North Fork Nooksack Spring Chinook Fishery Closes June 9

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will close the North Fork Nooksack River hatchery spring Chinook fishery on June 9 after anglers reached the maximum allowable encounters of wild Chinook salmon.

The closure covers the North Fork Nooksack River from the Highway 9 Bridge upstream to the yellow marker at the Kendall Creek Hatchery property.

Wild Chinook Limit Triggers Closure

WDFW opened the hatchery spring Chinook fishery on May 24. Catch survey data now shows anglers have hit the allowable limit for wild Chinook encounters, prompting the early close.

As a result, the river returns to the permanent rules in the 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet beginning June 9. Anglers may no longer fish for or retain Chinook salmon in the affected section.

The fishery drew anglers from across Northwest Washington who hoped to target returning hatchery spring Chinook in the North Fork Nooksack during the brief open window.

Other River Restrictions Remain in Place

Meanwhile, a separate section of the river remains closed. Under permanent regulations, the North Fork Nooksack River below Maple Creek is closed to fishing for all species until Oct. 1.

WDFW encourages anglers to review current regulations before heading out and to sign up for fishing rule change notifications. Anglers can also check emergency regulations online or use the Fish Washington mobile app for the latest updates.

For more information, contact WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region office at 425-775-1311 or TeamMillCreek@dfw.wa.gov.

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