Fishing opportunities abound in July

Anglers have plenty of places to catch fish and crab in July.

Here’s the latest on fishing opportunities in Washington, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW):

Ocean salmon: marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport), 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) are open for salmon fishing in July.

Puget Sound salmon: marine areas 5 (Sekiu), 7 (San Juan islands), a portion of 12 (Hood Canal) and 6 (east Juan de Fuca Strait) are open for salmon fishing in July.

Columbia River salmon and steelhead: summer chinook fishing closed on July 1 below the Bonneville Dam, but sockeye fishery opened upriver to the Chief Joseph Dam.

Puget Sound crab: in marine area 7, crab fishing opens on Saturday, July 14 at the southern portion (including the San Juan islands and Bellingham) and opens on Thursday, August 16 in the northern portion (including Gulf of Georgia).

According to WDFW, anglers who catch salmon in Canadian waters must document the origin of their catch if they return to Washington waters.

The rule went into effect on July 6.

“Canada no longer provides U.S. anglers with a way to document their legally caught salmon in Canadian waters,” according to the WDFW.

“In order to pass a dockside inspection upon their return to Washington, anglers need to complete the form below notifying WDFW of their plans to fish for salmon in Canadian waters.”

Moving forward, anglers should fill out the form online prior to leaving Washington. The form requests basic trip and contact information and can be found here: bit.ly/2zquC8M.

In Canada, a Washington fishing license is not required to fish or to fill out the above form.

To learn more about statewide fishing regulations and seasons, visit bit.ly/2m1Abky.