The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition
As part of the ongoing summer and fall salmon fishing season, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has created The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
This blog is a way to keep anglers informed of where to go fishing, any in-season fishing rule changes, emergency closures or other related developments in Puget Sound, the coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Columbia River. We share your frustration when opportunities for upcoming scheduled seasons change or close sooner than expected, and we hope this blog provides a better understanding of why those changes could occur.
The 2025–2026 sport fishing regulation pamphlet (PDF) is available online. Printed copies are expected to arrive at statewide license dealers and at WDFW offices the last week of June. Anglers using the Fish Washington® app to look up seasons for 2025–26 fisheries may see dates from last summer. The Fish Washington® app will update for the 2025–2026 fishing season by July 1.
Salmon anglers can are reminded to check the regulation pamphlet or the WDFW fishing regulations webpage for specific daily catch limits, gear rules and restrictions, emergency rule changes, license information, and other general information for all marine and freshwater areas.
The Salmon Fishing Current blog: North of Falcon 2025 edition began this past February through May as a way to provide regular updates of the ongoing developments during the 2025–2026 salmon season setting process. The name North of Falcon refers to waters north of Oregon’s Cape Falcon, which is the farthest south that Washington manages salmon stocks. You can find additional information by going to the North of Falcon webpage.
July 3: Upper Columbia River sockeye updates
Anglers will see reductions to fishing days and daily limits for Hanford Reach and Upper Columbia River sockeye beginning July 7 as a result of fewer than anticipated returning sockeye.
On June 30, 2025, the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) downgraded the Columbia River sockeye run size from 350,200 to 183,200. To help support conservation objectives at this reduced run size, available sockeye harvest is about 12,800 fish (minus harvest through July 6). This fishery approach aims to slow harvest down and extend the season as far into the summer as possible. The weekly three-day closures (Sunday-Tuesday) also allows WDFW to estimate total harvest, determine how much harvest allocation remains, and forecast how long the season can continue in absence of active fishing. Refer to the fishing rule change for more information.
Columbia River sockeye fisheries management
Non-treaty sockeye fisheries include recreational and commercial, Wanapum Band (established under Washington State law), and Confederate Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR). Non-treaty fisheries on Columbia River sockeye are principally governed by the 2018–2027 U.S. v. Oregon Management Agreement (MA), the 2007 Agreement Between the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (CTCR) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Jointly Managed Salmon and Steelhead Populations (WDFW-CTCR Harvest Share Agreement), and recreational/commercial allocations set by Commission Policy C-3630.
At the beginning of each year, the TAC generates a pre-season run size forecast for Columbia River sockeye. Fishery manages use the forecast to set seasons during the North of Falcon process that occurs from late-February through mid-April. As sockeye begin to return to the Columbia River, the TAC monitors the run and meets weekly to determine if adjustments to pre-season forecast are needed. In-season adjustments to the run size sometimes result in changes to non-treaty seasons above and/or below Priest Rapids Dam.
Under the WDFW-CTCR Harvest Share Agreement, for run sizes below 200,000, harvest rates for recreational fisheries are conservative (a maximum of ≤7%). With a runsize of roughly 183,000, under this approach, a 7% harvest rate equates to 12,824 sockeye harvest allocation. In years when runsizes are above 200,000, sockeye in excess of spawning needs are split equally between fisheries above and below Priest Rapids Dam and the CTCR.
Recreational and commercial fisheries below the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco are further constrained by a 1% mortality rate limit on Endangered Species Act listed Snake River sockeye per the MA. Commission Policy C-3630 then splits the 1% mortality rate limit between recreational (70%) and commercial (30%) fisheries. This constraint results in Lower Columbia River fisheries not being able to harvest beyond 1% of the run, while fisheries upstream of the Highway 395 Bridge are able to harvest additional sockeye because the listed fish have turned off to Idaho.
Fishery managers will be monitoring this fishery closely and could potentially close it at any time if harvest targets are achieved. Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Refer to the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional fishing rules. Download the Fish Washington mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
The TAC will be meeting again to evaluate any shifts in the fishery approach on July 7.
June 18, 2025 — Summer salmon fishing season kicks off in earnest in many marine and freshwater areas
The 2025–2026 recreational salmon fishing season package was approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on Monday, June 16, and anglers should be able to find a fairly good number of meaningful, sustainable fishing opportunities this summer and fall.
Some marine salmon fishing options in June include Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area) which is open for all coho and pink salmon through Nov. 15, and the Tulalip Terminal Area within Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) is open Fridays and Saturdays of each week for salmon through Sept. 1 (closed to fishing on June 21).
Fishing is also open seven days per week now through June 30 in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) for hatchery Chinook, all coho and pink salmon. The daily limit is two salmon, and only one may be a hatchery Chinook through Thursday, June 19. Anglers will be allowed to retain up to two hatchery Chinook as part of their two-fish daily limit from June 20 to 30. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches and all other salmon species have no minimum size, release chum and wild Chinook.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 11 June Chinook fishery indicate it has reached 49% of the harvest quota (695 of 1,423), 29% of the unmarked encounter limit (235 of 818) and 18% of sublegal encounter limit (282 of 1,601), through June 14. Based on estimates to date, sufficient catch and encounters remain under fishery guidelines for additional days of fishing to be added to the June Chinook season, and to allow retention of more than one Chinook per day. The Marine Area 11 Chinook fishery is managed under two separate summer quotas, and a second window of opportunity begins on July 17–19.
The western Strait of Juan de Fuca in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) is open from July 1 through Aug. 15 for hatchery Chinook, pink and hatchery coho salmon. The Chinook fishery could close sooner if the 6,247 (6,539 in 2024) legal size encounter guideline is met. Fishing remains open for pink and hatchery coho salmon beginning Aug. 16. The two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies from July 1 through Sept. 26. Rules change for coho in late September so check the regulation pamphlet for details.
The eastern Strait in Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) — west of a true north/south line through the #2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook — is open from July 1 through Aug. 15 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. The Chinook legal-size encounter guideline is 6,550 (11,173 in 2024). The daily limit is two salmon, release sockeye, and only one may be a hatchery Chinook in the area where Chinook retention is allowed. Release all Chinook beginning Aug. 16. Fishing remains open for hatchery coho and pink salmon beginning Aug. 16. The area east of the boundary is open from July 1 through Sept. 26 for hatchery coho and pink salmon. The two-bonus daily pink salmon limit applies here from July 1 through Sept. 26. Rules change for coho in late September so check the regulation pamphlet for details.
WDFW fishery managers aligned several summer hatchery Chinook directed fisheries open July 17–19 in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area), and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island). WDFW will assess the Chinook catch after the initial three-day opener for all four marine areas. Additional Chinook openings may occur in each marine area based on available quota. All Puget Sound seasonal salmon fishery guidelines and quotas are available on the WDFW seasonal Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas webpage.
· Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) is closed in July for all salmon fishing outside of July 17–19 when it is open for hatchery Chinook, pink and hatchery coho salmon. Marine Area 7 is open daily beginning Aug. 1 for pink and hatchery coho salmon. The 2025 Chinook catch quota is 2,181 (2,181 in 2024), total unmarked encounters is 3,368 (3,845 in 2024), and total sub-legal encounter, fish under the 22-inch keeper size limit, is 1,967 (2,141 in 2024). The two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies here from July 17–19 and from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Fishing on Marine Area 7 is open for hatchery coho from Aug. 1 through Sept. 6, and open for all coho and pink salmon from Sept. 7 to 30.
· Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay) is open from Aug. 16 through Oct. 12 for coho and pink salmon and has a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30.
· Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) is open from Aug. 1 through Sept. 24 for non-selective coho only. There will be no pink salmon retention in Marine Area 8–2 due to a low forecasted pink salmon return to the Stillaguamish River.
· Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is closed in July for all salmon fishing outside of July 17–19 when it is open for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. Marine Area 9 is open daily from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 for pink and hatchery coho salmon. The 2025 Chinook catch quota is 3,900 (3,900 in 2024). The two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies here from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30.
· Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area) is open July 17–19 only for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. Marine Area 10 is also open daily for pink and non-selective coho through Nov. 15, including all of July. There are some pockets of summertime closures and openers within Marine Area 10 and refer to the 2025–2026 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details. The 2025 Chinook catch quota is 3,166 (3,166 in 2024), and total sub-legal encounter, fish under the 22-inch keeper size limit, is 6,742 (6,477 in 2024). The two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies here from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Open for chum retention from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15.
· Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) is open July 17–19 only for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. On other days in July, Marine Area 11 is closed to all salmon fishing. Fishing is open daily beginning Aug. 1 for hatchery Chinook, pink and coho salmon. Hatchery Chinook remains open until Sept. 30 or until one or more of the fishery guidelines is met. Pink and coho salmon fishing are planned to remain open daily through Nov. 15 even if Chinook retention closes prior to Sept. 30. Marine Area 11 has Chinook non-retention impacts built into its season. The two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies here from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Open for chum retention from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. The 2025 Chinook catch quota is 3,379 (3,379 in 2024), and total sub-legal encounter — fish under the 22-inch keeper size limit — is 3,675 (5,907 in 2024).
· Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) north of Ayock Point is open for hatchery coho beginning July 11 and has a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit from July 11 through Sept. 30. Marine Area 12 south of Ayock Point is open for Chinook and hatchery coho beginning July 1 through Sept. 30 and has a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit from July 1 through Sept. 30, and hatchery coho is open from Oct. 16- to 31. All of Marine Area 12 is closed for salmon fishing from Oct. 1 to 15 and open for chum retention from Oct. 16 to Nov. 30.
· Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) located south of the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge is open year-round for hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho and has a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30.
Strong Puget Sound pink run expected
The 2025 Puget Sound pink salmon forecast is nearly 7.8 million — up 70% from the 10-year cycle average — and predicted to be the third largest total return on record (up from a 2023 forecast of 3.95 million and an actual return of 7.22 million). The Green and Nisqually rivers are expected to have strong pink salmon returns. In southern British Columbia, the Fraser River pink salmon forecast is 27 million.
A breakdown of the 2025 Puget Sound pink salmon forecasts: Green River, 1,835,366; Hood Canal, 2,414,207; Nisqually, 1,503,704; Nooksack River, 97,370; Skagit River, 468,073; Stillaguamish River, 117,322; Snohomish River, 315,942; Puyallup River, 709,292; Strait of Juan de Fuca, 294,503; and South Puget Sound areas, 503.
There will be a two-bonus pink salmon daily limit for Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8–1, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Refer to the WDFW fishing regulations webpage or the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for specific dates of when the two-bonus pink salmon daily limit applies to each marine area. Marine Area 8–2 will have no pink retention due to a low forecasted pink salmon return to the Stillaguamish River.
While relatively small (three to five pounds), a pink salmon is the fastest growing of the five Pacific salmon species and mainly return in bulk during odd-numbered years after spending two years in the ocean before migrating to natal rivers.
It is critical for anglers — especially when fishing in marine areas — to understand the differences between a pink and Chinook salmon.
A pink in the marine phase of life can be distinguished by very large black spots on the caudal fin and back. Other key differences from other salmon species are the mouth is white with a black gum line; there are almost no teeth in the marine phase; and they have large oval spots on both lobes of tail pointed lower jaw and very small scales.
In the spawning phase, the pink salmon — nicknamed “humpies” or “humpy” comes from the dramatic hump formed on their back — has a distinct hooked upper jawline that develops on a male pink at spawning time in rivers. A pink salmon also has large oblong spots on the back and both lobes of the tail.
The Puget Sound pink salmon run usually peaks in mid-August, and in southern Puget Sound the last week of August and early September are best. Pink salmon fishing draws a buzz among salmon anglers because they’re relatively easy to catch from shore and boat. Pink salmon tend to stay close to the shoreline to avoid strong currents, so bank anglers can find them just a short cast away. Pink salmon fishing in Puget Sound was accessible in 2023 and 2021 during late summer.
Baker Lake sockeye fishery
The Baker Lake sockeye fishery is open July 12 through Aug. 31 with the opening occurring regardless of how many fish are in the lake. The daily sockeye counts began on June 1 and through June 16, 70 sockeye have entered the fish trap.
The daily limit is six sockeye at Baker Lake, and the minimum size is 12 inches. Each angler aboard the vessel may deploy salmon angling gear until the daily limit for all anglers has been achieved.
A sockeye forecast of 60,214 is expected to return to the Skagit River in 2025 and will be headed for the Baker River and Baker Lake. This forecast is up 57% from the 10-year average and is higher than the 2024 actual return of 47,824 and a forecast of 56,750 sockeye. Sockeye enter the trap from mid-June to mid-October, and the peak of the run is mid-July.
Baker River sockeye are a priority for WDFW, and tribal co-managers and recent returns are a success story following returns of fewer than 100 fish in 1985. Fish counts, management information, and more details are available on this WDFW webpage. More information is available in this joint blog post by WDFW and tribal co-managers.
Sockeye anglers and other boaters should also expect mandatory aquatic invasive species (AIS) checks on watercraft entering Baker Lake to help prevent the introduction of New Zealand mud snails — which have been detected in the lower Skagit River — as well as quagga and zebra mussels which can damage boats, hydropower, and hatchery infrastructure, and potentially cost the state and power producers millions of dollars. Please be respectful and cooperate during inspections to help get everyone on the lake as quickly as possible.
Ocean salmon fisheries
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) approved a recreational Chinook catch quota of 53,750 fish, up from last year’s quota of 41,000 for Neah Bay (Marine Area 4), La Push (Marine Area 3), Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2), and Ilwaco (Marine Area 1). The PFMC, which establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast, also adopted a quota of 99,720 hatchery-marked coho up from last year’s quota of 79,800.
“With these approved quotas, ocean anglers can look forward to an enjoyable ocean salmon fishing season, all while upholding federal and state conservation mandates for all salmon stocks,” said Dr. Alexandrea Safiq, Marine Salmon Policy Coordinator with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
WDFW may use in-season management to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook and hatchery-marked coho recreational total allowable catch in all four marine areas. These areas could close earlier if the guideline or quota is met. Throughout the summer, anglers can check WDFW’s webpage for ocean salmon catch updates.
· Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) is open seven days per week beginning June 21 to July 3. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
Open seven days per week beginning July 4 to 31. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
Open seven days per week beginning Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release chum beginning Aug. 1.
The Marine Area 4 Chinook guideline is 12,600 Chinook (9,430 in 2024) and the hatchery coho quota is 10,370 (8,300 in 2024).
Waters east of a north-south line through Sail Rock are closed from June 21 to July 31. Beginning Aug. 1, anglers cannot retain Chinook east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. Kydaka Point Area (waters south of a line from Kydaka Point westerly approximately four miles to Shipwreck Point) is closed to salmon fishing though Aug. 15.
· Marine Area 3 (La Push) is open seven days per week beginning June 21 to July 3. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
Open seven days per week beginning July 4 to Sept. 15. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release chum beginning Aug. 1.
The Marine Area 3 Chinook guideline is 2,280 (1,630 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 2,590 (2,070 in 2024).
· Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores) is open seven days per week beginning June 21 to June 28. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
Open seven days per week beginning June 29 to Sept. 15. The daily limit is two salmon, and only one may be a Chinook. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
The Marine Area 2 Chinook guideline is 22,270 (17,430 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 36,900 (29,530 in 2024).
Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2–1) is open under the same rules as Marine Area 2 from June 21 to July 31. Rules for Marine Area 2–1 change in August, and details will be listed in the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. The portion of Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2–2) west of the Buoy 13 line and the Grays Harbor Control Zone is open June 21 to Sept. 15 under the same rules as Marine Area 2. Grays Harbor east of the Buoy 13 line is closed beginning June 21 to July 31. The Westport Boat Basin and Ocean Shores Boat Basin opens beginning Aug. 16.
· Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) is open seven days per week beginning June 25 to Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, and only one may be a Chinook. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Prior to June 25, possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited on days when the subarea is closed to salmon retention. The Columbia River Control Zone is closed to salmon fishing, except from the north jetty when adjacent waters north of the Control Zone are open to salmon fishing or the Buoy 10 fishery is open to salmon fishing.
The Marine Area 1 Chinook guideline is 16,600 (12,510 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 49,860 (39,000 in 2024).
Columbia River salmon fisheries
Fall fisheries on the Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco are planned for an Aug. 1 opener, with different dates by area for Chinook and coho. This includes steelhead restrictions throughout the river. The coho run size is expected to provide similar fishing opportunities. The Chinook run size is slightly improved upon last year’s return and expected to provide good fishing opportunities.
The 2025 Columbia River sockeye forecast of 350,200 is about half of last year’s record return, however this year’s forecast is slightly higher than the 10-year recent average return and predicted to be a good return.
The Columbia River sockeye fisheries on the mainstem at and above Hanford Reach and above Priest Rapids Dam will open with different dates this summer that are similar to past years with a four sockeye daily limit.
The 2025 Lake Wenatchee sockeye forecast is 94,000 in 2025 and is well above the spawning escapement objective of 23,000 at Tumwater Dam. If the spawning objective is met there is a possibility for another late-summer sport fishery in the lake. The 2024 record breaking sockeye return was 190,117 (97,000 was the forecast in 2024).
Summer Chinook fisheries on the Columbia River are planned to be closed although some inseason changes could be made if there is sufficient allocation remaining. In waters downstream of Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, sockeye will be allowed for retention from June 22 to July 6 with a daily limit of one sockeye and one hatchery-marked steelhead.
Other fishing highlights
· The Skykomish River from the mouth to the Wallace River is open for hatchery Chinook now through July 10. The daily limit is four fish, limit of two adult fish only, minimum size is 12 inches and release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Night closure in effect. Only single-point hooks and bait allowed. Continuation of the fishery is dependent on inseason updates.
· The Cascade River from mouth to Rockport/Cascade Road Bridge is open daily through July 15 for hatchery Chinook fishing.
· The Skagit River from the Memorial Highway Bridge in Mount Vernon to Gilligan Creek and Gilligan Creek to Dalles Bridge in Concrete are open for sockeye from July 1 to 15 with a four-sockeye daily limit.
WDFW researchers are tagging sockeye in the Skagit River in conjunction with an ongoing monitoring effort using hydroacoustic technology, also known as SONAR. Tagged sockeye will help the team assess the fish’s travel time between the acoustic monitoring site near Sedro-Woolley and Puget Sound Energy’s sockeye collection trap on the lower Baker River near Concrete. Any Skagit anglers who catch sockeye with a yellow tag are asked to report them to our North Puget Sound Regional Office by calling 425–775–1311 or emailing TeamMillCreek@dfw.wa.gov noting the tag number and the date, time, and location the fish was caught. Sockeye with red tags are for a separate purpose and do not need to be reported to WDFW.
· The Skagit River from 530 Bridge in Rockport to the Marblemount Bridge is open July 1 to 15 with a four hatchery Chinook only daily limit.
· The inner-Elliott Bay Chinook fishery is planned to be open Aug. 1 to 4 and is contingent on inseason updates.
· The Bellingham Bay Terminal Area salmon fishery is open Aug. 16 to Sept. 30.
· For anglers without a boat, there are options to catch salmon at year-round Puget Sound piers including the Edmonds, Fox Island, Mukilteo Ferry Landing, Seacrest in West Seattle, Dash Point Dock, Point Defiance Park Boathouse, Les Davis, and Des Moines.
WDFW encourages anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Check the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations and includes all other statewide recreational salmon fisheries.
