General Guidelines for Where it is Legal to Hunt From a Boat Skagit and Snohomis

[Stein]

I can think of only 2 situations where dropping anchor an get you in trouble. Oyster beds, and gun clubs.
 

There's also a few well known rivers as well, but they aren't tidal.  Most tide landowners don't really care if you drop anchor or even walk on their property.

But, if you go to a popular duck bay, it's a totally different story and I wanted the OP to understand that because it could really ruin a guys day when they think they are doing it all right and then all of a sudden get into a big confrontation and possible trespass ticket.  Some of the landowners are rather nasty about it, some are ok.  If you pull up the plat maps, it's plain to see there are tons of gun clubs there - way more than I imagined until I saw it myself.

If a guy is worried, the easiest thing to do is go to an established spot, WDFW maintains several well known public access sites with launches.  You won't be alone, but you also won't have to worry about knowing where to go or who owns the land.

[Platensek-po]

I get where you are coming from and I agree. However it seems pretty clear in federal law that this is not the case. As what affects the ground under the water affects the water itself. especially when looking at the 2015 ruling by the supreme court on the CWA. Certainly not worth the hassle. Remember even though the state says its private the FED says its in the hands of the public. Its extremely confusing and Washington is the only state with this problem. Every other state ruled that the public has the right to access and enjoy the public waters as per common law. Again i certainly agree with you its not worth the hassel.

[Stein]

Yeah, #1 problem is that there is no definition of navigable waters in WA.  If you want to find out, get an attorney, a big checkbook and a big bag of patience.  You can't use the boat test, commerce test, log test or whatever test is usually used in the west, it's undefined in WA.

WA is a bit unique in that the feds handed over tidelands when it became a state, thus the rules that apply in I think 48 other states don't apply in WA as they handed over the tidelands - but even that has been poked a bit in court.

It isn't a priority in Olympia, many other western states have put out guidance and decisions and clarified the law. 

I did a bunch of digging on small rivers and sloughs to find some hunting spots I can legally access and ended up giving up for the most part, settling on for sure public ground.

Sorry to the OP, wish there was a site with the rules clearly lined out.

[Special T]

Ill give you a spot that is new to everyone. Leque Island. From Stanwood head over the bridge to Cameno Island and its the flooded area on the left. All WDFW that has been converted to "Salmon" habitat. You can launch a small boat or canoe from the parking lot, and their is a crappy trailer launch on the Stilly by the old smoke stack in Stanwood.