Fishing enthusiasts, get ready to cast your lines. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the opening of a portion of the Skagit River for sockeye salmon fishing. This decision allows anglers to actively engage in the fishing experience from June 16 through July 15. The specific stretch of river made accessible runs from the Highway 536 Bridge in Mount Vernon up to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete, according to an official statement released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has set the rules for this fishing window: fishermen are allowed to keep up to four sockeye salmon per day, with a minimum size limit of 12 inches. Anglers are mandated to release any other type of salmon they might catch. Additionally, there's a standing night closure, and while selective gear rules are lifted for salmon, they will continue to apply to gamefish. Anglers not adhering to these rules are required to release any non-sockeye salmon species they encounter.
This action is in response to forecasts that predict harvestable numbers of sockeye salmon returning to the Baker system. The department has established a harvest guideline for the river fishery at 25 percent of the state's share, with the remaining 75 percent set aside for the Baker Lake opportunity. As it stands, the current sport share of the river yields over 4,000 sockyes, with the potential for this number to change in the event of in-season run-size adjustments.
Anglers should be aware that there may be periodic closures to resolve gear conflicts during tribal fisheries. These in-season closures will be communicated as soon as possible, and it is recommended to download the FishWA app or to sign up for email notifications regarding fishery changes to stay informed. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has committed to actively monitor the fishery; therefore, cooperation with creel personnel, who will be collecting catch data, is imperative for the continued success and evaluation of fisheries.
The department has also highlighted that the 2023-24 Washington regulation pamphlet is currently effective and will remain so through June 30, with the upcoming 2024-25 edition soon to be released and in force starting July 1. Anglers looking for the complete rules and updates on the gamefish can refer to the soon-to-be-released pamphlet for comprehensive information. For further details about the regulations and updates on this fishing opportunity, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife emergency rules page.
