There are plenty of reasons to get a license this year, including an expected good run of chinook salmon in the Columbia River, outstanding runs of pink salmon expected in places such as the Green and Puyallup rivers this summer, steelhead fishing on the Olympic Coast and the traditional start of the trout fishing season at the end of April.
“We encourage people to renew their fishing and hunting licenses early, so they can take advantage of the great recreational opportunities available in the coming weeks and months,” Bill Joplin, licensing manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said in a news release.
All fees included, a resident adult freshwater fishing license will cost $26; a saltwater license will be $24.20; a new shellfish/seaweed license will be $14 and an adult combination license will be $48.20. There are various prices for resident senior citizens ages 70 and older, resident youths age 15 and non-residents.
Most annual licenses include a vehicle-use permit, which gives the bearer access to more than 600 recreational access sites managed by the department throughout the state. Sold separately, the annual permit costs $14.
Licenses and permits are avaiIable online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by phone at 866-246-9453 and from sporting goods stores and other retail license dealers around the state. A list of license vendors can be found online at wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm. There are more than 40 vendors in Pierce County and almost 25 vendors in Thurston County.
The new license will be good from April 1-March 31, 2012.
