Action: Returns Stillaguamish River mainstem to permanent rules listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, opening salmon and game fish seasons. Maintains previously announced closure for North Fork Stillaguamish River.
Species affected: All species (coho salmon and gamefish).
Effective dates: Oct. 1-Nov. 1, 2026.
Location and rules:
- North Fork Stillaguamish, from the mouth to the Highway 530 bridge (Cicero bridge): Closed to fishing.
- Stillaguamish River, from Marine Drive upstream to the confluence of the North and South forks, including South Slough: Follows permanent rules listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Reason for action: Fall rains have increased river flows, allowing Chinook holding in the lower river to move upstream to spawning grounds, reducing risk of angler encounters in the mainstem Stillaguamish River. The lower North Fork Stillaguamish River remains closed to fishing to maintain Chinook impacts within management objectives due to Chinook spawning presence.
Additional information: Anglers were observed targeting salmon during the North Fork fly fishing season in early September, contributing to the necessity for the fishing closure. Fishery managers plan to reopen recreational fisheries when the majority of Chinook are no longer present in the North Fork. More information on Stillaguamish Chinook recovery and habitat restoration efforts is available on this WDFW webpage.
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 pamphlet 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.