Coastal steelhead management

July 2025: WDFW is accepting public input on the coastal steelhead rule proposal. Submit comments online.

Wild run steelhead
Photo by Zac Greenwood

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is committed to advancing coastal steelhead conservation while maximizing angling opportunities. 

Steelhead, a sea-going rainbow trout that can exceed 30 pounds, is the state fish and a Pacific Northwest icon. It has been culturally and economically important throughout the region’s history, including in popular recreational fisheries.

2025 coastal steelhead rule-making process

In summer 2025, WDFW began the rule-making process for coastal steelhead, gamefish, and trout. There are many opportunities for public involvement. 

Throughout this process, WDFW continues to operate under its Statewide Steelhead Management Plan, which requires the Department to prioritize the sustainability of wild coastal steelhead runs by focusing on healthy levels of abundance, productivity, diversity, and distribution.

Current conditions

Steelhead survival rates have declined over the past five decades in rivers flowing into Washington’s Pacific Coast, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay. Many populations have recently returned below escapement goals. 

Because of low coastal steelhead returns, state and tribal fishery managers have frequently made significant changes to fisheries, resulting in emergency regulations that differ from the annual Washington Sport Fishing Rules. Preliminary data from 2024–25 steelhead returns indicates most areas are again below escapement goals.

Rule-making goals

This public rule-making process aims to balance wild steelhead conservation with more consistent, stable opportunities for anglers. Key objectives include: 

  • Addressing declining steelhead populations: The process aims to respond to the decreased abundance and productivity of coastal steelhead populations.
  • Aligning regulations with stock status and co-manager agreements: The rule-making process seeks to align season dates with the current status of fish populations and with agreements made with tribal and state co-managers
  • Reducing reliance on emergency regulations: By establishing more appropriate permanent season regulations, WDFW aims to minimize the need for annual emergency regulations.
  • Improving regulatory consistency: The process intends to align overlapping and inconsistent regulations for steelhead, gamefish, and trout throughout the coast.
  • Responding to Endangered Species Act concerns: The process addresses the moderate risk of extinction identified in November 2024 by NOAA for the Olympic Peninsula Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead.

Ultimately, WDFW intends for these rule changes to align season dates with population status and co-manager agreements. WDFW will continue to incorporate public engagement and input throughout the process. 

Join the conversation

Attend a public meeting to hear a presentation and share feedback in real time. WDFW is hosting public meetings July 17 and July 31, 2025. Pre-registration is required. During these meetings, WDFW will give a short presentation on the status of coastal steelhead and gather feedback on potential fishery changes. 

Submit a comment

Can't attend a meeting? Share input another way:

Where this proposal applies

The proposal would apply to all coastal rivers and tributaries west of the Elwha River and south to the Bear River in Pacific County. It would apply only to waters with current steelhead, gamefish, or trout regulations.

Proposed timeline for rule making

Proposed dateActivityType
June 26, 2025WDFW presents to Fish CommitteeBriefing
July 2File CR 101 (Preproposal Statement of Inquiry)Rule making
July 17 and 31Public meetingVirtual briefing / input gathering
Aug. 8File CR 102 (notice of Proposed Rule Making)Rule making
Sept. 25WDFW presents to Fish CommitteeBriefing
Sept. 26–27WDFW presents to CommissionBriefing / public hearing
Nov. 13WDFW presents to Fish CommitteeBriefing
Nov. 14–15WDFW presents to CommissionCommission decision
DecemberFile 103/CES (Rule Making Order)Rule making
January 2026Final rules enacted 

Meeting materials and recordings

Find recording of past coastal steelhead town hall meetings on the WDFW YouTube channel.

Additional background and resources

More information