Hears your answer to several of these questions about cleaning or filleting a fish in the field!

WAC 220-56-145 Possession of gamefish, food fish or shellfish in unlawful condition -- Possession aboard a vessel. (1) Fish and shellfish may be cleaned and portioned in the field except sturgeon when sturgeon eggs are in possession. It is unlawful for a fisher to fail to retain proof of compliance with number, species, size, weight, sex, or wild or hatchery origin restrictions, if such restrictions apply, until the fisher is ashore and has finished fishing for the day. This subsection does not apply if the catch is in the process of being prepared for immediate consumption.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, it is unlawful to possess Dolly Varden/bull trout in the field in such condition that the species and total length cannot be determined.

(3) In Marine Areas 1 through 6 it is unlawful for any person to possess more than one daily limit of fish or shellfish in fresh form while aboard a vessel.


This means if you intend on filleting your fish and it's a salmon or steelhead, you must save that adipose fin to show that it was a "hatchery" fish!

Cowlitzfisherman