Snohomish River closes to all fishing Oct. 3–Nov. 1 over coho concerns

The whole Snohomish River closes to fishing Oct. 3 through Nov. 1, 2026. A FishingWA notice dated Oct. 1 says the action covers all species, from the mouth upstream to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie. This is a full-river closure, not the earlier emergency rule that kept only the upper river — from the railroad bridge above the Lincoln Avenue launch to that same confluence — shut for monitoring capacity.

Managers closed salmon and game fish because of the coho return. Recreational coho catches in nearby marine areas beat preseason expectations. Terminal marine water and the lower Snohomish did not show the same signal. Recent rain moved some fish, but low water may be changing how coho migrate. There is concern the 2026 return is below the preseason forecast.

Snohomish coho were listed overfished by NOAA Fisheries in 2018 and reclassified as rebuilt in 2024. The 2025 return missed the escapement goal, and a second poor year could undo recent rebuilding. Questions go to the North Puget Sound Region at (425) 775-1311. Check the live emergency-rule page before you fish.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: FishingWA — Snohomish River to close to all fishing Oct. 3 (Oct. 1, 2026). Also: KOMO News — Snohomish River to close to all fishing amid coho return concerns.