OLYMPIA - The recreational salmon fishery on the Skokomish River from the mouth to the Highway 101 Bridge will get under way Aug. 3, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

After several weeks of discussions, state and tribal co-managers agreed to open salmon fisheries beginning in August, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.

Earlier this year, the state and Skokomish Tribe were unable to reach agreement on the fisheries during the annual salmon season-setting process, known as North of Falcon. Since then, the co-managers have continued negotiations.

"We spent the last several weeks working out the details of the salmon fishery to ensure conservations goals will be met for wild chinook salmon," said Pattillo. "We also worked to structure the fishery to avoid potential gear conflicts between anglers and treaty tribal fishers."

The hatchery chinook fishery on the Skokomish River from the Highway 106 Bridge upstream, will be open to salmon fishing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week through Aug. 25. Fishing is closed on the other days to avoid gear conflicts, as well as limit impacts to wild chinook salmon, said Pattillo.

Anglers should note that the fishery above the Highway 106 Bridge gets under way with a two-day opening (Aug. 3-4), and will be closed Aug. 5-8 before reopening on its regular weekly schedule Friday, Aug. 9.

The hatchery chinook fishery downstream from the Highway 106 Bridge will be open seven days a week through Aug. 25.

Anglers will be required to use single-point barbless hooks when fishing the Skokomish River, where a night closure and anti-snagging rule will be in effect.

Sport fishing for salmon on the Skokomish River from the mouth to the Highway 106 Bridge is as follows:

Aug. 3 through Aug. 25 - Daily limit two salmon; release chum and wild chinook. Anglers must keep the first two legal salmon and stop fishing for the day.
Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 - Daily limit six salmon, up to four adult salmon may be retained. Release chum and chinook.
Oct. 16 until further notice - Daily limit six salmon, up to four adult salmon may be retained. Release chinook.

Sport fishing for salmon on the Skokomish River from the Highway 106 Bridge to the Highway 101 Bridge is as follows:

Aug. 3 through Aug. 25 - Open to salmon fishing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week. Daily limit two salmon; release chum and wild chinook. Anglers must keep the first two legal salmon and stop fishing for the day.
Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 - Open to salmon fishing
Sept. 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1-Oct. 15. Daily limit six salmon, up to four adult salmon may be retained. Release chum and chinook.
Oct. 16 until further notice - Daily limit six salmon, up to four adult salmon may be retained. Release chinook.

For more information, see the fishing rule change at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1337.