WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action: Opens retention of hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead. Species affected: Chinook salmon and steelhead; all species (see below, bank fishing only). Location: Lewis River (Clark/Cowlitz County).                                                                                        Effective dates, specific locations, and rules: Lewis River from the mouth to Johnson Creek: May 25 through July 31, 2024. Salmon:  Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is six (6) hatchery Chinook … Read more

Action: Modifies the salmon harvest rules to allow retention of adipose fin-clipped adult Chinook salmon. Effective date: May 25 through July 31, 2024. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Cowlitz River from the mouth to the fishing boundary signs below the Barrier Dam. Rule: Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is six (6) including no more than one (1) adult. Release all … Read more

Action: Extends the mainstem spring Chinook season below Bonneville Dam. Species affected: Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead Locations, dates, and rules:   Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point upstream to Beacon Rock. The legal upstream boat boundary is a deadline marker on the Oregon bank (approximately four miles downstream from Bonneville Dam Powerhouse One) in a straight line through … Read more

Action: Extends spring Chinook season.  Species affected: Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead Effective dates: May 24-27 and June 12-15, 2024 Location: Deep River (Wahkiakum County) Rule: Salmon and steelhead daily limit six, up to two adults may be retained of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead. Salmon … Read more

Action: Opens a portion of the Cascade River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook, Wednesdays through Saturdays.    Effective date: May 29 through July 15, 2024. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Cascade River (Skagit County) from mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge.  Rules:  Open Wednesdays through Saturdays only.  Daily limit four (4) hatchery Chinook including no more than two (2) … Read more

Action: Opens portions of the Skagit River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook.   Effective date: Immediately through July 15, 2024. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Locations, rules and specific dates:   Skagit River (Skagit County) from the Highway 536 bridge (Memorial Highway Bridge) in Mount Vernon to Gilligan Creek: Immediately through May 31, 2024: Open for salmon fishing only. All other … Read more

Action: Open salmon fishing season. Effective date: June 5 through June 30, 2024. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) except Commencement Bay, see additional information below. Rules: Open Wednesday through Saturday of each week. Closed Sunday through Tuesday of each week. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size. Daily limit is two … Read more

Action: Re-opens salmon seasons under permanent rules as listed in the 2023/2024 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Effective date: Immediately. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) all waters south of northernmost Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Reason for action: Marine Area 13 salmon fisheries can be reopened consistent with the preseason fishing plans. Federal Endangered Species Act consultations … Read more

Action: Opens salmon fishing in Tulalip Terminal Area Fishery. Effective date: May 24 through Sept. 2, 2024. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Tulalip Terminal Area are waters west of Tulalip Bay and within 2,000 feet of shore from the pilings at Old Bower’s Resort to a fishing boundary marker approximately 1.4 miles northwest of Hermosa Point and not including waters east … Read more

Action: Closes all fishing.  Species affected:All species. Effective dates and locations: Mainstem Nooksack River from Lummi Indian Reservation boundary to confluence of North and South Forks: May 25 through July 31, 2024. North Fork Nooksack River from the Highway 9 Bridge to Nooksack Falls: May 25 through Sept. 30, 2024. Middle Fork Nooksack River from the mouth to the … Read more