Washington regulations
Rockfish Regulations in Washington 2026
Washington Rockfish regulations as of 2026-04-30: Daily bag 10 fish/day; Daily bag 7 fish/day; Season end Jul 31. Sourced from WDFW.
Rules (32)
Washington statewideClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Status
- Prohibited
It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess rockfish in Areas 6-13. It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess yelloweye rockfish in all Marine Areas.
Admiralty Inlet
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
Columbia RiverIn season
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Jul 31
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
East Juan De Fuca Strait
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
East Of Slip PointIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Jun 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Gear
- Spearfishing
Daily limit is the first black or blue/deacon rockfish caught. Spearfishing season.
La Push (From The Queets River North To Cape Alva)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Jul 31
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
July 1-July 31 Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct. Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct., including no more than 5 canary.
Marine Area 1Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Oct 18
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
Release vermilion. Release yelloweye. Third Sat. in Oct. including no more than 5 canary.
Marine Area 2Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Aug 1
- Season closes
- Jul 31
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
May 1-July 31; Release yelloweye, copper, quillback and vermilion. Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.; Release yelloweye. Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct.; including no more than 5 canary.
West Of Slip PointIn season
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- Jun 15
- Daily bag
- 3 fish/day
- Gear
- Spearfishing
Daily limit is the first 3 black or blue/deacon rockfish caught. Spearfishing season.
West Of The Bonilla-Tatoosh LineCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Status
- Catch And Release
Release vermilion. Release yelloweye.
Rockfish on famous Washington waters
Dedicated rule pages for Rockfish on the most-targeted destinations in Washington.
Also known as
Rockfish is also called Vermilion Rockfish, Black Rockfish, Yelloweye Rockfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Washington.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rockfish season in Washington?
Rockfish season in Washington runs from Aug 1 to Jul 31 per WDFW.
What is the size limit for Rockfish in Washington?
Washington does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Rockfish. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Rockfish in Washington?
Daily bag limit for Rockfish in Washington is 10 fish/day in Admiralty Inlet, per WDFW.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/marine-area-5
- https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/marine-area-3
- https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/marine-area-1
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with WDFW before keeping a catch. Last verified .