It’s time to think pink salmon!
With another robust Puget Sound pink salmon forecast, it’s time to gear up for salmon fishing that’s accessible for bank and boat anglers in marine and freshwater areas.
Story originally published in the Northwest Sportsman Magazine August issue
The hype of what is expected to be “pink-tastic” summer fishing in Puget Sound began in June when pink salmon started to appear in catches around Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area).
This early signal comes as no surprise given the fact that a pink salmon forecast of nearly 7.8 million — up 70% from the 10-year cycle average — is expected to flood into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.
If the forecast becomes a reality, then the pink salmon return could be the third largest on record, up from a 2023 forecast of 3.95 million and an actual return of 7.22 million.
“This year in Washington, we’re expecting to see a strong return of pink salmon that could be in the top five of our records going back to 1959,” said Matthew Bogaard, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) statewide chum, pink, and sockeye salmon species specialist. “Throughout the North Pacific, pink salmon are the most abundant salmon species, comprising 70% of all the Pacific salmon species.”
According to Bogaard, the Fraser River located in southern British Columbia is also expecting a pink salmon forecast of 27 million, which will definitely contribute to fisheries in the northern marine areas like the San Juan Islands.
A breakdown of the 2025 pink salmon forecasts:
- Green River: 1,835,366
- Hood Canal: 2,414,207
- Nisqually River: 1,503,704
- Nooksack River: 97,370
- Skagit River: 117,322
- Snohomish River: 315,942
- Puyallup River: 709,292
- Strait of Juan de Fuca: 294,503
- South Sound Misc.: 503.
The one exception in 2025 is a Stillaguamish River pink salmon forecast of 117,322, which is low compared to past years and there are fishing restrictions along the migration highway from marine areas into the river.
When open for fishing, pink salmon retention won’t be allowed in Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), the Tulalip Terminal Area Fishery, and the Stillaguamish River.
Every year, the WDFW fishery staff and tribal co-managers conduct surveys to estimate adult pink salmon that return to the Puget Sound watershed and the number of offspring migrating out to the marine areas. WDFW and tribal co-managers use this information, along with ecosystem indicators, to forecast returns.
Due to poor juvenile pink survival in the winter of 2023, forecasts indicate the Stillaguamish River won’t reach spawning escapement goals. Key factors include an “atmospheric river” also known as the Pineapple Express (severe flooding from record-breaking rainfall) that occurred in 2023 combined with habitat suitability and migration timing that poorly aligned to preferred ocean conditions.
Stillaguamish River pink salmon have failed to reach the spawning escapement goal four out of the recent 10 odd-year cycles, so 2025 fisheries were planned to limit impacts to that stock.
The upside in other parts of Puget Sound will be a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit for Marine Areas 8–1, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 during the August to September timeframe. When the salmon season is open there will be a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit in Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7. Many Puget Sound rivers will also be open for pink fishing opportunities. Opening and closure dates vary for each marine and freshwater area. Refer to the WDFW fishing regulations webpage or the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
The spotlight on pink salmon — a salmon that mainly returns during odd-numbered years — began more than two decades ago when the forecast climbed to around 2.7 million in 2001.
In the following years, the pink salmon forecast was around 2.3 million in 2003; 1.9 million in 2005; 3.3 million 2007; 5.1 million (actual return was record 10 million-plus in 2009); 5.9 million in 2011; 6.2 million in 2013; and 4.0 million in 2015.
But in the summer of 2015, the pink salmon return tumbled as they migrated right into the heart of an extreme drought coupled with bathtub like water temperatures in rivers. This was followed by winter flooding for the fish who managed to spawn and their offspring. The hits didn’t stop there as the juvenile fish migrated out to sea during the height of The Blob — a large mass of warm water that impacts fish survival — in the Pacific Ocean.
It was no blushing matter in 2017 as the Puget Sound pink salmon forecast was around 1.1 million with an actual return of around 511,000. In 2019 the prediction hit another rough spot with 608,388 and ranked among the lowest on record dating back to 1959. The turnaround occurred in 2021 when the pink salmon forecast climbed back up to around 2.9 million.
Pink salmon are more prolific than their Chinook and coho relatives. They usually recover much faster from negative environmental factors, tend to spawn in the lower reaches of rivers and streams, and seem to have a better survival rate.
A pink salmon has a two-year life cycle, and fry will migrate to estuarial and marine areas once they’ve hatched. A pink salmon spends about one year in the ocean before returning to spawn as two-year-old fish.
The pink salmon is the smallest of the salmon species found along the West Coast, weighing between 3 to 6 pounds, but can grow to 15-plus pounds with an average length of 20 to 25 inches.
The official Washington state record for a pink salmon in saltwater was caught by Jeff Bergman at Possession Bar on Aug. 25, 2001, and weighed 11.56 pounds. The freshwater record was caught by Adam Stewart of Arlington in the Lower Stillaguamish River (closed in 2025 for pink salmon fishing) on Oct. 11, 2007, and weighed 15.40 pounds and was 31 inches long with a girth of 24.75 inches.
Know a pink versus Chinook
It is very important for anglers to be able to distinguish the difference between a pink and a young Chinook salmon especially when fishing in marine areas.
A pink salmon has very large black spots on the caudal fin and back and heavy oval shaped black splotches on the upper and lower lobes of the tail. They also have a white mouth — few if any teeth — with a black gum line and tongue. Their scales are very small with no silver pigment on the tail.
Their nickname “humpies” or “humpy” comes from the dramatic hump that forms on the back of male pink salmon as they return to rivers and approach spawning time. Males also develop a hooked upper jaw during spawning season.
In the marine environment, a Chinook has large black spots on back, dorsal fin, and both the upper and lower lobes of the tail. They have a dark mouth and black gum line and large prominent teeth, and a silver pigment on the tail.
You can find a salmon species identification guide on the pages 104 and 105 in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Pink fishing tactics
The good thing about pink salmon fishing is you don’t need a boat to participate, and anglers can catch them from the many piers and shorelines with public access around Puget Sound.
A pink salmon is attracted to the color pink, meaning no matter what you toss at them whether a lure, spoon, jig or fly, just make sure it’s pink. The reason is the color closely resembles their main diet of plankton, shrimp and krill. However, other colors like red, chartreuse, silver and orange are known to catch their share of fish.
The most effective lure is a small-size hot pink plastic mini squid tied 13 to 16 inches behind a 1/0 white or silver dodger/flasher. You can also use a smaller eight-inch dodger/flasher with a slightly longer leader of 15 to 20 inches.
A small cut-plug herring will also catch their share of pink salmon and is an effective way when drift or motor mooching from a boat. Casting a bobber with a herring underneath works from shore too.
Another way to catch a pink salmon is casting a jig. There are many types and colors (think pink again) of jigs to choose and deciding what type of jig to use is pretty much up to the discretion of an angler.
Some of the more popular jigs include a Buzz Bomb, Point Wilson Dart, P-Line Laser Minnows, Beau Mac Otori Puget Pounder, Dungeness Stinger, and a Crippled Herring. Make sure to have a variety of weight sizes from three to six ounces.
No matter what style of jig, you’ll need to make sure it is constantly moving and twitching. Cast out and let it sink about a foot per second. Once you feel the jig go slack reel up (don’t set the jig hard because a pink salmon has a softer jawline) until you feel the rod pull down.
When it comes to using a jig remember most store-bought jigs come with a barbed treble hook, and they’re illegal for salmon in Marine Catch Areas 1 to 13. Only single-pointed barbless hooks and one line with up to two hooks may be used.
Conducting a simple alteration of your jig will make it more effective and legal to use. First, the two metal eyelets at the top and bottom of a jig should be bent inward so your leader can run freely through them. For leaders use a monofilament line of 40- to 50-pound test with a length of about four to five feet.
Attach a beaded swivel to your braided mainline and leader to alleviate tangles. I use a six-millimeter acrylic plastic green or red bead above the top eyelet of the jig, and small black rubber stoppers on the top and bottom of each eyelet to prevent the line from fraying.
As for hooks go smaller than you would for other salmon species like a 1/0 or 2/0 size. Tie the hooks tandem style, and much closer than you would when using them for bait. The gap between the hooks should be about one inch or less.
Another effective method is a pink Rotator trailed behind a small pink plastic squid. Let it flutter down into the water and then slowly retrieve from shore or a boat.
When pink salmon fishing in the river (make sure to check what rivers are open or closed) is casting and retrieving a hot pink spoon in a size 2x7/8-inch and 1/16 ounce or a number two-size trolling spoon. A smaller 1/8- or 1/4-ounce pink jig fished under a float and either cast with a slow retrieve or bounce it across the bottom.
Another favored river method is trolling small pink crankbait with no weight on your line about 35 to 40 feet behind your boat.
Fly anglers will toss a size four Pink Flashabou Comet, marabou fly or just about any other pink-colored fly.
Anglers don’t need an expensive rod and reel, and many will use a stout eight- to nine-foot salmon or trout rod (six- to 10-pound line) with a good level wind or spinning reel. Stick to a lighter fishing line of eight- to 12-pound test. A six- to seven-weight fly rod will get the job done for those who prefer to cast flies.
Regardless of the method you choose be sure to coat your presentation with shrimp, anise or herring oil, paste and jelly-type scent attractants.
From a boat in marine areas, downriggers are the most effective way to fish since you can dial in the precise depth of where the fish are located. If you don’t own a downrigger simply attach a six- to eight-ounce banana shaped weight a few feet ahead of the dodger or flasher and set it no more than 30 to 50 feet behind the boat.
Whatever way you choose to fish be sure to keep all the gear (no more than one rod per person unless the area allows a Two-Pole Endorsement) in the water as double or triple header hook ups aren’t uncommon. Once you hook a pink salmon be sure to circle back around to stay on top of the fish.
The best fishing occurs in the early morning or later in the evening just before sunset, but you can catch them all day long. Fish can be found from just below the surface to as deep as 80 to 125 feet, and they will go deeper especially on bright, sunny days.
The top tip when fishing from a boat it to troll slowly, anywhere from 1.3 to 1.8 mph at most depending on current, tide and wind, and never try to go against the current. Don’t be surprised if you hook a chinook or coho while pink salmon fishing and just remember to check the rules on whether you can keep them or not.
To see what marine areas are generating good pink catches, anglers can find up-to-date catch information on the WDFW Puget Sound creel reports webpage.
Where to go
The choices of where to find the best pink salmon fishing from a boat are far and wide. Pink salmon can be found from the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Neah Bay all the way into Puget Sound. Just be sure to check the regulation pamphlet for what marine areas or rivers are open or closed.
In the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound the pink salmon run peaks in mid-August but plenty should be around by the time you read this blog. For southern Puget Sound the best time is usually the last week of August and early September.
Pink salmon tend to hug the shorelines to avoid strong currents making them easily accessible to bank anglers especially during an hour before and right after a flood tide. Slack tide can be another favorable time to catch a pink salmon.
Often anglers will sight fish in the water before throwing out their presentation or looking for jumping or finning fish on the surface or taking notice of other anglers reeling them in nearby.
When planning a saltwater bank fishing trip in Puget Sound make sure location has public access. Shoreline locations include West Beach at Deception Pass; Lincoln Park to Alki Point in West Seattle; Richmond Beach; Redondo Beach; Dash Point State Park; Fort Casey, Keystone, Bush Point and Lagoon Point off the west side of Whidbey Island; Point Wilson near Port Townsend; Point No Point; Marrowstone Island’s eastern shoreline; along the east side of Bainbridge Island; Browns Point Lighthouse Park in Tacoma; Edmonds Pier; Seacrest Pier in West Seattle; and Point Defiance Park Pier and Les Davis Pier in Tacoma.
By late August and into September and early October, the majority of pink salmon will move into Puget Sound rivers and streams. Anglers should check fishing regulations for what rivers and stream are open or closed.
For the latest in-season salmon fishery information, refer to the WDFW The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
Taking care of your catch
On the table, a pink caught in a marine area can be a very good-eating salmon, especially when smoked or grilled. The meat has a rather mild flavor, and it pairs well with citruses like lemon, lime, or orange and a dash of seasoning.
Pink salmon are notable less oily than other types of salmon, so expect the salmon fillets to be a little bit leaner than a sockeye, coho or Chinook.
A pink salmon that isn’t properly handled quickly after being retained can become soft, mushy and lose their flavor especially since most are caught at the height of summer when the temperatures are very warm. Nobody likes to eat a mushy piece of salmon.
Once you catch a pink salmon, bleed them by cutting the gill rakes with a knife or tearing a section of the gills with your hand while holding the fish in the water. If you need to club them do so ever gently, as this can also damage the meat. Then clean and gut your catch and get them on ice in a cooler or insulated fish bag.
By taking the right steps, you’ll be able to ensure a pink salmon is the hit around the dinner table!
(Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Consultant, and longtime fishing and outdoor writer.)
