THE WATERS OF Washington will be wide open Saturday and Sunday as part of the state’s Free Fishing Weekend.
This means anglers can hit the ocean for some lingcod, the rivers for salmon, the lakes for trout or Hood Canal for shellfish, even if they don’t have a license.
Also not required is a vehicle pass or a Discover Pass to park at any of the water-access sites maintained by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
But the weekend isn’t a free-for-all.
Most regulations remain in effect, including season closures, size requirements and daily limits.
These rules can be found in the state’s Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, which can be purchased at most sporting goods stores throughout the North Olympic Peninsula.
The pamphlet is also available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.
Marine areas
The Pacific Ocean, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal make up the marine areas.
These waters are in a bit of a lull right now due to the recent closing of the halibut fishery in all but one area.
But they’re still open, and there are still fish to catch.
Along the coast in Neah Bay and La Push, anglers can go after trout, tuna, lingcod and rockfish.
The daily limit of lingcod in Neah Bay and La Push is two.
Neah Bay lingcod has a 24-inch minimum and La Push has a 22-inch minimum.
The Sekiu and Pillar Point region is the only place on the Peninsula open for halibut fishing, and you can also harvest trout and lingcod.
Along the Strait and by Admiralty Inlet, trout and lingcod are the best bets.
Anglers are allowed to take one lingcod that measures between 26 and 36 inches in the Sekiu, Strait and Admiralty areas.
Here are a few more daily and size restrictions for the marine areas:
■ Rockfish: No minimum size. Daily limit: 10 (No canary or yelloweye may be retained).
■ Tuna: No daily or size restrictions.
■ Trout: Only two hatchery steelhead may be retained.
There are also shellfish harvesting opportunities throughout the Peninsula.
Dosewallips State Park, Oak Bay County Park, Sequim Bay State Park and Pillar Point County Park are good spots for clams and oysters.
Spot shrimp season has ended, but Admiralty Inlet is still open for pink and coonstripe shrimp. The daily limit for shrimp is 80.
Rivers
River fishing is in full swing right now, with steelhead, which opened last week, and spring chinook being the big draws.
For steelhead, try the Bogachiel, Quillayute, Sol Duc, Calawah and Hoh are the recommended rivers.
The daily limit for steelhead is two, and the minimum size is 14 inches.
The Sol Duc is the best river for spring chinook, but the Quillayute is a good secondary option.
The daily limit is six springers, including two adults. The size minimum is 12 inches.
Lakes
The state has been stocking the lakes will millions of rainbow trout throughout the year.
On the Peninsula, Jefferson County’s Lake Leland and Wentworth Lake in Clallam County have been stocked the most, with both receiving more than 4,000 trout.
Gibbs Lake and Sandy Shore Lake have received approximately 2,000, and nearly 1,500 have been stocked in Tarboo Lake.
Catch record cards
Another regulation that remains intact during Free Fish Weekend is the requirement that anglers fill out and return catch record cards for salmon, steelhead or halibut.
These cards are an important management tool for estimating the fish caught.
You must have these in your possession to even fish for the species listed.
Like the Fishing in Washington pamphlet, catch record cards are also available at most sporting goods stores.
They must be returned to the state even if nothing was harvested.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsula
dailynews.com.
