OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers on Wednesday announced regulations for the state’s 2024-25 coastal steelhead season.
Most major steelhead fishing areas are scheduled to be open from Dec. 2 through March 31. Notable exceptions include:
Queets River within Olympic National Park (upstream of Clearwater Road bridge/Quinault Indian Nation boundary) will close Dec. 16.
Humptulips River upstream of Highway 101 including all forks will close Jan. 2. Humptulips River (mouth to Highway 101 bridge) will close Feb. 3.
Willapa River section from mouth (City of South Bend boat launch) to the WDFW access site at the mouth of Ward/Wilson creeks will close Feb. 1.
Clearwater River (Quinault Indian Nation boundary to Snahapish River) and Salmon River (mouth to Quinault Indian Nation boundary) will close March 1.
Chehalis River (mouth to confluence with Skookumchuck River), Wynoochee River (mouth to 7400 Road bridge), Satsop River (mouth to Schafer State Park bridge on East Fork Satsop), and Skookumchuck River will close March 1. All other Grays Harbor and Chehalis Basin tributaries will close Jan. 2.
“It’s great to see increased wild steelhead forecasts for most coastal rivers, although we still have work to do to rebuild these runs for current and future generations,” said WDFW Fish Program Director Kelly Cunningham. “Our balanced approach this season includes earlier closures than initially proposed while providing meaningful fishing opportunities.”
Selective gear rules (no bait) and a single-point barbless hook are required this season for coastal steelhead rivers including those in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and along the mid- and northern coasts. The daily bag limit for all rivers and streams is two hatchery steelhead, and anglers must release wild steelhead and rainbow trout. Anglers may not remove wild steelhead fully from the water prior to release.
Additional emergency fishing rule changes could occur throughout the season.
The Clallam County and Jefferson County areas listed are open Dec. 2 through March 31, 2025, unless noted otherwise.
Big River (Clallam Co.). Does not open for fishing until Jan. 1. Closes March 1.
Bogachiel River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the mouth of Mill Creek (located approximately three-quarters of a mile above the Bogachiel Hatchery).
Calawah River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the Highway 101 Bridge. See vessel fishing boundaries.
Calawah River, South Fork (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
Cedar Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Dickey River, including East and West forks (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
Goodman Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Hoh River (Jefferson Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the boat launch at Morgans Crossing.
Hoh River, South Fork (Jefferson Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
Kalaloch Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Mosquito Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Quillayute River (Clallam Co.).
Sol Duc River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device prohibited upstream of the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery.
Sooes River (Tsoo-Yess River. Clallam Co.). Upstream of Makah Reservation boundary closes March 1. See Makah Tribe fishing regulations and permit requirements for fishing on Makah Reservation.
Thunder Creek (Clallam Co.). Closes March 1.
Clearwater River (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Queets River (Jefferson Co.). Closes Dec. 16. People should review Olympic National Park fishing regulations for additional details.
Quinault River, Upper (Grays Harbor/Jefferson Co.). From mouth at Lake Quinault to North Shore Road bridge) closes March 31.
Salmon River (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
Anglers will be able to fish from a floating device on the lower and middle sections of the Hoh River below the boat launch at Morgans Crossing. The 2023-2024 season marked the first time since 2020 that boat fishing was allowed on certain days. Upper sections of the Hoh River have been closed to fishing from a floating device since 2016. The South Fork of the Hoh River will also be closed to fishing from a floating device.
Fishing from a floating device will be allowed on the Quillayute River, Bogachiel River below the mouth of Mill Creek (above the hatchery), Calawah River below the Highway 101 bridge, and Sol Duc River below the concrete pump station at the hatchery. It is prohibited (boats allowed for transportation only) on other sections of these rivers and on the Dickey River.
Chase Gunnell/WDFW A wild steelhead held in the water on a coastal Washington river.
