WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action: Opens fishing with no size restrictions or daily limit for all species. Species affected: All species Location: Fish Lake (Spokane County) Effective dates: Immediately through Oct. 17, 2026. Rules: Open for fishing with no size restriction or daily limit for all species. Fishing from a vessel equipped with an internal combustion engine is prohibited. … Read more

Action: Closes game fish angling in Stevens Creek. Effective date: Sept. 1–30, 2026. Species affected: Game fish Locations: Stevens Creek in Grays Harbor County from the mouth to the U.S. Highway 101 Bridge. Rules: Closed to fishing. Reason for actions: Humptulips Salmon Hatchery broodstock goals have not been met in three of the last four … Read more

Action: Closes salmon fishing. Effective dates: Aug. 31, 2026, until further notice. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Entiat River (Chelan County) from the mouth (railroad bridge) to the Mad River Road Bridge crossing the Entiat River (near Ardenvoir). Reason for action: Angler success and participation has declined sharply, likely due to lack of chinook salmon … Read more

Action: Allows salmon legally caught in Canada and Marine Areas east of Sekiu River (Marine Areas 5-13) to be transported through Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) and landed in Neah Bay. Maintains salmon closure in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). Effective date: Aug. 26–Sept. 30, 2026. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). … Read more

Action: Rescinds requirement for bait or lure to be suspended below a float, except when trolling from a floating device, beginning Oct. 15. Effective dates: Oct. 15–31, 2026 Species affected: All species. Location: Naselle River, from the confluence of the South Fork upstream to the Highway 4 bridge. Reason for action: The end date for … Read more

Action: Beginning Sept. 1, the Quillayute River is closed to all recreational fishing Mondays and Tuesdays through Sept. 8 and then closed on Mondays through Oct. 12. Effective dates: Sept. 1, Sept. 7–8, Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28, Oct. 5, and Oct. 12, 2026. Species affected: All species Location: Quillayute River (Clallam County), from … Read more

Action: Closes salmon fishing and prohibits possession of salmon onboard a vessel. Effective date: Aug. 25–Sept. 30, 2026. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Waters of Marine Area 1 Reason for action: Marine Area 1 is expected to reach its coho quota by the end of the day Monday, Aug. 24. Additional information: Columbia River Control Zone … Read more

Action: Closes salmon fishing, and prohibits possession of salmon onboard a vessel. Effective date: Aug. 24–Sept. 30, 2026. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 4 Reason for action: Marine Area 4 is expected to reach its coho quota by the end of the day Sunday, Aug. 23. Additional information: Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign … Read more

Action: Modifies Chinook retention regulations from Buoy 10 to the west end of Puget Island. Species affected: Salmon. Effective date: Aug. 25–Sept. 2, 2026. Locations and rules:  From a north-south line through Buoy 10 to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line (a projected line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to … Read more

Action: Closes all fishing. Effective dates: Sept. 16–Oct. 31, 2026. Species affected: All species. Location: Green (Duwamish) River, from Auburn Black Diamond Road Bridge to the Tacoma Municipal Boundary Marker. Reason for action: This rule change is necessary to limit impacts to critical Chinook spawning grounds when Chinook salmon are actively spawning in the area. … Read more