Columbia River’s popular Buoy 10 fishery kicks off Aug. 1
The fishery will be open seven days per week for fall Chinook and coho retention through Sept. 3.
This year’s Buoy 10 fishery — one of the most popular salmon fisheries in the country — is set to open Aug. 1, with thousands of anglers expected to travel from near and far to the mouth of the Columbia River in pursuit of fall Chinook and coho salmon.
Preseason forecasts are calling for 551,800 adult Chinook to return to the Columbia River’s mouth based on a combination of 2023 returns and jack returns. The expected coho return is 279,900.
The Buoy 10 fishery, which extends from Buoy 10 to a line on the west end of Puget Island, is open Aug. 1 through Aug. 29 with a daily bag limit of two hatchery salmon per day, however only one can be a hatchery Chinook. Beginning Aug. 30 through Sept. 3, anglers may retain one unclipped Chinook as part of their bag limit. From Sept. 4 through Dec. 31, only hatchery coho may be retained with a limit of two. Anglers must release all wild salmon and steelhead.
The Buoy 10 fishery is primarily operating mark-selectively this year. Mark-selective fishing allows anglers to retain only marked (adipose fin-clipped) fish while releasing unmarked fish. This approach helps target hatchery-origin fish, such as fall Chinook and coho, while limiting impacts on wild and Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed stocks. It also allows managers to offer more fishing days; a non-mark fishery would result in fewer available fishing days.
Regulations may be modified in-season as more data becomes available about actual returns, so anglers should review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or Fish Washington mobile app for the water they plan to fish, as well as check the emergency rule changes before heading out.
Buoy 10 fishing tips and tactics
Anglers heading to Buoy 10 in early August will primarily encounter Chinook, with coho returning later in August and early September. Initially, the fishing may be slow, but the Chinook bite typically heats up in mid-to-late August with the bulk of the run staging in the area.
Success in tidal fisheries like Buoy 10 hinges on understanding tides. Incoming tides bring cooler water and bait, with the best fishing often occurring during the first hour after high slack tide and the start of the ebbing tide. Conversely, large tidal changes and strong currents can push salmon behind headlands, making them harder to catch.
Target Chinook in the middle of the water column during incoming tides and near the bottom during outgoing tides. An electronic fish finder will help you locate precise depths where Chinook are located.
Trolling is the preferred method, with divers or downriggers used in deeper waters. Keep lines close to your boat to avoid tangles and move away if another boat hooks a fish. An 8 1/2- to 9-foot rod rated for 15 to 30 pounds with a baitcasting reel is ideal. Use 20- to 25-pound line, a triangle or paddle flasher, 4- to 8-foot leader, and either a cut plug herring, trolling spinner, plugs, or bait harnesses.
You can find more information on how to fish estuaries and tidewater, including rigging tips, on the WDFW website.
Safety is paramount at Buoy 10
Buoy 10 is a challenging fishery. Large tide changes combined with wind and hundreds of boats can be dangerous. Anglers are reminded to know the tide schedule, weather, and their own limitations. Be sure to bring required and recommended equipment, including personal floatation devices, and know what to do in case of an emergency.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
