Recreational halibut fishing to open for additional days in coastal areas

  Action: Opens recreational halibut fishing on Saturday, June 15 in Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push). Opens recreational halibut fishing Thursday, June 20 in Marine Area 2 (Westport) and Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco and Chinook). Opens the nearshore area in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco and Chinook) seven days per week beginning …

Barbless hooks to become voluntary on much of Columbia River and tributaries

  OLYMPIA – Anglers on a large portion of the Columbia River and many of its tributaries will no longer be required to use barbless hooks when fishing for salmon and steelhead beginning June 1. In March, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission directed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to make the …

Additional public meeting planned to discuss sturgeon regulations in Washington

  OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled an additional public meeting in Montesano to discuss possible changes to sturgeon regulations, including a night closure on the Chehalis River. The first meeting was held in The Dalles, Oregon on May 22. Upcoming meetings scheduled by WDFW and the Oregon Department …

WDFW seeks public input on sturgeon fishing regulations

Photo courtesy of Oregon Fishing Guides Columbia River Fishing Adventures   OLYMPIA – State fish managers are hosting a series of public meetings in May and June to discuss sturgeon fishing regulations in Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have scheduled public meetings …

Invasive Northern Pike Threaten Columbia River salmon and steelhead stocks.

  Northern pike are some of the most troubling aquatic invasive species in the Northwest. So far, they haven’t made it past Washington’s Lake Roosevelt. Two dams stand in their way. And lots of people trying to stop them. If the fish make it past Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River, they could greatly harm imperiled salmon downstream. …

Skykomish River set to open for Hatchery Chinook

  WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE     The Skykomish River to open May 25 to fishing for hatchery chinook salmon   Action:  The Skykomish River will open to fishing for hatchery chinook salmon on May 25 (the Saturday before Memorial Day) to coincide with the gamefish season.  Effective dates:  May 25 through July 31, 2019. Species affected:  Hatchery …

Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement no longer required beginning July 1st

  OLYMPIA – Anglers who fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River basin will no longer be required to purchase an endorsement to do so beginning July 1. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has collected an $8.75 annual fee – known as the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement – …

Third weekend opening planned for Columbia River spring chinook fishery below Bonneville Dam

  OLYMPIA – For the third weekend in a row, a section of the lower Columbia River will reopen for two days of recreational spring chinook salmon fishing beginning Saturday, state fishery managers announced today. The initial spring chinook fishing period from Bonneville Dam downriver to Warrior Rock closed at midnight Wednesday, April 10, then …

WDFW and Corp work to restore vital salmon habitat on the Duckabash River

  OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are moving forward with a 38-acre estuary restoration project on Hood Canal. Estuaries in Puget Sound and Hood Canal are critical habitat for Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed chum and Chinook salmon, a key prey of southern resident killer …

Dam “Spill” Expected to Boost Columbia River Salmon and Benefit Orcas

  More spring Chinook may return as adult salmon in a few years thanks to a new agreement negotiated by federal agencies, states, and tribes to test an innovative dam operation plan. Some estimates indicate that the new operation may produce an additional 10,000–60,000 adult spring Chinook per year. While adult salmon returns will also …