific Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Pacific Halibut	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Pacific Ocean Perch	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Pacific Sand Lance	Varies by region and regulation
Pacific Sanddab	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Pacific Sardine	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pacific Saury	Varies by region and regulation
Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker	Varies by region and regulation
Pacific Staghorn Sculpin	Varies by region and regulation
Petrale Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Pink Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Quillback Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Redtail Surfperch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Rex Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Rock Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Rosy Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Sand Lance	Varies by region and regulation
Sculpin	Varies by region and regulation
Shortraker Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Silvergray Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Starry Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Starry Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Steelhead	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Stripetail Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Tiger Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Tiger Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Vermilion Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Whale Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Widow Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yelloweye Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Yellowmouth Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yellowtail Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules

Where to fish in Washington

• Puget Sound (WA)
• Columbia River (OR/WA)
• Pacific Northwest (WA/OR)

Fishing in the West

Oregon · California · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Idaho · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Alaska · Hawaii