The Washington summer recreational salmon fishing season is already open in several marine and freshwater areas of Puget Sound, the coast, and Columbia River, with more fisheries set to begin in July and August. Anglers can expect similar fishing seasons to last season, along with good opportunities in Puget Sound for an expected forecast of nearly eight million pink salmon in late summer and fall. 

You can find the full 2025–26 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet online or pick up a physical copy at local outdoor retailers and tackle shops the last week of June. Anglers using the Fish Washington® app to look up seasons for 2025–26 fisheries may see dates from last summer. The Fish Washington® app will update for the 2025–26 fishing season by July 1. 

In addition, WDFW now has a wealth of information to keep the public better informed of salmon fishery-related topics and issues. The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition will keep the public up to date on summer and fall salmon fisheries along with any in-season management changes. You can refer to the North of Falcon salmon season setting process information by going to The Salmon Fishing Current blog: North of Falcon 2025 edition. Additional details can also be found on the North of Falcon webpage. 

This spring, the Wild Washington outdoor school at Beebe Springs welcomed 3rd and 4th graders from Chelan and Douglas counties to Beebe Springs Wildlife Area Unit for hands-on learning that explored biodiversity, habitat restoration, and the cultural importance of the land. Over the two years of the program, more than 900 students participated in the outdoor school. One student captured the spirit of the day, exclaiming, “I want to tell my mom to bring me back!”  

This program was operated by WDFW in partnership with agencies, tribes and community groups. It was partially funded by a No Child Left Inside grant through the Recreation and Conservation Office and Washington State Parks. Funding for this grant program will drop from $7 million in 2023-25 to $1.1 million in 2025-27.  

To learn more about the outdoor school and its impact, read the blog post. 

Big news for boaters and anglers! WDFW has finalized its acquisition of the Sekiu boat launch property in Clallam County along the northern Olympic Peninsula. The approximately $2.4 million sale includes about 2.5 acres of uplands, tidelands, and an easement for ingress/egress, including a four-lane boat launch, and parking for trailers and vehicles.  

Funding for the property purchase, maintenance, operations, and initial infrastructure improvements came from the state’s 2024 supplemental capital budget and a Boating Facilities Program grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. WDFW will seek additional funding for further site improvements. 

The Sekiu Water Access Area provides opportunities for recreational and commercial fisheries, including salmon and bottomfish, as well as sea kayaking and wildlife viewing. WDFW included this site in our 2018 Lands 20/20 projects, and we’re excited to support the local economy and recreation by keeping it open to the public. 

Large, devastating wildfires have unfortunately become a common occurrence across the American West, and 2025 is already no exception. With Washington looking at a higher-than-normal wildfire forecast this year, WDFW has once again announced restrictions on certain activities on WDFW-managed lands in Eastern Washington to protect public safety and prevent fire. 

As of July 1, restrictions are in place for campfires, target shooting, smoking, and certain other activities on WDFW-managed lands east of the Cascades. With the July 4 holiday coming up, it’s also a good time to offer a reminder that fireworks are banned year-round on WDFW-managed lands statewide. We all have a responsibility to protect our neighbors, as well as the wildlife that call these areas home, by recreating responsibly and following restrictions in effect on public lands statewide. Photo by Wendy Compton.

Summer is the time to get out and enjoy some time on the water in the Pacific Northwest. But if you're boating in the marine waters of Puget Sound or the Washington coast, you should be aware of new laws requiring vessel operators to stay 1,000 yards away from endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW). Underwater vessel noise is one of the key threats to these iconic killer whales, and following these laws is especially important with reports of 22 SRKW in poor condition, as well as two calves born late last year. 

WDFW provides a bevy of resources for boaters on the new laws, including FAQs, materials for determining distance on the water, and videos illustrating the impact of vessels on SRKW and how to follow the 1,000-yard distance.  

These laws apply to both motorized and non-motorized vessels. If you find yourself within 1,000 yards of an orca, move away and out of the path of the whales at 7 knots or less. If an orca approaches within 400 yards of your vessel, disengage the transmission if it is safe to do so and wait until they’ve left the area. For information about the laws in Washington and Canadian waters, visit bewhalewise.org. Photo by Jeff North. 

Free Fishing Weekend returned June 7–8, giving anglers of all experience levels the chance to enjoy fishing without a license for many popular species. Paired with Discover Pass free days, the event brings people out to enjoy fishing spots across Washington—whether returning to a favorite place or exploring somewhere new. 

This year, WDFW highlighted opportunities in lowland lakes, including the chance to participate in the 2025 Trout Derby running through Oct. 31. With warm weather and strong turnout, the weekend was a great reminder of how outdoor access supports recreation, family connection, and appreciation for Washington’s natural resources.  

Next year, Free Fishing Weekend is scheduled for June 6-7, 2026.  

Living in Washington means living with wildlife, and many people may be tempted to feed wild animals near their homes or communities. People often think they are helping wildlife by feeding them or simply hoping that providing food will give them a better opportunity to observe their wild neighbors. Unfortunately, feeding wildlife can cause more harm than good, especially with new wildlife diseases being found in Washington. WDFW recently adopted new rules prohibiting deer, elk, and moose feeding due to the high potential for feeding sites to promote disease spread. Of particular concern is chronic wasting disease (CWD), an always-fatal disease of deer, elk, moose, and related species (cervids) that was detected in Washington for the first time in 2024. There is no cure for CWD, and it has the potential to greatly impact Washington’s cervid populations. 

Refer to our video for more information.  Photo by Tony Sirgedas. 

By examining and collecting data from wild winter steelhead in rivers on the western Olympic Peninsula and flowing into Grays Harbor, WDFW scientists have shed new light on the link between changing ocean conditions and steelhead survival rates.   

Their research found, in part, that immature and adult steelhead survival rates have declined over time, and survival trends across populations were strongly associated with changing ocean conditions. 

Steelhead, which can exceed 30 pounds, are the state fish and a highly regarded game fish. They are the same species as rainbow trout, but while rainbow trout remain in fresh water, steelhead are “anadromous” and travel to the ocean before returning to spawn in fresh water. 

The study is available from the journal Fish and Fisheries and WDFW’s website. Learn more in our blog post. Photo by Chase Gunnell. 

Wolves that leave their original packs are called "dispersers." Dispersal is a natural and common behavior in which wolves leave to find new territory and mates, potentially traveling up to 30 miles a day and as far as 200 miles. Dispersers are often seen in areas closer to humans as they use easy travel routes like roads and river valleys. If you encounter a wolf or pack in Washington, do not approach; keep your distance, leash pets, and back away slowly to give the wolf space. 

Wolf management in Washington involves cooperation among state, federal, and Tribal agencies, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leading in federally protected areas. The state's Wolf Conservation and Management Plan seeks to restore wolf populations while reducing conflicts with people and livestock. Sightings should be reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Learn more about gray wolves on the USFWS and WDFW websites. Learn more in our blog post. Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service.

To celebrate Pollinator Week 2025, WDFW educators released a free second-grade curriculum focused on pollinators and biodiversity. The new resource supports science education across the state and highlights how pollinators contribute to Washington’s biodiversity. Learn more on our Wild Washington page and watch this informative video on pollinators featuring WDFW assistant invertebrate species lead Melinda Vickers.