Salmon Rule Changes: Sol Duc, Quilly, Whatcom, Snohomish, Skykomish

THE FOLLOWING ARE RULE CHANGE NOTICES FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Salmon seasons on Snohomish and Skykomish extended to Sept. 26 

Action:  Extend recreational salmon seasons by one week. 

Effective date: Sept. 20 through Sept. 26, 2021 

Species affected: Pink salmon and hatchery coho salmon. 

Location: Snohomish and Skykomish Rivers. 

Rule: Salmon daily limit 4. Min. size 12”. Release all salmon other than pinks and hatchery coho.  

Reason for action: In-season update model indicates additional allowable encounters of non-target species (wild coho and Chinook) during pink opening. 

Additional information: All other regulations continue to apply. See the 2021-22 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, available at https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing. 

Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers to reopen

Action: Reopen the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers to fishing.

Effective date: Sept. 22, 2021, until further notice.

Species affected: All species.

Rules: Rules are as described in the 2021-2022 Washington Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet.

Locations:

• Quillayute River (Clallam Co.), from Olympic National Park Boundary upstream to confluence of Bogachiel and Sol Duc rivers.
• Sol Duc River (Clallam Co.), from mouth to the Olympic National Park Boundary.

Reason for action:

The opening of fisheries on the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers was delayed to protect wild summer coho expected to return at an abundance of less than 300 adults. The Quillayute watershed has been experiencing record low flows and increased caution was needed to reduce impact from fisheries as coho stage in the lower river. There is rain in the forecast over the weekend and river levels are expected to rise enough to draw coho upriver from staging areas in the lower river.

Additional information:

The Quileute Tribe will also be reopening fisheries on Monday. Please note that the Quillayute River is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in September to avoid gear conflicts with tribal net fisheries. The tribe will also be fishing in the Quillayute River on Wednesdays in September. Please be respectful of tribal fishermen exercising treaty rights.

Please see the 2020-21 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional rules or visit the WDFW website atwdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations and continue to check for emergency regulations in the affected area.

Whatcom Creek to open for Chinook Saturdays through Mondays  

Action: Opens hatchery Chinook salmon retention.  

Effective date: Sept. 18 through Sept. 27, 2021. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays only. Closed to all species Tuesdays through Fridays.  

Species affected: Chinook salmon. 

Location: Whatcom Creek(Whatcom Co): From the mouth (a line from the flashing light at the southwest end of the Port of Bellingham North Terminal to the southernmost point of the dike surrounding the Georgia Pacific treatment pond) to the markers downstream of the footbridge that is downstream of Dupont Street. Catch record card code: (884) 

Rule: 

·         Daily limit: 1 hatchery Chinook only. Minimum size 12”. Release all other salmon. 

·         Night closure in effect. 

·         Anti-snagging rule in effect. 

·         Area is closed to all State recreational fishing Tuesdays through Fridays.  

Reason for action: Chinook released at the Whatcom Fish Hatchery to aid southern resident killer whales and support harvest programs have returned to Whatcom Creek in harvestable numbers.  

Additional information: All salmon not to be retained as part of the daily limit should be immediately released unharmed. 

This fishery is possible through the combined efforts of WDFW, Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe as well as Bellingham Technical College fisheries and aquaculture sciences staff and students. Closure days are so that all comanagers fishers and anglers may participate in this opportunity without gear conflicts.