Port Angeles – Olympic National Park officials announced Wednesday they are imposing new sport fishing restrictions on three rivers to protect declining populations of wild steelhead.
The Queets, Salmon and Quinault Rivers will close to recreational fishing on Monday, November 27. Due to low forecasted returns, these conservation closures are necessary to eliminate any sport impacts to wild steelhead making their way to spawning areas inside and outside the park. Olympic Peninsula steelhead were recently petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Superintendent Sula Jacobs said in a statement Olympic National Park has significant conservation concerns for wild steelhead in these rivers based on long-term declines in annual run sizes and escapements dating back to 1980. Wild steelhead have failed to reach the State and National Park Service escapement goals in 8 of the last 10 years in the Queets and 6 of the last 10 years in the Upper Quinault.
The Queets, Quinault, and Salmon Rivers within Olympic National Park are expected to reopen to recreational angling on June 1, 2024. For current fishing regulations and information, please visit the park website at nps.gov