Surveys show a continued decline in numbers of all size abalone. The closure is necessary to allow recovery of stocks.
CLAMS, OTHER THAN RAZOR
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see page 126. Clams can be dug by hand or hand-operated fork, pick, rake, or shovel. Each digger must use a separate container. Digging equipment may be shared. Clam holes must be refilled. To reduce clam mortality, please push any undersized clams into the refilled hole.
Varnish and Butter Clams have the ability to retain biotoxins at higher levels and longer than other clams. Always check the biotoxin hotline before harvesting. 1-800-562-5632 or doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm
No minimum size. Daily limit first 3 dug. It is unlawful to thrust any instrument through the neck of a geoduck. It is unlawful to possess only the neck of a geoduck.
No minimum size. Daily limit first 7 dug regardless of condition.
Min size 1 1/2", except Quilcene Bay WDFW Tidelands (1 1/4" minimum size). Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
Min size 1 1/2", except Quilcene Bay WDFW Tidelands (1 1/4" minimum size). Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
Min size 1 1/2", except Quilcene Bay WDFW Tidelands (1 1/4" minimum size). Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
Min size 1 1/2", except Quilcene Bay WDFW Tidelands (1 1/4" minimum size). Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
No minimum size. Must be retained regardless of size or condition. Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
No minimum size. Always check the biotoxin hotline before harvesting. Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
No minimum size. Daily limit no more than 40 clams, not to exceed 10 lbs. in the shell, all species combined (excluding HORSE CLAMS and GEODUCKS). For species with a minimum size, measure across longest distance of shell.
OTHER SHELLFISH SPECIES AND SEAWEED
Minimum size 3 1/4" from tip of rostrum (nose) to tip of tail. Daily limit 10 lbs in shell. All females with eggs or young attached must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. No Shellfish/Seaweed license is required. See gear rules on page 135.
Must be kept in a separate container. Must be dead before being removed
from riparian area (immediate vicinity of water body). No daily limit, size, or sex restrictions. No Shellfish/Seaweed license is required. See gear rules on page 135.
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see page 126.
PUGET SOUND PUBLIC BEACHES
No minimum size. Daily limit 10 lbs. whole or 5 lbs. barnacle stalks.
PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES (outside Olympic National Park)
No minimum size. Daily limit 10 lbs. whole or 5 lbs. barnacle stalks.
Seasons in Puget Sound are the same as clam seasons on each beach. Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see page 126.
PUGET SOUND PUBLIC BEACHES
BLUE, CALIFORNIA, MEDITERRANEAN
No minimum size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell.
PACIFIC OCEAN BEACHES (outside Olympic National Park)
BLUE, CALIFORNIA, MEDITERRANEAN
No minimum size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell.
BLUE, CALIFORNIA, MEDITERRANEAN
Must be caught with hands or instrument which does not penetrate the OCTOPUS, except that octopus taken while angling with hook and line may be retained.
ALL WATERS except MARINE AREA 12, marine preserves, conservation areas, and octopus protected areas
No minimum size. Daily limit 1. NO CHEMICALS OR IRRITANTS ALLOWED.
MARINE AREA 12, marine preserves, conservation areas, and octopus protected areas
See Marine Preserves, Conservation & Octopus Protected Areas page 125.
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see page 126. OYSTERS may only be harvested by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool (no hammers, etc.). Each harvester must use a separate container.
See page 125 for season information.
Minimum size 2 1/2" measured across longest distance of shell. Daily limit 18. OYSTERS must be shucked on the beach. OYSTERS consumed on the beach count toward a limit. Leave shells on the same tideland and tide height where they were taken.
Daily limit is 5 pounds of all species combined. Excludes OYSTER shells. Removal of shells on State Park beaches prohibited. No license required.
No minimum size. Daily limit 10 dozen. May be harvested only by hand or by hand- operated suction devices only.
Department of Health Warning: Scallops may retain elevated levels of marine biotoxins. Before harvesting scallops check the Department of Health Shellfish Safety hotline, 1-800-562-5632 or doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm.
No minimum size. Daily limit 5 qts. or 10 lbs. in shell combined limit for both species. May be harvested only by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool.
Minimum size 4". Daily limit 12. Measure across longest distance of the shell.
No minimum size. Daily limit 6. Hammers or mallets may not be used to harvest rock scallops.
Caution: for Shellfish Safety and Department of Health contact information see page 126.
ALL WATERS except MARINE AREA 12
No minimum size. Daily limit 25. All other SEA CUCUMBErS species are unclassified marine invertebrates. See rules for unclassified marine invertebrates (below).
No minimum size. Daily limit 36.
No minimum size. Daily limit 18.
No minimum size. Daily limit 18.
(Many county parks have additional rules or closures. Please check local regulations before harvesting).
Daily limit 10 lbs. wet weight. Illegal to harvest any SEAWEED if herring eggs are attached.
All State Park beaches are closed to SEAWEED harvest except Fort Flagler, Fort Ebey, and Fort Worden State Parks, which are open to SEAWEED harvest from April 16-May 15 only. SEAWEED harvesting in State Parks is limited to posted park hours and special State Park rules below:
- Bull kelp must be cut a minimum 24" above the bulb and short stemmed kelps must be cut a minimum of 12" above the anchor point. The anchor point must be left in place at all times.
- Only a knife or similar instrument may be used to harvest SEAWEED. Tearing the plant and use of tined instruments such as rakes or forks is prohibited.
- Each harvester must use their own container. Multiple limits may not be combined in the same container.
- Each harvester must use a scale to determine when the harvest limit has been reached. Drying or partial drying prior to weighing is prohibited.
ALL WATERS except MARINE AREA 12
No minimum size. Daily limit 5 qts. or 10 lbs., plus up to 5 HUMBOLDT SQUID. Legal gear is a forage fish jig, a maximum of 4 squid lures, forage fish dip net, or a hand dip net. Each harvester must have a separate container.
See definition page 11. Examples: Sand Dollar, Sea Star, Kelp Crab, pacific Graceful Crab, Moon Snail, Shore Crab.
Oyster Drill Snail and Egg Case
The shell is about 1 1/2" with ornate ridges commonly attached to clam and oyster shells. Egg cases are yellow to reddish. A voracious predator of marine bivalves. It is unlawful to transfer Japanese oyster drills from one beach to another. (WAC 220-72-011 and WAC 220-72-015).