The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has launched the Salmon Fishing Current blog to keep anglers and stakeholders apprised of the intricate process of setting salmon seasons in the state, the agency announced. The blog will provide updates on the North of Falcon process, named after the boundary north of Oregon's Cape Falcon that encompasses the important salmon habitats of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Columbia River, and coastal areas.
Anglers looking forward to the 2025–2026 salmon fishing seasons will find a wealth of information on the blog, including in-season fishing rule changes, emergency closures, and other developments that could affect their time by the water. WDFW is slated to host over a dozen in-person and hybrid meetings come spring 2025, to solicit public feedback and develop the season's schedules, "A full timeline of the process will be announced in February," including public meeting dates, according to a statement on the Salmon Fishing Current blog.
The state department takes into consideration the input of anglers across Washington in its decision-making process. Ensuring a transparent and inclusive approach is central to WDFW's mission, and they've expressed commitment to these principles. "WDFW listens closely to the input of anglers statewide, attempts to find solutions that best serve the wide array of interested participants, and favors transparency," the blog post reads.
Conservation also remains a priority, with the WDFW working to meet recovery goals for salmon and steelhead populations. The agency juggles these conservation targets with the requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act, while, managing harvestable salmon in partnership with tribal co-managers. This collaborative management effort extends throughout the year, both during the North of Falcon process and beyond, ensuring equitable sharing of resources and long-term sustainability of the fish stocks. More details are available on the Salmon Fishing Current blog.
