legal fishing hours

[Dustin07]

I thought I remembered that you couldn't fish until "x:xx" o'clock in the morning last year (for me specfically I'm wondering for the puyallup). Is it like 30 min before sunrise or something? I cant' find it in the regs.

[Matt]

In areas listed as "Night closure" in the regulations pamphlet fishing is only permitted 1 hour before and 1 hour after official sunrise/sunset, respectively. If there is no night closure listing the waterway remains open 24 hours a day. You can check online weather websites to see what the official sunrise/sunset times are as they change by a few minutes each day.

Another thing to consider is in areas that DO NOT have night closure rules in effect, a lot of times the land or access property is "Closed during the hours of darkness" which happens particularly frequently on WDFW state owned boat ramps/property. If it is private property or expressly listed as open 24 hours a day you can night fish in these locations IF night closures are not in effect. One river that is a good example of allowing night fishing is the Cow where a lot of people "Glow ball" for steelies during certain times.

[Dustin07]

thanks for the help. I am pretty sure night closures are in effect on the areas i plan to fish, I just couldn't remember the open/closed hours. thanks again for the help, the details help.

[Marc Martyn]

In areas listed as "Night closure" in the regulations pamphlet fishing is only permitted 1 hour before and 1 hour after official sunrise/sunset, respectively. If there is no night closure listing the waterway remains open 24 hours a day. You can check online weather websites to see what the official sunrise/sunset times are as they change by a few minutes each day.

Another thing to consider is in areas that DO NOT have night closure rules in effect, a lot of times the land or access property is "Closed during the hours of darkness" which happens particularly frequently on WDFW state owned boat ramps/property. If it is private property or expressly listed as open 24 hours a day you can night fish in these locations IF night closures are not in effect. One river that is a good example of allowing night fishing is the Cow where a lot of people "Glow ball" for steelies during certain times.

Good Lord![blink]

I know one thing for sure. If I ever do any fishing on the west side rivers, I am going to have to have one of you guys right beside me as a guide. Knowing me, I would interpret the regulations wrong and end up in the slammer.....

[Matt]

Oh don't worry, they don't throw you in jail.... its just a grotesquely overpriced ticket is all! hahaha :safe:

[natetreat]

Yea, that's good to know. I just thought about it, I am up at 4:30 every morning during the week and it's good to go fishing. Worked great for the summer, but now that sunrise isn't until 6:30 I have to wait. It's annoying. The last thing I need is a ticket.

[Matt]

Yea, that's good to know. I just thought about it, I am up at 4:30 every morning during the week and it's good to go fishing. Worked great for the summer, but now that sunrise isn't until 6:30 I have to wait. It's annoying. The last thing I need is a ticket.

If you're already up at 4:30 that should give you plenty of time to get to the prime spots that are usually at least 2 hours from civilization

[Dustin07]

so fishing starts at about 5:40am tomorrow?


6:40am Friday (PDT) - Sunrise in Seattle, WA

[natetreat]

That's how I roll. I kinda liked it better during the summer, longer days, but most mornings I'm already on my way out when everyone gets there. I like that.

[curado]

leave an hour befor fist light o'dark thirty. get to the spot and wait. then right as first light starts to apear its game on

[natetreat]

so long as you can see to tie your knots. That's the problem with night fishing.

[curado]

teach your self how to tie them in the dark

[salmonslayer117]

teach your self how to tie them in the dark

Yup. Hard at first but it definitely pays off when you get it!!