Stillaguamish River to close to all fishing Oct. 9
Action: Closes recreational fishing in the mainstem Stillaguamish River.
Effective date: Oct. 9 – Nov. 1, 2026.
Species affected: All species.
Locations: Stillaguamish River from Marine Drive (south of Stanwood) upstream to the forks at the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork Stillaguamish rivers near Arlington.
Rules: Closed to fishing.
Reason for action: Preliminary monitoring data indicates Stillaguamish River sport fisheries are at the allowable number of Chinook encounters for this year's salmon season.
By Nov. 2, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) expects the majority of Chinook to no longer be present in the river system and sport fisheries will resume under the regulations listed in the 2026 – 2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules.
Additional information: The lower North Fork Stillaguamish River, from the mouth to the Highway 530 Bridge (Cicero Bridge) remains closed to fishing as previously announced.
The upper North Fork Stillaguamish River from the Highway 530 Bridge to North Fork Falls is closed to all fishing until Nov. 1 under the annual fishing rules.
The South Fork Stillaguamish River from the mouth to the Mountain Loop Highway Bridge above Granite Falls is closed to all fishing until Nov. 1 under the annual fishing rules.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the Washington Sport Fishing Rules for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: North Puget Sound Region, 425-775-1311.
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the Washington Sport Fishing Rules for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.
Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.