WAC 220-314-020. Possession limits — Bottomfish

It is unlawful for any person to fish for or take bottomfish for personal use except within the seasons, daily quantities, and possession limits prescribed as follows: (1) Coastal areas (Marine Areas 1 through 3 and 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line): (a) Bottomfish fishing is open the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, except fishing for surfperch from the shore is allowed year-round. (b) Limit of surfperch is 12 per person per day. For all other bottomfish, limit is 9 fish total per person per day, which may include no more than: (i) Lingcod: 2 fish, no minimum length. (ii) Rockfish: 7 fish in aggregate. The possession limit for yelloweye rockfish is 0. The possession limit for canary rockfish is 5. In May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0. (iii) Wolf-eel: 0 fish from Catch Record Card Area 4. (iv) Cabezon: Marine Areas 1 through 4: 1 fish, no minimum size. (c) Additional flatfish: In addition to the bottomfish limit in (b) of this subsection, anglers may take 5 flatfish per person, per day, not to be counted towards the bottomfish limit but in addition to it. (2) Inner Puget Sound (Marine Areas 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and 5 through 13): (a) Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Limit of surfperch is 12 per person per day. For all other bottomfish, 9 fish total, which may include no more than: (i) Lingcod: 2 fish, no minimum length. (ii) Rockfish: 7 fish. Only black, blue/deacon, yellowtail, and widow rockfish may be retained. (iii) Wolf-eel: 0 fish. (iv) Cabezon: 1 fish, no minimum size. (b) Marine Areas 5 and 6: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than: Rockfish in Marine Area 5 except 1 fish May 1 through September 30. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. in Marine Area 5 west of Slip Point 3 fish. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. in Marine Area 6. 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 2 fish Pollock 2 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pacific hake 2 fish Rockfish in Marine Area 5 except 1 fish May 1 through September 30. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. in Marine Area 5 west of Slip Point 3 fish. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. in Marine Area 6. 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 2 fish Pollock 2 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pacific hake 2 fish (c) Marine Area 7: 15 fish total for all species of bottomfish, which may include no more than: Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 2 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pollock 2 fish Pacific hake 2 fish Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 2 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pollock 2 fish Pacific hake 2 fish (d) Marine Areas 8-1 through 11, and 13: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than: Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 0 fish Pollock 0 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pacific hake 0 fish Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 10 fish Pacific cod 0 fish Pollock 0 fish Flatfish (except halibut) 15 fish Lingcod 1 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 1 fish Pacific hake 0 fish (e) Marine Area 12: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than: Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 0 fish Pacific cod 0 fish Pollock 0 fish Flatfish (except halibut) only in Dabob Bay north of Turner Creek 15 fish Lingcod 0 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 0 fish Pacific hake 0 fish Rockfish 0 fish Surfperch 0 fish Pacific cod 0 fish Pollock 0 fish Flatfish (except halibut) only in Dabob Bay north of Turner Creek 15 fish Lingcod 0 fish Wolf-eel 0 fish Cabezon 0 fish Pacific hake 0 fish (f) The possession limit for lingcod taken by angling gear is 26 to 36 inches in length. For spear fishing, lingcod may not be possessed that exceed 36 inches in length but there is no minimum size limit. (g) In Marine Areas 5 through 11, and 13, the minimum size limit for cabezon is 18 inches. All cabezon must be released in Marine Areas 5 through 11, and 13, from December 1 through April 30. (h) In Marine Area 5, the daily limit for rockfish is the first legal rockfish caught, except that west of Slip Point, the daily limit for rockfish is the first three legal rockfish caught. Only black or blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. After the daily limit of rockfish is caught, all subsequent rockfish must be released. (i) In Marine Area 5, it is unlawful to take rockfish by spear fishing except when this area is open to spear fishing for lingcod. (3) The possession limit at any time may not exceed the equivalent of two daily limits in fresh, frozen or processed form. (4) Unless otherwise provided, bottomfish fishing is open the entire year. (5) Daily limits include bottomfish caught in adjacent areas bordering other states, such as Oregon. (6) It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess sixgill, sevengill, or thresher sharks.