Samish to close to protect wild steelhead

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will close the Samish River in Skagit County to all fishing this winter to protect wild steelhead.

Officials said the Samish no longer receives hatchery steelhead. The closure, which begins Dec. 1 for the portion of the river between I-5 and Hickson Bridge, is intended to prevent incidental hooking and death of wild fish. The portion of the river from the mouth to I-5 will close Jan. 1.

The number of wild steelhead estimated to return to the river are below what’s needed to sustain the run. The closure is required because Puget Sound steelhead are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The river will reopen June 2.