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Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Recreational fishing will open at 12:01 a.m., Thursday September 17 in the following main stem rivers and tributaries within Olympic National Park: Bogachiel, South Fork Calawah, Sol Duc, North Fork Sol Duc, Dickey, Queets, and Quinault Rivers. Additionally, Cedar, Goodman, Kalaloch, and Mosquito Creeks are open within the Pacific Coastal Area of the park. Coastal rivers and streams in the park were closed to fishing since August 10 to protect wild fish during the historic low water conditions. In the Queets River, wild Chinook and wild coho salmon must be released. Regulations allow for the daily retention of two hatchery salmon in that river.The change to release of wild coho salmon is designed to protect these fish as they are projected to return at numbers below the escapement level. The upper Hoh and South Fork Hoh Rivers and all tributaries in the park remain closed to fishing through October 31 to protect spring/summer Chinook salmon."Our primary concern in the Hoh System has been fishing impacts on wild Chinook in light of the forecasted low return this year" said Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.Hoh River spring/summer Chinook have failed to meet the escapement floor in seven of the last eight years.This population is an integral component of the park ecosystem and represents an important core population along the Washington Coast. Olympic National Park sport fishing regulations for 2015-2016 are available on the park's website at https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/fishing.htm, as well as at park visitor centers, fee booths, ranger stations, and area fishing stores. |
Last updated: September 16, 2015