Olympic National Park Fishing Regulations

NPS photo by Josh Geffre.

 

Fishing in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park protects over 75 miles of Pacific Coast, 600 lakes, and 4,000 miles of rivers and streams that support some of the most extensive runs of wild salmon, trout, and char remaining in the Pacific Northwest. Through the management of fish and aquatic environments, the park works to preserve and restore native fishes and their habitats and provide recreational fishing opportunities for the enjoyment of park visitors. Fisheries biologists work with the State of Washington and eight treaty tribes each year to establish harvest and gear regulations.

 

Fish and Shellfish Regulations

Before you go fishing in Olympic National Park review the current fishing and shellfish regulations and check bulletin boards for locally posted regulation changes.

ALERT - In- Season Fishing Regulation Changes

Queets River:

• Selective gear rules in effect: the use of artificial lure with a barbless single point hook only, bait is prohibited.

• Closes to recreational fishing on February 1, 2021;

• The early sport fishing closure in the Queets River system is designed to allow for opportunity to harvest early timed hatchery steelhead while better protecting the wild run.

Salmon River:

• Selective gear rules in effect: the use of artificial lure with a barbless single point hook only, bait is prohibited.

Quillayute River: Closes to recreational fishing on April 1, 2021;

Dickey River mouth: Closes to recreational fishing on April 1, 2021;

Hoh River mouth: Closes to recreational fishing on April 1, 2021.

Fishing in the Hoh River system and the Bogachiel River within the park will remain open through April 15.

Read the full news release.

 

Fish & Shellfish Regulations 2019-2020

General Fishing Information

• The Olympic National Park Fish & Shellfish Regulations booklet is effective from May 1 through April 30 of the following year. (updated April 2020)
• See the map, chart, and photo gallery below for the booklet pages.

• All waters in Olympic National Park are closed to the removal of fish and shellfish (including freshwater crayfish and freshwater mussels) except as described in the Fishing and Shellfish Regulations.

• All waters listed in the Fishing and Shellfish Regulations are open to fishing from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset.

• Fishing for bull trout and Dolly Varden is prohibited in all park waters and these species must be released if incidentally captured.

• All wild fish species must be released unless specifically allowed in Freshwater Seasons and Limits.

 

Fishing Zone Map

Zone	Drainages (Area)	Season	Gear	Daily Limit
1	All beaver ponds, streams, and rivers not listed on this chart. Includes: Dosewallips, Duckabush, Graywolf, North Fork Sol Duc, Sol Duc, South Fork Calawah, Quinault (East Fork, North Fork, and mainstem above upper bridge)	Jun 1–Oct 31, 2020	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
	Elwha	CLOSED
2	Skokomish River, North Fork	Jun 1–Sep 15, 2020	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook	Catch-and-release
3	Quinault River, upper bridge downstream to park boundary	Jun 1, 2019—Mar 31, 2021	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
4	Queets River, mainstem, below AND above Hartzell boat launch (Updated 1/11/21) Catch Record Card Code 394	Jun 1–Aug 31, 2020	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained.
		Sep 1-30, 2020	BELOW HARTZELL: Bait allowed. One barbless hook with up to three points. ABOVE HARTZELL: Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release for all species except: · One hatchery coho salmon may be retained. · Steelhead: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained and defined as dorsal fin height less than 2-1/8 inches, adipose clipped, or ventral clipped.
		Oct 1-Nov 30, 2020	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook	Catch-and-release except one hatchery, adipose clipped Chinook may be retained.
		Dec 1, 2020-Jan. 31, 2021	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook	Catch-and-release for all species except: · Steelhead: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained and defined as dorsal fin height less than 2-1/8 inches, adipose clipped, or ventral clipped.
		Feb 1- May 31, 2021	CLOSED TO RECREATIONAL FISHING	CLOSED TO RECREATIONAL FISHING
	Salmon River Catch Record Card Code 396	Jun 1–Aug 31, 2020	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained.
		Sep 1-30, 2020	Bait allowed. One barbless hook with up to three points.	Catch-and-release for all species except: · One hatchery coho salmon may be retained. · Steelhead: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained and defined as dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches, adipose clipped, or ventral clipped.
		Oct 1-Nov 30, 2020	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release except one hatchery, adipose clipped Chinook may be retained.
		Dec 1, 2020-Feb 28, 2021	Artificial lure with a barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release for all species except: · Steelhead: 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained and defined as dorsal fin height less than 2 1/8 inches, adipose clipped, or ventral clipped.
5	Hoh River and South Fork Hoh River	Sep 16, 2020-Apr 15, 2021	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook. Fly fishing 1/4 mile below Hoh Campground to Boat Launch above South Fork Hoh confluence	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose-clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
6	Bogachiel River	Jun 1, 2020-Apr 15, 2021	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose-clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
7	Ozette River	Aug 1, 2020–Feb 28, 2021	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.	Catch-and-release except 2 adipose-clipped hatchery steelhead may be retained
8	Dickey River Mouth (Updated 1/11/21)	Jun 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021	Identical to State regulations. See State gear regulations for this river from the park boundary upstream to the confluence of the East and West Forks	Release all wild steelhead, salmon, and trout regardless of size. See State regulations for daily limits of hatchery salmon and steelhead from the park boundary upstream to the confluence of the East and West Forks
	Hoh River Mouth (Updated 1/11/21)	Sep 16, 2020- March 31, 2021	Identical to State regulations. See State gear regulations for this river from the park boundary upstream to Dept. of Natural Resources Oxbow Campground boat launch	Release all wild steelhead, salmon, and trout regardless if size. See State regulations for daily limits of hatchery salmon and steelhead from the park boundary upstream to Dept. of Natural Resources’ Oxbow Campground boat launch
	Quillayute River (Updated 1/11/21)	Open through March 31, 2021	Identical to State regulations. See State gear regulations for this river from the park boundary upstream to the confluences of the Sol Duc & Bogachiel Rivers.	Release all wild steelhead, salmon, and trout regardless of size. See State regulations for daily limits of hatchery salmon and steelhead from the park boundary upstream to the confluences of the Sol Duc and Bogachiel Rivers.
9	Cedar, Goodman, Kalaloch, and Mosquito Creeks (Pacific Coastal Area)	Jun 1, 2020–Feb 28, 2021	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.	Catch & release Can retain 2 hatchery steelhead
A	Lake Ozette	Last Saturday in April—October 31, 2020	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.	Catch & release, EXCEPT no daily, size, or possession limits for yellow perch, largemouth bass, pikeminnow, and bullhead. See Fish Consumption Advisory, page 6, item 4
B	Lake Crescent	Jun 1-Oct 31, 2020	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.; 2 ounce weight restriction	Catch & release
	High elevation lakes (above 1300 ft)	Last Saturday in April—October 31, 2020	Bait, treble, and barbed hooks allowed	A combined total of 5 rainbow and/or cutthroat trout, no minimum size limit. No daily, size, or possession limits for brook trout. See Fish Consumption Advisory, page 6, item 4
	Irely Lake	Last Saturday in April—October 31, 2020	Artificial lure, barbless single point hook.	Catch & release

 

License Requirements

• A Washington State Recreational Fishing License is NOT REQUIRED to fish in Olympic National Park EXCEPT when fishing in the Pacific Ocean from shore. No license is required to harvest surf smelt.
• A Washington State catch record card is REQUIRED for adults and children if fishing for salmon or steelhead. A catch record card specific to waters in Olympic National Park is available from Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife license dealers at no cost. Salmon or steelhead that are caught and released do not need to be recorded. The catch record card requires a location code for each retained fish.
• A Washington State Shellfish/Seaweed license is REQUIRED for harvest of shellfish from the Pacific Coastal Area. Harvest of seaweed, kelp, and unclassified species is prohibited (see Marine Fish and Shellfish Seasons and Limits).