WA commercial fishery license bonds.
From $100. Enter your amount.

A Washington wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller must deposit a performance bond with the Department of Fish and Wildlife before buying or selling fish, under RCW 77.65.320. The wholesale fish buyer’s bond is $2,000, plus $1,000 for each additional buyer, and a limited fish seller’s bond is $1,000 — premium is 2% of your bond amount, $100 minimum. Your exact price appears at the application.

Required for a wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller under RCW 77.65.320
Amount is $2,000 base, plus $1,000 per additional buyer your business engages
Premium from $100 — enter your required bond amount and see your exact price
2% rate$100 minimumInstantapproval for mostNo credit review at the standard amountnot even a soft pull at the standard amount
Trusted by industry leaders
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
NYCEDC
BDG
Capital
McKinney
Terra
JLL
Triple Five
Georgetown
How it works

Apply to filed in one sitting.

No underwriting queue for the standard fish buyer bond — enter your amount, pay, and file with WDFW. Here is the whole thing:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply online

Your business details, the bond amount your buyer count requires, and the effective date — that is the entire application. The form collects no credit information at the standard amount.

INSTANTLY

Issued on the spot

Most applications approve instantly and the executed bond is generated as soon as you pay.

SAME DAY

File with WDFW

Deposit the executed bond on the form WDFW prescribes, before engaging in fish buying or selling. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the department insists.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the fish buyer bond actually covers

The Department of Fish and Wildlife licenses commercial fish buying and selling, and RCW 77.65.320 requires a wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller to deposit a performance bond before engaging in those activities. The bond is a corporate surety bond executed in favor of the department.

The amount is $2,000 for the wholesale business, and is increased by $1,000 for each additional buyer the business engages. The bond stands behind the licensee’s obligations to the state — including amounts owed for fish purchased and compliance with the commercial fishery laws.

In lieu of a surety bond, the statute lets a licensee post a cash deposit, acceptable negotiable securities, or an assignment of a Washington bank savings account. A surety bond is usually cheaper — you pay the 2% premium rather than tying up the full amount in cash.

RCW 77.65.320RCW 77.65.320 requires a wholesale fish buyer or limited fish seller to file a corporate surety performance bond with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, executed in favor of the department. The wholesale fish buyer bond is $2,000, increased by $1,000 for each additional buyer engaged by the wholesale business; the limited fish seller bond is $1,000. Cash, negotiable securities, or a bank account assignment may be filed in lieu of the bond. Confirm your required amount with WDFW.

You need this bond if you are

A wholesale fish dealer or buyer purchasing food fish or shellfish in Washington
A limited fish seller required to post a performance bond with WDFW
Adding buyers that increase your required amount by $1,000 each
Renewing your commercial license and re-filing the performance bond

One application, issued on the spot.

Submit the application with your required bond amount — the executed performance bond is generated instantly, ready to deposit with WDFW.

Start the application →
FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Washington fish buyer bond?Premium is 2% of your bond amount, with a $100 minimum. The amount is $2,000 base plus $1,000 per additional buyer. Enter your figure at the application and your exact price appears.
How is the bond amount calculated?It is $2,000 for the wholesale business, plus $1,000 for each additional buyer the business engages. A two-buyer operation is $3,000; a four-buyer operation is $5,000. Confirm the count with WDFW.
Can I post cash instead of a bond?Yes — RCW 77.65.320 lets you file a cash deposit, negotiable securities, or an assignment of a Washington bank savings account in lieu of the bond. A surety bond is usually cheaper, since you pay 2% of the bond amount rather than tying up the full amount.
Is there a credit check?The application collects no credit information at the standard amount, and most applications approve instantly.
Where do I file it?With the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, on the form the department prescribes, before you begin buying or selling fish. We issue the executed bond ready to deposit.
Related bonds

Other Washington bonds.

Fish buyer bond, issued today.

Premium from $100. Enter your required amount and file with WDFW the same day.

Your premiumfrom $100
Apply now →