Samish River Fishing

Salmon fishing enthusiasts in the North Sound region of Washington should mark their calendars for a trip to the Samish River.

This river, which winds its way from the mountains and foothills east of Bellingham to Samish Bay and the Puget Sound, boasts one of the best returns of hatchery chinook salmon and potentially the largest return relative to the Samish River’s small size.

Samish River Salmon Fishing 2024

Unfortunately, the Samish River has gained the reputation of being an “unruly fishery”. Basically what this translates to is lots of illegal snagging of salmon, poaching, trashing the river, and violence.

Other examples of unruly fisheries in the state would be the Skokomish River (all recreational opportunity lost), and Minter Creek (most recreational opportunity has been lost).

WDFW in 2024 came out with new regulations requiring stationary gear aka plunking and bait. I’m not sure if this will be enough to save this fishery from being lost, but I’m super curious to go visit the fishery again and see what it’s like under these new rules and whether they are being followed or not.

At some point, those of us who value our stewardship role while engaging with these resources may need to be better advocates for orderly fisheries. I would also like to see the department put far more enforcement presence at these fisheries.

I don’t often fish in unruly fisheries, but I do know that there are some anglers that treat these resources the right way, and losing them would be a big blow just like losing the Skokomish River was. I still miss the Skokomish River chinook fishery, there was just nothing like it.

Here’s hoping we have another great year, and the department’s new rules result in a more sustainable chinook fishery…

Updated status on hatchery fall chinook returning to the Samish River

The above graph will update every Thursday typically.

When to fish for fall chinook on the Samish River?

While timing the run can be interesting, on most years, if the river is open for fishing, it’s worth going down there to fish. The returns to the hatchery do typically peak at the end of September / first week of October, but we are talking so many fish in a small river when it’s open you gotta fish it.

Forecast for 2024 Samish River Fall Chinook

The returns of hatchery chinook salmon on the Samish have been nothing short of incredible the past few years and 2024 is expected to continue that trend!

Updated status on hatchery coho returning to the Samish River

The above graph will update every Thursday typically.

When to fish for coho on the Samish River?

What you see reflected in this chart is largely return timing dominated by surges of water due to rainfall. Like many fall coho fisheries, you can fish the early part of the run for steady salmon fishing or time the high water even to catch the back end of a large push of coho salmon charging up the river.

Forecast for 2024 Samish River Coho

Hatchery coho returns are nothing like the chinook salmon returns, but given the relatively small size of the Samish River, definitely worth angling for in most years.

Fishing Regulations on the Samish River for 2024-2025

Species	Date	Additional Rules
from the mouth to the yellow marker at the wing wall approx. 1,000’ upstream CRC (816)
All species	Aug. 1-Sept. 30	Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
All species	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Trout	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Other game fish	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Aug. 1-Sept. 13	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 2. Stationary gear restriction. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Release chum and wild coho. Use of bait required. Use of only 1 hook allowed. Hook must have a gap from point to shank of 1/2” or less.
	Sept. 14-Sept. 14	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 2. Stationary gear restriction. Open the day of Sept. 14 for active and veteran military personnel only. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Release chum and wild coho. Use of bait required. Use of only 1 hook allowed. Hook must have a gap from point to shank of 1/2” or less.
	Sept. 15-Sept. 30	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 2. Stationary gear restriction. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Release chum and wild coho. Use of bait required. Use of only 1 hook allowed. Hook must have a gap from point to shank of 1/2” or less.
from the yellow marker at the wing wall approx. 1,000’ upstream of the mouth to the Thomas Rd. Bridge CRC (816)
All species	Aug. 1-Sept. 30	Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
All species	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Trout	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Other game fish	Nov. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Salmon	Aug. 1-Sept. 30	Min. size 12”. Daily limit 2. Stationary gear restriction. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained. Release chum and wild coho. Use of only 1 hook allowed. Hook must have a gap from point to shank of 1/2” or less.
from the Thomas Rd. Bridge to I-5 Bridge CRC (816)
All species	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Night closure. Only 1 single-point hook allowed.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Trout	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
Other game fish	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from I-5 Bridge to Old Hwy. 99 Bridge CRC (816)
All species		Selective gear rules.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31	Statewide min. size/daily limit.
from Old Hwy. 99 Bridge to WDFW Samish hatchery rack
All species		CLOSED WATERS.
from WDFW hatchery rack to Hickson Bridge CRC (816)
All species		Selective gear rules.
Trout	Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout min. size 14”.
Other game fish	Sat. before Memorial Day-Nov. 30	Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Please refer to WDFW’s emergency rules page for a full list of rules that are in effect.

It’s your responsibility as the recreational angler to know ALL of these rules, not just what is discussed here on the blog.

Full time PNW fisherman, hunter and harvester of local foods.

Kyle

Sharing content and insights on sustainable harvest through fishing, hunting, foraging, and shellfish gathering. I have 20+ years of experience building technology solutions and my goal is to build digital solutions to help you, on your learning journey toward more successful harvest recreation. I’ve lived in the PNW most of my life and I have 30+ years of angling experience to share.