Help, help, help......If a person lived in the Montesano area could they legally dip and keep smelt if available during a open fishing season......see #2 below


WAC 220-56-270 Smelt - Areas and seasons
(1) Unlawful to fish for or possess Columbia River smelt or eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus).

(2) Fishing for smelt other than Columbia River smelt or eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) is permitted the entire year on Pacific Ocean beaches and in all rivers concurrent with a salmon or gamefish opening, except closed in the Columbia River and tributaries.

(3) Fishing for smelt other than Columbia River smelt or eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) is open in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca year-round except: (a) Closed weekly from 10:00 p.m. Tuesday to 6:00 a.m. Friday for all gear types except forage fish jig gear; and (b) Closed year-round in Catch Record Card Area 12 for all gear types. (c) Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.

(4) It is unlawful to possess smelt taken with gear in violation of the provisions of this section. Possession of smelt while using gear in violation of the provisions of this section is a rebuttable presumption that the smelt were taken with such gear. Possession of such smelt is punishable under RCW 77.15.380
Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree -- Penalty, unless the smelt are taken in the amounts or manner to constitute a violation of RCW 77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree -- Penalty