I was in grayland also and didn't get any small ones. The wife and I got our limits.
Quick question, people kept telling me I should pick my kids limit? Is that even legal? She can't even walk yet and she rides in my pack the whole time were digging? Thought it was werid people were saying that
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The kids can get limits and they don't need licenses if under 15. But they must be "active participants" and probably need to be at least 4 years old. Here is what I got from the state when I asked.
Thank you for your email correspondence to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Fish Program.
Your best source for information on licenses, daily limits, season, restrictions, etc. would be the 2014/2015 Fish Washington Sport Fishing Rules regulation pamphlet. This pamphlet is full of a lot of useful information, such as license fees for both resident and non-resident on page 6. This publication is formatted with the regulations for the Puget Sound and Straits Rivers, followed by Coastal Rivers, then Westside Rivers, Westside Lakes, Eastside Rivers, Eastside Lakes, Marine Area Rules and finally Shellfish/Seaweed Rules. There is also a list of the 6 Regional offices that are located throughout the state, with addresses and phone numbers included, on page 1.
David, please remember two very important words here: “Active Participation”. There is no minimum age for fishing and/or harvesting shellfish in Washington State and, as per the License Information on page 6 of the pamphlet, under Frequently Asked Questions, the first question is: “Who needs a fishing license? Everyone age 15 and up. You do not need a license if you are fishing for common carp, crawfish, bullfrogs, smelt, or to collect relic shells.”
This means that everyone 15 years of age and older must have a license, regardless of whether they are fishing from a boat, a bank, or from a public dock or public pier, or harvesting shellfish. Youths 14 years of age and younger do not need a license to fish or harvest shellfish in Washington State, but they must follow the same rules in regards to areas and seasons as everyone else. This is as listed on page 7 of the regulation pamphlet under License Information.
Children 14 years of age and under may not need a license, but they must actively participate and be able to demonstrate the ability to handle the gear by themselves. They must follow all the rules and restrictions for that particular species and/or body of water and are allowed the same daily limit as an adult. WDFW strongly supports & promotes youth fishing in this state. Adults may assist and are not required to have a license if they will not be fishing or harvesting themselves, but children must be present and take part in the entire process.
When using a shovel or a clam gun, it is understood that young children may not be able to lift it full of sand, so having the child sift through that sand (or the hole), pick the clams up and put them in their own bucket would be fine. Please remember that a separate container is required for all harvesters.Another thing to remember is that as per the Statewide General Rules, under Harvest and Possession Rules - You May Not, page 12 of the regulation pamphlet states the following:
“You May Not: Harvest any part of another person’s daily limit, except for persons who possess a Designated Harvester Card unless otherwise specified.”ALL anglers - regardless of age - are required to have a catch-record-card (CRC) when fishing for Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Halibut, and/or Puget Sound Dungeness Crab. These CRC’s are free to juvenile anglers (14 years of age & under).
With all that having been said, please understand that our WDFW Enforcement Police generally look at children 4 years of age and up as having the attention span & ability to actively participate. This is not to say that children younger than 4 cannot, but you would probably have a very difficult time convincing any officer that a child younger than 4 years of age would have the attention span, the understanding & the know-how to actively participate.If you do not have a copy of the current 2014/2015 regulation pamphlet, you can respond with your surface mailing address and we would be happy to send one to you, or with your internet capability, you may view/download the WDFW online pamphlet at the following web address:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/. Please make sure you check for emergency rule changes before you harvest as follows:
Fishing Rule Change Hotline at (360) 902-2500 Shellfish Rule Change Hotline at 1-866-880-5431 Or, try our searchable emergency rule link off our website at:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/index.jsp Additionally, for shellfish, make sure to call the Dept. of Health Marine Toxins PSP Hotline at 1-800-562-5632.
If you have further questions, please email again or call (360) 902-2700. Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
We hope this information helps.
Sincerely,
Fish Program
