March 7, 2025
Two days of Eulachon smelt openers approved for the lower Cowlitz River
Action: Opens two days of Eulachon smelt retention in the lower Cowlitz River.
Rules: Daily limit is 10lbs only. Harvesters may use handheld dipnets only. It is unlawful to harvest smelt from a vessel.
Effective date: From 8:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12 and Saturday, March 15 only.
Species affected: Eulachon smelt.
Location: Cowlitz River, from Hwy. 432 Bridge to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp (located approximately 1,300 feet upstream of the Hwy. 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock.
Reason for action: Landings from the mainstem Columbia River commercial fishery indicate the Eulachon smelt run size is large enough to approve these recreational openings, per guidance from the 2023 Washington and Oregon Eulachon Management Plan. The recreational fishery also serves as an important opportunity to collect additional biological data.
Additional information: A recreational fishing license is required. Each harvester must be actively participating, and all smelt caught must be retained up to the daily limit. In the field, it is unlawful for each person harvesting smelt to fail to use a separate container to hold their catch and the container must be in the harvester's presence or identified with the harvester's name (per WAC 220-315-040). Violation of this subsection is an infraction, punishable under RCW 77.15.160.
Hand dip net gear may not exceed 36 inches across the bag frame with a maximum mesh size of 5/8 inch stretch mesh size and must have a rigid handle.
For more details including a map showing fishing boundaries and popular access areas, visit the Cowlitz River smelt fishing webpage.
Information contact: Region 5 office; 360-696-6211