News Release

Sport fishing regulation changes in Olympic National Park will protect wild steelhead

The Quinault River, pictured here, will be closed to recreational fishing until June 1, 2023.

NPS Photo / D. Archuleta

News Release Date: December 1, 2022

Contact: Meagan Huff, Public Information Officer

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – Due to significant and ongoing conservation concerns, the Queets and Salmon Rivers will remain closed to sport fishing to protect wild steelhead populations. Additionally, the Quinault River within Olympic National Park will be closed to fishing on December 1, 2022.

The decision to close these three rivers to recreational fishing is based on a low forecasted return of wild steelhead below the escapement goal of 4,200 fish, chronic low abundances of wild steelhead resulting in the failure to meet the escapement goal in each of the last six years dating back to the 2016-17 season, and projected in-river commercial harvest levels of approximately 19% of the wild run, resulting in an estimated 1,000 fewer adult wild steelhead than expected. In August 2022, coastal steelhead in Washington were petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

This is a challenging time for recreational anglers in Olympic National Park, following prolonged closures earlier this fall due to historic low river flows and additional closures on the Queets and Salmon Rivers due to higher than expected harvest levels of Fall Chinook salmon. Fisheries within Olympic National Park are managed to provide diverse fishing opportunities, allow for the harvest of hatchery steelhead, and preserve wild salmonid populations. The National Park Service appreciates the cooperation and understanding of recreational anglers and guides during this time.

Olympic National Park is implementing the following in-season changes:

• Queets River: Closed to recreational fishing beginning December 1, 2022
• Salmon River: Closed to recreational fishing beginning December 1, 2022
• Quinault River (upper bridge downstream to park boundary): Closed to recreational fishing beginning December 1, 2022

On November 30, 2022, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced sport fishing closures on sections of the Queets and Quinault Rivers managed by the WDFW. The sport fishing regulations in Olympic National Park are implemented in cooperation with the WDFW. The Queets, Quinault, and Salmon Rivers within Olympic National Park are expected to reopen to recreational angling on June 1, 2023. For current fishing regulations and information, please visit the park website here.