Washington Coast Winter Fishing Seasons Announced

Editor’s note: Updated 4:57 p.m., November 30, 2022, at bottom with WDFW rule change notice details

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today their final approach for the 2022-2023 coastal steelhead season, following another year of low coastal steelhead returns to Washington’s coast.

The upcoming season is structured similarly to last year’s fishery, particularly in the Hoh River and the Willapa Bay tributaries. Some increased opportunity, relative to last season, includes an extension of late season coho fishing in select waters in the Chehalis River through Friday, Dec. 16, and increased opportunity to fish from a boat in the Sol Duc River. The season also includes added protections in the Bogachiel River.

“With similar forecasts to recent past years, we remain committed to designing fisheries that strike a balance between conservation and the angling opportunity that we’re hearing that people want, particularly around late-season coho and fishing from a boat,” said Kelly Cunningham, WDFW fish program director.

Fishing will open on the Hoh River and Willapa Bay tributaries Dec. 1 through March 31 with selective gear rules, including single point barbless hook. Fishing from a floating device will be prohibited. There is a hatchery steelhead bag limit of two and anglers must release wild rainbow trout.

The Quillayute River System will follow similar rules as last year’s emergency regulations, aside from expanded boat fishing in the Sol Duc River. Fishing from a floating device will be allowed in the mainstem Quillayute and below Maxfield boat ramp on the Sol Duc River, below the Highway 101 bridge on the Calawah River, and downstream of the mouth of Mill Creek on the Bogachiel River which is about 3/4 mile above the Bogachiel Hatchery.

Sport fishing will close in sections of the Quinault and Queets rivers managed by WDFW, Dec. 1 through April 30 due to chronic low wild steelhead abundance and failure to reach agreement on an acceptable level of wild steelhead harvest. WDFW is still pursuing agreement with tribal co-managers through signed fishery management plans in these systems. WDFW will announce any progress toward signed management plans this fall and winter. For more information on coastal steelhead fisheries, visit the Olympic National Park news release webpage.

Portions of the Humptulips and Chehalis rivers will open Dec. 1 to Dec. 16 to provide opportunity for coho salmon fishing while supporting steelhead conservation objectives.

For more information, reference the WDFW emergency fishing rule change webpage.

Final fishing regulations followed an extensive public engagement process, which included a three-part virtual town hall series in fall 2022 and several WDFW staff updates to the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

This December, the Department is also wrapping up its Coastal Steelhead Proviso Implementation Plan. As required in the 2021-2023 legislative budget, the Legislature directed the Department to develop a plan to provide sustainable angling opportunity while protecting steelhead for each river system of Grays Harbor, Willapa Bay, and coastal Olympic Peninsula. The draft was informed with feedback from WDFW’s Ad-Hoc Coastal Steelhead Advisory Group, which met publicly throughout 2022, an online public comment portal, as well as public comments the Department received during a public comment period this November.

WDFW staff will provide a briefing on the Coastal Steelhead Proviso Implementation Plan to the Fish and Wildlife Commission during its Dec. 8-10 hybrid meeting in Clarkston. More information will be available on the Commission web page. Following the Commission briefing, the Department will submit the plan to the Legislature in December.

Pending funding from the Legislature, WDFW anticipates plan implementation will begin with the 2023-2024 coastal steelhead season.

WDFW continues to operate under its Statewide Steelhead Management Plan, which requires the Department to prioritize the sustainability of wild coastal steelhead runs by focusing on healthy levels of abundance, productivity, diversity, and distribution.

For more information about coastal steelhead management, the pre-season planning process, and recordings of prior public meetings, please visit WDFW’s website.

THE FOLLOWING IS A RULE CHANGE NOTICE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

November 30, 2022

Action:  Updates rules for coastal tributaries regarding fishing seasons for both gamefish and salmon, fishing from a floating device, Selective Gear Rules (Selective Gear Rules prohibit the use of bait including scents or scented materials) with only one single-point barbless hook allowed in all areas open to fishing and requires release of wild rainbow trout. Reduces steelhead daily limit for the Quillayute system (Bogachiel, Quillayute, Calawah, Sol Duc) and Hoh River. 

Effective date:  Dec. 1, 2022, until further notice; except Palix River upstream of the Middle Fork is not open to fishing until Dec. 16 and Big River is not open for fishing until Jan. 1, 2023.

Species affected:  All species.

Rules:

All species:  Fishing from a floating device is prohibited except where otherwise noted in the Quillayute River system. Selective Gear Rules in effect, except only one single-point barbless hook is allowed.

Hatchery steelhead daily limit is 2.

Rainbow trout:  Release all wild rainbow trout.

Locations (the following waters will follow the above rules and will close to ALL fishing until further notice beginning on the date listed next to the water; any exceptions to the rule will also be listed next to the water):

• Bear River (Pacific Co.): Closed beginning March 1, 2022.
• Big River (Clallam Co.), outside Olympic National Park:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Black River (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to bridge on 128^th Ave SW: Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Bogachiel River (Clallam Co.), from the mouth to Olympic National Park boundary:  Fishing from a floating device is allowed downstream of the mouth of Mill Creek (located approximately ¾ mi. above the Bogachiel Hatchery). Closed beginning April 1, 2023. See vessel fishing boundaries HERE.
• Calawah River, (Clallam Co.), from the mouth to the forks:  Fishing from a floating device is allowed downstream of Highway 101 Bridge. Closed beginning April 1, 2023.  See vessel fishing boundaries HERE.

• Calawah River, South Fork (Clallam Co.), from the mouth to Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Cedar Creek (Jefferson Co.), from the mouth to Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Chehalis River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth upstream to the WDFW Oakville boat launch:  Closed beginning Dec. 16, 2022
• Chehalis River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the WDFW Oakville boat launch upstream, including all forks:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022
• Clearwater River (Jefferson Co.), from the mouth to Snahapish River:  Closed October 8, 2022 and will remain closed, until further notice.
• Cloquallum Creek (Grays Harbor/Mason Co.), from the mouth to the outlet at Stump Lake:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Copalis River (Grays Harbor Co.):  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Dickey River (Clallam Co.), from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream including  the East and West forks:  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Elk Creek (Lewis/Pacific Co.):  Closed beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
• Elk River (Grays Harbor Co.):  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Fork Creek (Pacific Co.), from Fork Creek Hatchery rack upstream 500 feet at fishing boundary sign: Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Goodman Creek (Jefferson Co.), outside of Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Hoh River (Jefferson Co.), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to Olympic National Park boundary below mouth of South Fork Hoh:  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Hoh River, South Fork (Jefferson Co.), outside of Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Hoquiam River including West and East forks (Grays Harbor Co.):  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Humptulips River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to the Hwy 101 bridge:  Closed beginning Dec. 16, 2022.
• Humptulips River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the Hwy 101 bridge to confluence of East and West forks and West Fork from mouth to Donkey Creek:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022
• Joe Creek (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to Ocean Beach Rd. Bridge:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Johns River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth (Hwy. 105 Bridge) to Ballon Creek:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Kalaloch Creek (Jefferson Co.), outside Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Moclips River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to Quinault Indian Reservation boundary:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Mosquito Creek (Jefferson Co.), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to Goodman 30000 Mainline Bridge:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Naselle River (Pacific Co.), from the Hwy. 101 Bridge to the North Fork:  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Naselle River, South (Pacific Co.), from the mouth to Bean Creek:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Nemah River, Middle (Pacific Co.):  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Nemah River, North (Pacific Co.), from Hwy. 101 Bridge to Cruiser Creek:  Closed beginning  March 1, 2023.
• Nemah River, South (Pacific Co.):  Closed beginning  March 1, 2023.
• Newaukum River, including South Fork (Lewis Co.), from mouth to Hwy. 508 Bridge near Kearny Creek:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Newaukum River, Middle Fork (Lewis Co.), from mouth to Taucher Rd. Bridge:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Newaukum River, North (Lewis Co.), from mouth to 400’ below Chehalis City water intake:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• North River (Grays Harbor/Pacific Co.), from the Hwy. 105 bridge to Raimie Creek:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Palix River (Pacific Co.):  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Queets River (Grays Harbor/Jefferson Co.):  Contact Olympic National Park for regulations.  (360) 565-3000. www.nps.gov/olym/fishing.htm
• Quillayute River (Clallam Co.), from Olympic National Park boundary upstream to confluence of Sol Duc and Bogachiel rivers:  Fishing from a floating device is allowed. Closed beginning April 1, 2023.   
• Quinault River, Upper (Grays Harbor/Jefferson Co.), from the mouth at upper end of Quinault Lake upstream to Olympic National Park boundary:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Salmon River (Jefferson Co.), from outside Quinault Indian Reservation and Olympic National Park:  Closed October 8, 2022 and will remain closed, until further notice.
• Satsop River and East Fork (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park, and from 400’ below Bingham Creek Hatchery dam to the dam and all Forks:  Closed beginning Dec. 16, 2022.
• Satsop River Middle and West forks (Grays Harbor Co.): Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Skookumchuck River (Lewis/Thurston Co.), from mouth to 100’ below outlet of TransAlta WDFW steelhead rearing pond located at the base of Skookumchuck Dam:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Smith Creek (near North River) (Pacific Co.): Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Sol Duc River (Clallam Co.), from mouth to Hwy. 101 Bridge upstream of Klahowya campground:  Fishing from a floating device allowed below the WDFW Maxfield boat launch.  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Sooes River (Clallam Co.), outside of Makah Indian Reservation:  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Stevens Creek (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to Hwy 101 Bridge: Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022
• Thunder Creek (Clallam Co.), from mouth to D2400 Rd.: Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor Co.), from mouth to 400’ below outlet of Lake Aberdeen Hatchery:  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Willapa River (Pacific Co.), from mouth (City of South Bend boat launch) to Hwy. 6 Bridge (near the town of Lebam):  Closed beginning April 1, 2023.
• Willapa River, South Fork (Pacific Co.):  Closed beginning March 1, 2023.
• Wishkah River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to 200’ below the weir at the Whishkah Rearing Ponds and from 150’ upstream to 150’ downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary):  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.
• Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor Co.):  Closed beginning Dec. 1, 2022.

 Information contact:  Region 6 – Montesano Office, 360-249-4628