A Washington nonresident fishing license is often just the first line of a visitor cart. Check whether your trip needs freshwater, saltwater, shellfish, a combination license, catch record cards, or the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement.
Freshness note: Reviewed on August 18, 2026. WDFW license fees, Catch Record Card rules, CRSSE requirements, and app/portal options can change, so verify the live WDFW pages before fishing.
Parent CRC-focused guide: Washington Fishing License 2026. CRC deep-dive: Washington Catch Record Card.
Nonresident Annual Fee Snapshot (WDFW table)
Fees below follow WDFW’s published types-and-fees table (effective framing into 2026; confirm live dealer/online totals including transaction components).
| License type | Listed nonresident fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Combination (includes Vehicle Access Pass) | $170.00 | Freshwater + saltwater + shellfish/seaweed privileges as defined by WDFW |
| Freshwater (includes VAP) | $115.85 | Freshwater-focused trips |
| Saltwater (includes VAP) | $81.70 | Marine-focused trips |
| Shellfish/Seaweed | $47.39 | Shellfish/seaweed privileges |
| Razor Clam | $28.07 | Razor clam trips |
| Nonresident Disabled Veteran Combination | $74.37 | Qualifying nonresident disabled veterans pay resident combination rate |
Resident comparison anchors: Combination $74.37, Fish Washington package $101.88 (resident-oriented package; not a general nonresident SKU).
Short-Term Combination Prices
| Short-term combo | Listed nonresident fee |
|---|---|
| 1-Day Combination | $27.05 |
| 2-Day Combination | $39.19 |
| 3-Day Combination | $48.30 |
| 3-Day Razor Clam | $11.79 |
Multi-day short-term licenses are used on consecutive days. Short-term products have historically carried special spring game-fish validity footnotes—read the live WDFW short-term notes before an opener-week visit. Short-term licenses typically do not include a Vehicle Access Pass the way annual combination/freshwater/saltwater rows do.
Daily vs Annual Break-Even
Use WDFW’s live prices for the exact day count. Short-term combination licenses can fit a single trip; annual combination often makes sense only if you return or mix freshwater, saltwater, and shellfish.
CRC Rules Visitors Miss
Catch Record Cards can be required even when a person is young enough to be license-exempt. Check WDFW’s current CRC page for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Puget Sound Dungeness crab before you travel.
Columbia River Salmon & Steelhead Endorsement
WDFW publishes a separate Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement for many Columbia River salmon and steelhead trips. Verify the current effective dates, age threshold, waters, and price on WDFW before adding or skipping it.
Nonresident Disabled Veteran Note
Washington may offer a qualifying disabled-veteran rate in the combination-license area. Confirm eligibility, proof, and live price with WDFW before treating that row as automatic.
How to Buy as a Visitor
- Use WDFW licensing, MyWDFW / Fish Washington apps, phone, or a dealer.
- Provide SSN as required for ages 16+.
- Choose freshwater, saltwater, shellfish, razor clam, or combination (or short-term combo).
- Add CRCs / crab endorsement / Halibut CRC / CRSSE for your itinerary.
- If you need a CRC the same day, prefer mobile eCRC or a dealer—mail fulfillment can take days and temporary licenses do not include temporary CRCs/tags.
Common Visitor Mistakes
- Buying freshwater only for a Puget Sound salmon trip.
- Skipping CRCs because “I’m only here three days.”
- Ignoring the 2026 Columbia River endorsement on a Bonneville-area steelhead trip.
- Assuming short-term combo includes a Vehicle Access Pass.
- Letting a license-exempt child fish CRC species without a CRC.
FAQ
How much is a Washington nonresident fishing license?
Combination annual is $170. Freshwater annual is $115.85; saltwater annual is $81.70. Short-term combination runs $27.05 / $39.19 / $48.30 for 1/2/3 days.
Do nonresidents need a catch record card?
Yes whenever targeting CRC species—same as residents. Youth under 16 still need CRCs for those species.
Is there a cheap weekend license?
Use 1-, 2-, or 3-day combination products. They are consecutive-day short-term licenses, not a floating “any three days this month” pass.
Does annual combination include crab and halibut paperwork?
Combination covers defined shellfish privileges, but crab CRC/endorsement paths and Halibut CRC fees still follow WDFW stacking rules—add them explicitly at checkout.
Nonresident License Cart Decision Tree
Use this sequence before you open FishHunt. It mirrors how WDFW structures products and avoids the freshwater-only mistake that catches many out-of-state salmon anglers.
START → Which waters will you fish?
│
├─ Freshwater lakes/rivers ONLY
│ └─ Buy Freshwater annual ($115.85) OR skip annual if ≤3 consecutive days
│ └─ Add Fish CRC if targeting salmon/steelhead/sturgeon
│
├─ Puget Sound / coastal marine ONLY
│ └─ Buy Saltwater annual ($81.70) OR short-term combo if multi-water not needed
│ └─ Add Halibut CRC (~$5.50) if halibut is on the plan
│ └─ Add crab CRC path if Puget Sound Dungeness crab
│
├─ BOTH freshwater AND saltwater in one season
│ └─ Buy Combination annual ($170) — usually beats stacking single-water annuals
│ └─ Stack CRCs/endorsements for every species on the itinerary
│
├─ Shellfish/seaweed or razor clam ONLY
│ └─ Buy Shellfish/Seaweed ($47.39) or Razor Clam ($28.07) as defined by WDFW
│
└─ Trip ≤3 consecutive days, mixed waters
└─ Compare 1/2/3-Day Combination ($27.05 / $39.19 / $48.30) vs annual combo
└─ Remember: short-term combo typically does NOT include Vehicle Access PassAfter you pick the base license, run a second pass for CRSSE if any Columbia River salmon or steelhead water is on the calendar (January 1, 2026 onward for anglers 15+).
Freshwater vs Saltwater vs Combination for Out-of-State Anglers
Washington does not sell one universal nonresident card. The parent Washington Fishing License page explains the CRC stack; this table focuses on which annual nonresident SKU fits common visitor itineraries.
| If your trip looks like… | Start with | Why not the cheaper single-water card? |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-area salmon from a pier or charter | Saltwater $81.70 or Combination $170 | Freshwater alone does not cover marine salmon |
| Columbia River steelhead (below Bonneville) | Combination $170 + CRSSE ~$8.75 | CRSSE stacks on a valid license; freshwater-only still needs CRSSE waters checked |
| Lake Wenatchee kokanee + Puget Sound crab | Combination $170 | Stacking freshwater $115.85 + saltwater $81.70 = $197.55 before CRCs |
| Inland trout/bass only, no CRC species | Freshwater $115.85 | No need to pay combination premium |
| Razor clam only on coastal beaches | Razor Clam $28.07 or short-term 3-Day Razor $11.79 | Combination is overkill for a clam-only weekend |
| Halibut out of Westport or Neah Bay | Saltwater or Combination + Halibut CRC ~$5.50 | Halibut CRC is separate from the free fish CRC |
Stacking math reminder: Freshwater $115.85 plus Saltwater $81.70 totals $197.55—$27.55 more than Combination $170 before any CRC or endorsement fees. Most mixed-water visitors should default to combination unless the trip is strictly single-water for the whole license year.
Trip Scenario Checkout Guides
Scenario A: Three-day Puget Sound salmon charter
Compare short-term saltwater or combination products, then confirm CRC requirements with the charter operator.
Scenario B: Columbia River steelhead
Check the base license, CRC, and CRSSE pages for the current water and date.
Scenario C: Family trip with kids under 16
License exemptions do not automatically waive CRC paperwork.
Scenario D: Puget Sound Dungeness crab weekend
Check shellfish/seaweed privileges plus crab CRC rules before the trip.
Catch Record Card Reporting for Visitors
Out-of-state anglers are subject to the same CRC return rules as residents. Missing a deadline after you fly home can still trigger enforcement follow-up.
| Card type | Return timing (WDFW guidance) | Zero-catch rule |
|---|---|---|
| Fish CRC (salmon, steelhead, sturgeon) | Due by April 30 following the license year | Must return even with zero catch |
| Summer Puget Sound crab CRC | Due by Oct. 1 following the summer season | Must return even with zero catch |
| Winter/fall crab CRC | Due by Feb. 1 following the winter season | Must return even with zero catch |
| Halibut CRC | Follow WDFW halibut reporting guidance for the season | Confirm live reporting path at checkout |
For 2026–27, electronic CRCs (eCRCs) via MyWDFW and Fish Washington apps are available for mobile licensing customers. Paper CRCs must still be returned by deadline even if you also used eCRC for part of the season—follow WDFW’s current medium rules and do not invent a hybrid workflow.
Visitor tip: If you buy at a dealer on day one and mail fulfillment takes days, you may not have a CRC in possession when the bite turns on. Prefer mobile eCRC or an in-person dealer path when same-day CRC possession matters.
Vehicle Access Pass and Annual vs Short-Term Products
Many annual WDFW combination, freshwater, and saltwater products include a Vehicle Access Pass (VAP) for agency land and boat-launch access as defined in the published fee table. Short-term combination products historically do not include VAP the same way annual rows do.
| Product class | VAP signal (WDFW table framing) | Visitor planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Combination annual $170 | Includes VAP per published row | Useful if you will use WDFW access sites repeatedly |
| Freshwater annual $115.85 | Includes VAP per published row | Same access benefit; no marine privilege |
| Saltwater annual $81.70 | Includes VAP per published row | Marine-focused with access sites |
| 1/2/3-Day Combination | Typically no VAP like annual rows | Budget launch/access fees separately |
| Shellfish-only annual $47.39 | Check live row—may differ from combo VAP bundle | Clam/crab-only trips may still need access planning |
Do not assume Free Fishing Weekend waives CRC duties. WDFW materials note CRC requirements can still apply for CRC species even when license fees are waived on free-fishing events—confirm the current Free Fishing Weekend page before you leave CRCs at home.
Purchase Channels Compared
| Channel | Best for nonresidents when… | CRC same-day risk |
|---|---|---|
| FishHunt online | You plan ahead and can print or use mobile proof | Mail delay for paper CRC—use eCRC or dealer if fishing tomorrow |
| MyWDFW / Fish Washington apps | You want 2026 eCRC workflow | Low if eCRC appears in app before you leave |
| License dealers / WDFW offices | You need paper in hand today | Lowest for immediate possession |
| Phone | You cannot use web checkout | Confirm fulfillment timing with the agent |
Checkout checklist for visitors
- Confirm resident vs nonresident status (visitors always buy nonresident rows unless a published exemption applies, such as qualifying disabled veteran rate).
- Match water type: freshwater, saltwater, combination, shellfish, or razor clam—or short-term combo for ≤3 consecutive days.
- Add every CRC, crab endorsement, Halibut CRC, and CRSSE line your itinerary requires in one checkout when possible.
- For ages 16+, provide SSN as required by WDFW.
- Screenshot or print proof before ferry rides and remote beach days.
- Confirm eCRC entries in the app if you chose mobile licensing.
Nonresident Disabled Veteran and Qualifying Reduced Rates
Qualifying nonresident disabled veterans may purchase a Nonresident Disabled Veteran Combination at the resident combination rate ($74.37 in the published table)—not the $170 standard nonresident combination row. Eligibility follows WDFW/RCW reduced-rate disabled-veteran rules; bring VA documentation and do not assume every disability rating qualifies.
| Product | Standard nonresident | Qualifying disabled veteran |
|---|---|---|
| Combination | $170.00 | $74.37 (resident combination rate) |
| CRSSE, Halibut CRC, crab paths | Same stacking rules | Same stacking rules—reduced combo does not replace endorsements |
Reduced-rate combination still requires the same CRC and CRSSE stacking as any other qualifying license base.
Expanded FAQ
What is the cheapest way for a nonresident to fish Washington for one weekend?
Compare the current short-term product with any CRC or endorsement your species requires.
Can I buy a Washington license if I live in Oregon or Idaho?
Yes, but you use the nonresident row unless WDFW lists a specific exception.
Do I need CRSSE for Puget Sound salmon?
Check WDFW’s current CRSSE waters; it is a Columbia River-focused endorsement.
Does the Fish Washington resident package work for nonresidents?
Do not assume a resident package is available to visitors.
Can a license-exempt child fish halibut without paperwork?
Check WDFW’s CRC rules; youth exemptions do not automatically erase CRC requirements.
What happens if I forget to return a CRC after flying home?
Follow WDFW’s current CRC return or reporting rules.
Related Reading
- Washington Fishing License 2026
- Washington Catch Record Card
- Resident vs Nonresident Fishing License
- Short-Term Day Fishing License
- Fishing License Fees by State
- US Fishing License Guide 2026
Official sources checked: WDFW fishing license types and fees; WDFW catch record cards; WDFW Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement; WDFW Fish Hunt portal. Confirm the current WDFW fee, CRC, CRSSE, and short-term-license rules before buying.