BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Fishing at Whatcom Creek has been extended for two more weekends.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says higher than expected numbers of Chinook salmon in the creek will allow fishing to stay open through Sunday, Oct. 5.

Fishing is only open in lower Whatcom Creek on Saturdays and Sundays, so that leaves four more days in the season.

Anglers are limited to two hatchery Chinook per day and they must be larger than 12 inches.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that Fish and Wildlife is forecasting that a record number of hatchery Chinook will return to the creek this fall.

They started arriving in mid-August and will continue to return into October.