Title- Recreational Creel and Commercial Fishery Surveyor
Classification- Scientific Technician 2
Number of Vacancies- Three (3)
Job Status- Full-Time/Career Seasonal
Season Length- 10 Months – March 1 – December 31
For the 2026 season, these positions are anticipated to begin August 16, 2026.
WDFW Program- Fish Program – Columbia River Division
- Duty Station- Region 5 – Clark & Skamania Counties
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Multiple locations in Western Washington – apply for one (1) or all the positions listed below by submitting one (1) application!
Ridgefield, Washington – Clark County – Two (2) Positions
Stevenson, Washington – Skamania County – One (1) Position
Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!
Photo Caption: Creel Sampling Tag Detection – Photo Credit: WDFW
Are you passionate about the great outdoors and committed to promoting sustainable fishing opportunities? Join our team and turn your passion into a rewarding career.
With your fisheries knowledge and customer service skills, you will interview active anglers, sample fish and collect biological data, and conduct spawning ground surveys in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
The critical data you collect will be utilized to assess the impacts of sport and commercial fisheries on wild salmonid stocks in Washington State.
What to Expect-
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Recreational Creel and Commercial Fishery Surveyors will,
Conduct Recreational Angler Creel Surveys on the mainstem Lower Columbia River and its Tributaries:
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Interview individual and groups of anglers to collect information related to hours fished, number of fish harvested or released, natural versus hatchery origin, gear type employed, hooking location, and all other pertinent biological and tag sampling information required.
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Complete effort counts according to schedules and times.
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Perform counts of fish, collect coded wire tag (CWT) and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, scales, and other biological data.
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Implement and support electronic data capture using updated hardware, including iPads, tablets, or other handheld electronic devices.
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Review and download data into agency databases.
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Query snout inventory for all fishery projects and deliver snouts to laboratories for processing.
Conduct Treaty and Non-Treaty Commercial Sampling and Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery Observation:
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Travel to canneries, tribal in-lieu sites, and fish buyer facilities to lead and participate on crews conducting biological sampling on commercial landed catch (including collecting CWT and PIT Tags, DNA samples, scales and other biological data).
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Communicate with sampling staff regarding fish house sampling schedule and preparation of sampling gear.
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Maintain the quality of data collected and monitor snout collection inventory, communicating with both Washington and Oregon state staff regarding data and sample transfers.
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Assist with on-board commercial fishery observations, which may involve boat-to-boat transfers while on the water.
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Monitor marine mammals interacting with commercial fishery gears.
Conduct Spawning Ground Surveys and Hatchery Broodstock and Surplus Sampling:
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Conduct adult salmonid spawning ground surveys by boat or by foot on the Lower Columbia River and its tributaries, identify and enumerate adult salmonids (live and dead) and redds, use GPS devices to mark redd locations, and apply tags to carcasses for mark/recapture programs.
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Sample carcasses collected on spawning grounds for length, sex, CWT and PIT tags, and spawning success.
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Travel to hatchery locations to collect biological samples from broodstock and surplus fish using established protocols.
Working Conditions:
Work Setting, including hazards:
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Approximately 90% of work will be conducted in a field environment, with the remaining 10% of work occurring in an office or laboratory setting.
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Work outdoors in all weather conditions, including inclement weather, often on wet, slippery surfaces. Lift, with or without assistance, large, live and deceased fish, typically weighing up to 30 pounds and rarely over 100 pounds. Repetitively carry loads weighing up to 70 pounds for short distances over rough terrain.
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Walk up to six (6) miles per day over rough terrain, handle fish of varying dispositions (which may have strong odors), and climb in and out of motorized and non-motorized boats. Operate 17-to-22-foot jet-powered vessels in river conditions, which may include fast-moving, shallow water. Accurately record repetitive data under adverse environmental conditions for long periods of time.
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This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.
Schedule: 40 hours per week, 24/7 non-scheduled—work hours may be assigned at any time within a 24-hour period and shifts are not fixed, varying based on operational needs.
Travel Requirements: Daily travel from the duty station to and from field locations is required, as most duties are conducted in the field, with a departmental-issued vehicle (or personal vehicle if a department vehicle is unavailable). Overnight travel may be required.
Tools and Equipment: Basic hand and carpentry tools, winches, pulleys and blocks, motorized and non-motorized watercraft, 4x4 vehicles (with the ability to tow), 200-foot beach seines, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag injectors, PIT tag readers, coded wire tag (CWT) detectors, GPS units, weighing scales, snout knife, hemostats, mobile digital data collection devices, and agency computers.
Customer Interactions: Regularly interact with commercial fishers, members of the public, and personnel from WDFW and other agencies.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
Option 1: Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science
And
Two (2) years of experience as a Scientific Technician 1.
Option 2: Graduation from high school or GED including one (1) year of high school science
And
Two (2) years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist.
Please Note: College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field may substitute, year for year, for experience, provided course work includes at least six (6) semester or nine (9) quarter hours of natural science classes.
Certifications/Licenses:
Valid Driver’s License.
Preferred Qualifications:
In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:
One (1) or more years of professional experience in/with:
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Columbia River fisheries sampling.
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Kalama, Lewis, Wind, Little White Salmon (Drano Lake), and Klickitat River fisheries sampling.
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Identifying salmonids and other fish species in adult life stage.
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Identifying salmonid redds.
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Fish marking and tagging protocols.
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Fishery monitoring, observation, and general sampling techniques.
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Sport and commercial fishing gear types and methods.
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Basic operations of motorized vessels.
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Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, etc.).
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Operating Coded Wire Tag (CWT) and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag devices.
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Operating handheld GPS and data devices.
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Operating jet boats on the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Certifications:
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Motorboat Operator Certification Course or Motorboat Operator Training Course (MOCC/MOTC)
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Basic CPR/First Aid
Your application must include the following:
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A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
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An up-to-date resume.
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A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
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At least three professional references with current contact information.
In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.
Important Note:
All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Union - WAFWP:
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Professionals.
Veteran and Military Spouse Preference Notice:
Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:
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Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at [email protected].
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Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
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Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
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Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
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Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Request an accommodation: Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone 360-902-2278 or email
[email protected], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.
Technical Difficulties: If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or
[email protected].
Other questions: If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to
[email protected] and reference job #2026-05888.
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