Action: Closes all fishing.
Effective date: Oct. 24, 2026, until further notice.
Species affected: All species.
Location: Marine Area 2-1 (Willapa Bay).
Reason for action: This closure is necessary to improve the likelihood of meeting salmon conservation objectives. There are multiple factors affecting this decision. In-season fisheries monitoring indicates coho harvest is well below projection, indicating the 2026 return may be below preseason expectation. Additionally, below normal precipitation this summer and fall has led to low water conditions causing migrating Chinook and coho salmon to hold in near-shore marine areas and lower in the river systems, preventing them moving upstream to spawning grounds. While recent rains have allowed some salmon in the systems to move upstream, low water conditions continue to affect migratory behavior and contribute to concern about the status of Chinook and coho escapement.
Fishery managers will continue to monitor environmental conditions and status of salmon migration within the watershed and may reopen fisheries if conditions improve.
Additional information: 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: Coastal Region, 360-249-4628.