October 6, 2022
Grays Harbor watershed stream closures
Action: Closes all fishing.
Effective date: Beginning October 8, 2022, until further notice.
Species affected: All Species.
Locations (includes all tributaries to listed areas):
- Black River (Grays Harbor/Thurston Co.)
- Chehalis River (Grays Harbor Co.), mainstem from Fuller Bridge upstream, and all forks and tributaries from the mouth upstream.
- Cloquallum Creek (Grays Harbor/Mason Co.)
- Copalis River (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Elk River (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Hoquiam River including West and East forks (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Humptulips River including all forks (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Joe Creek (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Johns River (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Moclips River (Grays Harbor Co)
- Newaukum River, including all forks (Lewis Co.)
- Satsop River (Grays Harbor Co.), including all forks.
- Skookumchuck River (Lewis/Thurston Co.)
- Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor Co.)
- Wishkah River (Grays Harbor Co.), from the mouth to 200’ below the weir at the Wishkah Rearing Ponds and from 150’ upstream to 150’ downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary).
- Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor Co.)
Reason for action: These closures are necessary to protect salmon returning to coastal rivers. Fishing will reopen when flows increase, or stock assessment information suggests that salmon have resumed their upstream migration.
Additional information: This conservation measure follows regulation changes by comanagers for their respective fisheries. The National Park Service has closed their corresponding fisheries in associated waterbodies, as well.
Anglers can be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced by signing up for WDFW Regulation Updates at wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.
Information contact: Region 6 office, 360-249-4628