Fishing in Washington

Abernathy Creek Fishing Regulations

Cowlitz County, Washington · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons

Abernathy Creek is a creek in Cowlitz County, Washington. It has its own fishing regulations for 14 species, including Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Chinook Salmon, set separately for 3 sections of the creek. These rules replace Washington's statewide limits on this water.

14 species with limits3 sections with their own rules
Official Washington regulations ↗Washington statewide limits →Washington license costs →

Fish with special rules on Abernathy Creek

Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.

Atlantic Salmon illustration

Atlantic Salmon

12" min · 6/day

Brook Trout illustration

Brook Trout

14" min · 2/day

Brown Trout illustration

Brown Trout

14" min · 2/day

Chinook Salmon illustration

Chinook Salmon

12" min · 6/day

Coho Salmon illustration

Coho Salmon

12" min · 6/day

Cutthroat Trout illustration

Cutthroat Trout

14" min · 2/day

Golden Trout illustration

Golden Trout

14" min · 2/day

Lake Trout illustration

Lake Trout

14" min · 2/day

Abernathy Creek limits by species (2026)

From 200' above Abernathy Falls upstream and all tributaries

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesBarbed hooks allowed · Artificial Only; Barbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait––Year-round
Atlantic SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Brook Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Brown Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Chinook SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Coho SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Cutthroat Trout14" min2May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Golden Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Hatchery SteelheadHatchery fish only20" min3May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Lake Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Other Game Fish––Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Pink SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Rainbow Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Sockeye SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Steelhead14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31

From mouth (Hwy. 4 bridge) to 500' below Abernathy Fish Technology Center and all tributaries

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesBarbed hooks allowed · Artificial Only; Barbless; Single Point Hook; No Bait––Year-round
Atlantic SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Brook Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Brown Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Chinook SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Coho SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Cutthroat Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Golden Trout14" min2Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Hatchery SteelheadHatchery fish only20" min3May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Lake Trout14" min2May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Other Game Fish––May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Pink SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Rainbow Trout14" min2May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31
Sockeye SalmonAdult daily bag: 2 · Release all salmon other than hatchery chinook and hatchery coho12" min6Nov 1 – Dec 31
Steelhead14" min2May 23 – Aug 31, Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31

From 500' below Abernathy Fish Technology Center to 200' above Abernathy falls and all tributaries

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish Species––Year-round · Closed

– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Washington's statewide regulations.

Plan your Abernathy Creek trip

Washington fishing regulations →

Statewide size limits, bag limits, and seasons for every species.

Washington fishing license →

Costs for residents and non-residents, and where to buy.

All Washington waters →

Every Washington lake and river with its own fishing rules.

Abernathy Creek fishing: common questions

What fish have special regulations on Abernathy Creek?

14 species have rules specific to Abernathy Creek: Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, and Hatchery Steelhead, and 6 more.

What is the atlantic salmon limit on Abernathy Creek?

Atlantic Salmon must be at least 12" to keep on Abernathy Creek (from 200' above Abernathy Falls upstream and all tributaries), and the daily bag limit is 6. Season: Nov 1 – Dec 31. Rules differ across 2 sections of the creek.

What is the brook trout limit on Abernathy Creek?

Brook Trout must be at least 14" to keep on Abernathy Creek (from 200' above Abernathy Falls upstream and all tributaries), and the daily bag limit is 2. Season: Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31. Rules differ across 2 sections of the creek.

What is the brown trout limit on Abernathy Creek?

Brown Trout must be at least 14" to keep on Abernathy Creek (from 200' above Abernathy Falls upstream and all tributaries), and the daily bag limit is 2. Season: Nov 1 – Dec 31, Jan 1 – Mar 15, May 23 – Aug 31 · Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 31. Rules differ across 2 sections of the creek.

Do Washington statewide fishing rules apply on Abernathy Creek?

Where Abernathy Creek has its own rule for a species, that rule replaces the statewide limit. For species not listed on this page, Washington's statewide regulations apply. Regulations are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; confirm with the official 2026 regulations before keeping a fish.

Other Washington waters with special regulations

All Washington waters →

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