Creel Surveyor - Field Fisheries Data Technician

Washington Department of Natural Resources; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Dayton, Washington seeks a Creel Surveyor (Scientific Technician 2) for the 2026 season to monitor Snake River fisheries and collect biological data. This full-time/career seasonal role runs 9.5 months, December 1, 2026 to May 31.

You will conduct creel surveys, identify species, collect samples, read tags, record data, and enter results into databases. Field work is outdoor and office-based, with long days, travel, and weekend or holiday shifts.

Qualifications

• Basic biology or natural sciences coursework may substitute for experience.
• Experience in field-based data collection is a plus.
• Proficiency with data entry and databases is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct creel surveys for steelhead and Chinook fisheries.
• Identify fish species in southeast Washington.
• Collect biological data and samples (sex, length, origin, scales).
• Read coded wire tag (CWT) and PIT tags; recover/read tags.
• Record and tabulate survey data; maintain field equipment.

Skills

Field data collection

Biology basics

Data entry

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

CWT readers

PIT tag readers

Job description

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Dayton, Washington seeks a Creel Surveyor (Scientific Technician 2) for the 2026 season to monitor Snake River fisheries and collect biological data. This full-time/career seasonal role runs 9.5 months, December 1, 2026 to May 31.

You will conduct creel surveys, identify species, collect samples, read tags, record data, and enter results into databases. Field work is outdoor and office-based, with long days, travel, and weekend or holiday shifts.