07/30/2026
Heads up, Hood Canal area anglers! The Big Quilcene River in Jefferson County, from the Highway 101 Bridge to the mouth at Quilcene Bay, will be closed to all fishing beginning Aug. 16 as major habitat restoration projects are underway.
Fishing for salmon will not open this year on the Big Quilcene River, though nearby Quilcene Bay in Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) opens to fishing for coho beginning Aug. 1.
New river channels are being constructed on the Big Quilcene, with flows diverted starting in August. Construction is expected to occur throughout the river in August and September. For public safety and to mitigate private property concerns, access will be prohibited during this time below the Highway 101 Bridge and above and below Rodgers Street.
These projects will greatly enhance salmon spawning and rearing habitat and expand fishable waters during future seasons. Find project details and benefits at pnwsalmoncenter.org/big-quilcene-lower-1-mile and pnwsalmoncenter.org/moon-valley.
Photo by John Gussman for Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (The Salmon Center): Aerial image of the Big Quilcene River estuary and Quilcene Bay with the Olympic Mountains in the background.
