July 17, 2015
July 17, 2015
Puget Sound Rivers and tributaries to close to fishing for salmon and other species or have abbreviated legal fishing hours
Actions: Close current seasons and scheduled future fishing seasons for salmon and/or other species in the Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Samish, and Nooksack river systems.
Species affected: All species.
Effective date: July 18, 2015, until further notice.
Locations:
Raging River (King Co.) From the mouth upstream closed to all fishing until further notice.
Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) From mouth upstream closed to all fishing, except the section around Reiter Ponds remains open from the Gold Bar/Big Eddy Access (Hwy. 2 Bridge) upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks until further notice.
North Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) From mouth upstream including all tributaries closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
South Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish/King Co.) From Sunset Falls upstream and all tributaries, including the Beckler, Foss, Miller and Rapid rivers and their tributaries closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Wallace River (Snohomish Co.). From the mouth upstream including all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
Stillaguamish River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From Marine Drive upstream including the North and South Forks and all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
South Fork Nooksack (Whatcom Co.) From the mouth to Skookum Creek, and from Wanlick Creek to headwaters including Wanlick and all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
Sauk River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From the confluence with the Suiattle River upstream including North Fork to the falls and South Fork to headwaters closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Suiattle River (Skagit Co.) Tributaries Buck, Downey and Sulpher Creeks closed to all fishing until further notice.
Samish River (Skagit Co.) From I-5 to headwaters and Friday Creek from mouth upstream closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Reason for action: Drought and the resulting low water flows have had detrimental impacts to these waters. Water temperatures in the rivers are exceeding the upper limit of tolerance for salmonids and native game fishes. Angling and handling of ESA listed and/or wild salmon at these temperatures further reduces survival after release. The daily “Hoot Owl” closures are intended to reduce angling pressure and potential fish mortality by removing angling during periods of the day when fish are stressed from elevated temperatures. In addition, some streams are closed to angling because of record low flows due to lack of winter snowpack and rainfall. Stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to angling, natural predation and poaching.
Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/freshwater_select.h
Information contacts: Annette Hoffmann, Region 4 Fish Program Manager, (425) 775-1311, Brett Barkdull, District 14 Fish Biologist, (360) 466-4345, Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311.
Puget Sound Rivers and tributaries to close to fishing for salmon and other species or have abbreviated legal fishing hours
Actions: Close current seasons and scheduled future fishing seasons for salmon and/or other species in the Snohomish, Stillaguamish, Samish, and Nooksack river systems.
Species affected: All species.
Effective date: July 18, 2015, until further notice.
Locations:
Raging River (King Co.) From the mouth upstream closed to all fishing until further notice.
Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) From mouth upstream closed to all fishing, except the section around Reiter Ponds remains open from the Gold Bar/Big Eddy Access (Hwy. 2 Bridge) upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks until further notice.
North Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish Co.) From mouth upstream including all tributaries closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
South Fork Skykomish River (Snohomish/King Co.) From Sunset Falls upstream and all tributaries, including the Beckler, Foss, Miller and Rapid rivers and their tributaries closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Wallace River (Snohomish Co.). From the mouth upstream including all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
Stillaguamish River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From Marine Drive upstream including the North and South Forks and all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
South Fork Nooksack (Whatcom Co.) From the mouth to Skookum Creek, and from Wanlick Creek to headwaters including Wanlick and all tributaries closed to all fishing until further notice.
Sauk River (Skagit/Snohomish Co.) From the confluence with the Suiattle River upstream including North Fork to the falls and South Fork to headwaters closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Suiattle River (Skagit Co.) Tributaries Buck, Downey and Sulpher Creeks closed to all fishing until further notice.
Samish River (Skagit Co.) From I-5 to headwaters and Friday Creek from mouth upstream closed to all fishing daily 2 PM to midnight until further notice.
Reason for action: Drought and the resulting low water flows have had detrimental impacts to these waters. Water temperatures in the rivers are exceeding the upper limit of tolerance for salmonids and native game fishes. Angling and handling of ESA listed and/or wild salmon at these temperatures further reduces survival after release. The daily “Hoot Owl” closures are intended to reduce angling pressure and potential fish mortality by removing angling during periods of the day when fish are stressed from elevated temperatures. In addition, some streams are closed to angling because of record low flows due to lack of winter snowpack and rainfall. Stream flows have fallen low enough to concentrate fish into small areas of refugia where they are highly susceptible to angling, natural predation and poaching.
Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/freshwater_select.h
Information contacts: Annette Hoffmann, Region 4 Fish Program Manager, (425) 775-1311, Brett Barkdull, District 14 Fish Biologist, (360) 466-4345, Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist, (425) 775-1311.