Action: Opens a portion of the Cascade River to fishing seven days per week. Maintains previously announced bait prohibitions, single-point barbless hooks requirement for salmon on Cascade and Skagit rivers, and a reduced daily limit of two coho on the upper Skagit River. Updates temporary fishing closures scheduled for tribal fisheries on Skagit River.
Effective date: Immediately through Oct. 31, 2026.
Species affected: All species.
Specific locations and rules:
Cascade River from the mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge:
- Salmon open daily. Salmon daily limit is four coho. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait is prohibited and single-point barbless hooks are required for salmon.
- Gamefish open daily.
Skagit River from the mouth to the Gilligan Creek east of Sedro-Woolley:
- Salmon daily limit is two coho. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait is prohibited and single-point barbless hooks are required for salmon.
Skagit River from Gilligan Creek to the Baker River:
- Oct. 15: Closed to fishing for all species.
- Oct. 16–18: Salmon daily limit is two coho. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait is prohibited and single-point barbless hooks are required for salmon.
- Oct. 19–21: Closed to fishing for all species.
- Oct. 22–31: Salmon daily limit is two coho. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait is prohibited and single-point barbless hooks are required for salmon.
Skagit River from the Baker River to the Marblemount Bridge (Cascade River Road):
- Salmon daily limit is two coho. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait is prohibited and single-point barbless hooks are required for salmon.
Reason for action: Weekly closures for the lower Cascade River are no longer necessary because treaty fisheries for coho in this section of the river have concluded for the season. Bait and barbed hooks remain prohibited because the total incidental Chinook encounters have continued to accrue. Skagit summer–fall timed sport fisheries have now used more than 80% of available Chinook encounters. Proactive measures are warranted to reduce the likelihood of Chinook catch and decrease hook-and-release stress on Chinook. An additional temporary closure period in a portion of the Skagit River is necessary to avoid gear conflicts with scheduled tribal fisheries.
Additional information: This season has seen more Chinook caught during the coho sport fishery than has been observed since active in-season fall salmon fishery monitoring began in the Skagit River in 2021. To preserve the coho fishing opportunity, anglers are advised to avoid fishing in areas where Chinook are or are known to hold.
Anglers are also reminded to be sure to identify their catch before retaining a fish. Size is not a reliable indicator of salmon species. Numerous Chinook and pink salmon have been observed in catch this year that anglers had misidentified, thinking they were coho. Salmon identification guides are available on WDFW's website (PDF) and in fishing regulations.
Dolly Varden/bull trout remain closed to targeting or retention under the annual regulations, and a night closure is in effect in Skagit and Cascade rivers during open periods.
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.