When discussing fish and wildlife law enforcement, it helps to remember this old saying: Possession is 9/10ths of the law.

And often in F/W law enforcement, it's 100% of the law. If you land your boat in a Washington port with fish aboard, you'd better have a Washington State fishing license. The issue is not where you caught them. The controlling factor is that you have those fish in your possession. You could have caught those fish in China or Timbuktoo. It doesn't matter. If you are possessing recreationally caught fish, and if you don't have a recreational fishing license from the State you're standing in (resident license or non-resident license), your future fishing privileges and your wallet are at great risk.