I had good luck with the crab snares off the jetty in westport and use a fishing pole. I want to throw out a fishing line also and think I should be fine as it is only one "fishing" line and one crab line. But, would there be an issue of me having 2 poles?

I amy be wrong, but wouldn't this be the same principal as using a pole as well as a jigging pole for baitfish? I would think it would be ok, since you would not catch fish with the second pole. But again I am not positive

I asked this question last year to Evan Jacoby, the WA state attorney for the Dept. of Fisheries.

The answer: it is legal to use 1 rod for fishing, and also up to two additional rods for crab snares. The rod/snares each count as 1 unit of crab gear, of which you are allowed to use at least 2 units of crab gear in many waters.

He did warn, however, that you should expect to be questioned by field enforcement officers who may, erroneously, see you as using multiple rods for "fishing"

Thanks for the replies! I'll make sure to bring extra poles for fishing and the extra snare. Twice as much for dinner.