January 6, 2012
Action: Close rivers along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to fishing.
Species affected: All game fish.
Effective date: Feb. 1, 2012
Locations:
- Dungeness River: From mouth upstream to the forks at Dungeness Forks Campground.
- Morse Creek: From mouth to Port Angeles Dam.
- Salt Creek: From mouth to bridge on Highway 112.
- Deep Creek: From mouth upstream.
- Pysht River: From mouth upstream.
- Clallam River: From mouth upstream.
- Sekiu River: From mouth to forks.
Reasons for action: There is an unknown number of wild steelhead returning to these streams for the 2011-2012 season. Wild steelhead escapements to these waters over the past several years have shown a declining trend. These closures will reduce the incidental hooking mortalities of wild steelhead. Puget Sound wild steelhead populations are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
Other information: Rules re-opening fisheries along the Strait of Juan de Fuca rivers will be listed in the 2012/2013 Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet.
Information Contact: Mike Gross, District 16 Fish Biologist, (360) 249-4628, Mike.Gross@dfw.wa.gov; Randy Cooper, District 16 Fish Biologist, (360) 765-3979, Randy.Cooper@dfw.wa.gov; Kirt Hughes, Region 6 Fish Program Manager, (360) 249-4628, Kirt.Hughes@dfw.wa.gov.
Species affected: All game fish.
Effective date: Feb. 1, 2012
Locations:
- Dungeness River: From mouth upstream to the forks at Dungeness Forks Campground.
- Morse Creek: From mouth to Port Angeles Dam.
- Salt Creek: From mouth to bridge on Highway 112.
- Deep Creek: From mouth upstream.
- Pysht River: From mouth upstream.
- Clallam River: From mouth upstream.
- Sekiu River: From mouth to forks.
Reasons for action: There is an unknown number of wild steelhead returning to these streams for the 2011-2012 season. Wild steelhead escapements to these waters over the past several years have shown a declining trend. These closures will reduce the incidental hooking mortalities of wild steelhead. Puget Sound wild steelhead populations are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
Other information: Rules re-opening fisheries along the Strait of Juan de Fuca rivers will be listed in the 2012/2013 Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet.
Information Contact: Mike Gross, District 16 Fish Biologist, (360) 249-4628, Mike.Gross@dfw.wa.gov; Randy Cooper, District 16 Fish Biologist, (360) 765-3979, Randy.Cooper@dfw.wa.gov; Kirt Hughes, Region 6 Fish Program Manager, (360) 249-4628, Kirt.Hughes@dfw.wa.gov.