Fishery managers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced Wednesday an early closure to salmon fishing in the San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) to meet conservation objectives for Chinook salmon. The closure goes into effect July 8.
Marine Area 7 salmon fishing opened just one week ago, on July 1, and has seen highly-successful catch rates, according to the WDFW
“Since the season kicked off, Chinook fishing has really taken off in the San Juan Islands,” said Kyle Adicks, WDFW’s intergovernmental salmon manager. “So much so that the total Chinook catch has already met the quota for the full month of July. This closure helps to support salmon conservation and preserve fishing opportunities in the future.”
WDFW staff will continue analyzing data and reevaluate whether fishing for coho salmon may reopen later in the summer while remaining within management guidelines for Chinook incidentally caught and released. The Bellingham Bay fishery as described in the 2021-22 Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet will continue as planned.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon, which WDFW uses to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, while providing sustainable fish recreational and commercial opportunities. The public is invited to participate in this process in late winter each year.
More information about other Puget Sound salmon fishing opportunities is available on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/summaries.
Anglers should check the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations, and WDFW’s emergency rules page at fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/ before heading out.
