The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition
Latest post: Oct. 31, 2025 — Chum salmon fishery opens beginning Nov. 1 in deep South Sound, Kennedy Creek, and Carr Inlet
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 available at statewide license dealers and at WDFW offices. The Fish Washington® mobile app is also updated regularly including with emergency fishing rule changes.
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.
Find the latest salmon updates
Oct. 31, 2025 — Chum salmon fishery opens beginning Nov. 1 in deep South Sound, Kennedy Creek, and Carr Inlet
Oct. 31, 2025 — Snoqualmie River game fish season opening delayed
Oct. 29, 2025 — Nooksack River fishery changes extend salmon fishing Oct. 30 through Dec. 31 on most of mainstem, close section of lower river
Oct. 24, 2025 — Snohomish, Skykomish, and Wallace rivers fishing update; coho fishing extended through Nov. 30 on Skagit and Cascade rivers
Sept. 18, 2025 — WDFW announces recreational fishing closure beginning Sept. 20 in the Snohomish River to protect wild Chinook salmon; Wallace and Skykomish Rivers also closed until further notice
Sept. 18, 2025 — Salmon fishing days added in Columbia River downstream of Highway 395 bridge
Sept. 4, 2025 — Chinook fishing in Columbia River from Buoy 10 to Warrior Rock remains open through Saturday, Sept. 6
Sept. 4, 2025 — Salmon fishing in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) will close for the season beginning Sunday, Sept. 7
Aug. 29, 2025—Salmon fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) will reopen for one day on Saturday, Aug. 30 only
Aug. 22, 2025 — Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) closes to Chinook retention beginning Monday, Aug. 25
Aug. 21, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Saturday, Aug. 23 only
Aug. 19, 2025 — Pink salmon non-retention rule in effect for anglers planning to fish in Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner).
Aug. 19, 2025 — Projected larger than expected sockeye salmon return to Fraser River in British Columbia will allow sockeye retention in three marine areas
Aug. 14, 2025 — Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) to close for salmon fishing beginning Aug. 19, other coastal ports to remain open
Aug. 14, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Saturday, Aug. 16 only
Aug. 13, 2025 — Record return of hatchery Chinook salmon expected to Whatcom Creek
Aug. 12, 2025 — Fall Chinook harvest to open in the Snake River
Aug. 12, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook salmon retention in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) closing from Aug. 13 through 15, fishing remains open for pink and hatchery coho
Aug. 8, 2025 — All salmon fishing in Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) closing from Aug. 11-15; fishing to reopen for pink and hatchery coho beginning Aug. 16
Aug. 6, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) reopens Aug. 9 only
July 31, 2025 — Upper Columbia River and Entiat River summer Chinook fishery closes for the season
July 31, 2025 — Lower Columbia River, including Buoy 10, opens for fall Chinook and coho fishing Aug. 1; hatchery steelhead fishing extended through Aug. 31
July 30, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will reopen Aug. 1 only
July 30, 2025 — Salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will reopen July 31 to Aug. 2 only
July 23, 2025 — Marine Areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) salmon fishing will reopen on July 25 only
July 22, 2025 — Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) Chinook fishing to reopen July 24–26 only; and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) to reopen seven days per week beginning July 24
July 21, 2025 — Hanford Reach and Upper Columbia River recreational sockeye fishery has closed
July 3, 2025 — Upper Columbia River sockeye updates
June 18, 2025 — Summer salmon fishing season kicks off in earnest in many marine and freshwater areas
Chum salmon fishery opens beginning Nov. 1 in deep South Sound, Kennedy Creek, and Carr Inlet
An emergency fishing rule change will allow a limited recreational chum salmon fishery from Nov. 1 to Dec. 7 only in a portion of Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound), Kennedy Creek and Carr Inlet, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and tribal co-managers determined a sufficient number of chum returning to South Puget Sound.
The 2025 preseason forecast of 730,267 fall chum salmon returning to central and south Puget Sound before WDFW and tribal co-managers updated it to 950,000 fish on Friday, Oct.31 by WDFW and tribal co-managers. The updated chum run-size is based on data collected from the Apple Cove Point test fishery that operates at the Marine Areas 9 and 10 boundary line near the Kingston area.
The portion of Marine Area 13 selected for opening for recreational chum fishing presents a low risk of impacting wild winter-run stocks returning to South Puget Sound and returns of fall-run stocks to the area are large enough to support harvest. Agreements from the North of Falcon season setting process between WDFW and tribal co-managers identified that these recreational fishery openings would be dependent on in-season discussions.
Marine area sections opening for chum fishing are:
- Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) waters northerly and westerly of a line projected from the Johnson Point (47°10'40.8"N, 122°48'53.3"W) to Devil’s Head (47°10'01.2"N, 122°46'01.5"W). The daily limit is two salmon. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release wild coho and wild Chinook.
- Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) waters of Carr Inlet northerly of a line projected from Penrose Point (47°15'53.6"N, 122°44'11.5"W) to Green Point (47°16'55.2"N, 122°41'41.8"W). The daily limit is two salmon. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release wild coho and wild Chinook.
- Kennedy Creek from mouth (an arc 500 yards east of the midpoint of the northbound Highway 101 Bridge) to the northbound Highway 101 Bridge. The daily limit is two salmon. Minimum size is 12 inches. Anglers must release wild coho and wild Chinook. Night closure and selective gear rules in effect.
Marine Area 13 waterways not covered above (which include waters surrounding Anderson Island and around the Nisqually River) remain under rules listed in the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet and require release of chum salmon.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go. See the WDFW Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition for additional Puget Sound region fishery information.
Snoqualmie River game fish season opening delayed
The Snoqualmie River will remain closed to all recreational fishing from Nov. 1 to 14 from the mouth to Snoqualmie Falls.
Early in the recreational season, encounters with Chinook exceeded pre-season agreements for the Snohomish River system. While nearing the end of their run, Chinook spawning activity is still actively occurring in the Snoqualmie River. Chinook spawning activity is expected to be completed by Nov. 15 when fishing will open.
Refer to our emergency fishing rule change or the Fish Washington® mobile app for detailed regulations for the Snoqualmie River.
For information on other Snohomish River Basin fisheries, please refer to the Oct. 24 blog post below.
Nooksack River fishery changes extend salmon fishing Oct. 30 through Dec. 31 on most of mainstem, close section of lower river.
An emergency fishing rule change published Oct. 29 extends the recreational salmon fishing season on most of the mainstem Nooksack River in Whatcom County north of Bellingham.
A section of the lower Nooksack River from the Lummi Indian Reservation boundary to the yellow marker approximately 0.65 miles upstream of Slater Road at coordinates 48° 49’ 30.1”N, 122° 35' 08.3”W will be closed to fishing for all species. Follow this link for a Google Maps pin showing the location of the yellow marker. The Nooksack River on the Lummi Indian Reservation below Marine Drive is closed to non-tribal fishing.
From the yellow marker approximately 0.65 miles upstream of Slater Road to the FFA high school barn in Deming is scheduled to remain open Oct. 30–Dec. 31, 2025 under the following regulations:
- Salmon: minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six, including no more than two wild coho, two chum, two Chinook and four pink salmon.
Co-manager agreements from the North of Falcon season setting process identified that recreational fishery openings in the lower Nooksack after Oct. 27 would be dependent on in-season management discussions. In-season discussions led to the closure area in the rule to avoid gear conflicts during co-manager chum fisheries. Coho and chum salmon returns are sufficient for additional salmon fishing opportunity above the closure area.
Several county parks and WDFW-managed water access areas provide quality boating and bank fishing access to the mainstem Nooksack River, which can provide exceptional late-season coho fishing as well as opportunities for fall Chinook and chum salmon.
Anglers are asked to respect tribal fishers and reminded to not interfere with tribal fisheries on the Nooksack or other rivers.
Snohomish, Skykomish, and Wallace rivers fishing update; coho fishing extended through Nov. 30 on Skagit and Cascade rivers
As detailed in our update from Sept. 20, areas of the Snohomish Basin were previously closed to all fishing because encounters with Chinook early in the recreational fishery exceeded management agreements.
As of Oct. 24, game fish seasons and most salmon seasons are now able to resume because Chinook spawning activity has concluded in most areas and is expected to be done in all areas by Nov. 1.
Refer to our emergency fishing rule change or the Fish Washington® mobile app for detailed regulations, fishing areas, and dates for the Snohomish, Skykomish, and Wallace rivers.
The Skykomish River upstream of the boat ramp below Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe remains closed to recreational fishing through Oct. 31 and returns to permanent rules Nov. 1.
Further north in the North Puget Sound Region, coho fishing has been extended through Nov. 30 on the Skagit and Cascade rivers because estimates indicate harvestable coho catch guidelines have not been reached for these recreational fisheries, allowing additional fishing opportunity. The extended opportunity only applies to coho salmon.
Refer to our emergency fishing rule changes for the Skagit River and Cascade River for detailed regulations, fishing areas, and dates, or check the Fish Washington® mobile app.
The Cascade River will also open seven days a week because scheduled treaty fisheries have concluded for the season.
A portion of the Skagit River from Gilligan Creek to Baker River will close to all fishing Oct. 28–30 to avoid gear conflicts during scheduled tribal treaty fisheries. Anglers are asked to respect tribal fishers and reminded to not interfere with tribal fisheries. Areas upstream and downstream of the closure area remain open as listed.
For tips on fishing for salmon in rivers and other freshwater areas, visit the fishing and shellfishing basics section of the WDFW website.
WDFW announces recreational fishing closure beginning Sept. 20 in the Snohomish River to protect wild Chinook salmon
This year’s rather large pink salmon returns boosted interest in the Snohomish River recreational fishery and through Sept. 15, an estimated 28,575 angler trips were recorded in the fishery with more than 19,000 pink salmon harvested and an additional 15,000 pink salmon caught and released.
With that increased amount of time on the water, the number of allowable wild Chinook salmon impacts was expected to be reached by the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 19. The closure to all recreational fishing from Sept. 20 through Oct. 31 will allow more of the wild Chinook salmon in the river system to survive and spawn.
Conservation and recovery of wild Chinook salmon returning to the Snohomish River and its tributaries is an important issue the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers and tribal co-managers evaluated during the 2025 North of Falcon process. The process concluded with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) salmon season setting meetings in San Jose, California, on April 10–15, 2025.
During the process, fishery managers set a number of allowable Chinook salmon impacts for the Snohomish River system based on the 2025 Chinook salmon forecast. Impacts are the cumulative effect on protected salmon stocks or runs from harvest and other sources of mortality, including catch and release mortalities from encounters. Impacts are severely restricted by the Endangered Species Act, exploitation rates, and other conservation measures.
Each year, Chinook salmon return to the North Puget Sound Region’s Snohomish Basin from late spring through September. For many years, this watershed has hosted popular recreational salmon fisheries including this season when the Snohomish River from the mouth at the Burlington-Northern Railroad bridges (including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways, excluding all tributaries) to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers opened on Aug. 23 for pink and coho salmon. There was also an early summer hatchery Chinook salmon fishery in the Skykomish River, a tributary of the Snohomish River, from June 10 through July 10.
The Wallace River from the mouth to 200 feet upstream of water intake of salmon hatchery, and Skykomish River from mouth to railroad bridge at Big Eddy will have temporary closures to all fishing beginning Monday, Oct. 13, until further notice. The closure is necessary to prevent wild Chinook encounters in the recreational fishery. Chinook spawning activity is still present in both rivers.
WDFW and tribal co-managers will continue to assess the Chinook salmon return, and the fishery could reopen once the Chinook salmon have passed upriver to the spawning grounds. 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 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for fishing rules. Download the Fish Washington mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
WDFW understands the value these fisheries hold for anglers given their accessibility and popularity for summer and fall recreation.
WDFW is committed to providing sustainable fishing opportunities balanced with salmon conservation needs and are continually working to improve fisheries management in the interest of salmon, anglers, tribes, and all Washingtonians.
For the 2025–26 salmon season setting process materials, refer to the NOF public meeting webpage. You can read more about understanding Puget Sound fisheries management on the WDFW blog. As part of the 2025–26 salmon season setting process, WDFW created “The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition. This blog provides regular updates of in-season salmon fishery developments.
Sept. 18, 2025 — Salmon fishing days added in Columbia River downstream of Highway 395 bridge through Sept. 21
Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington took joint state action Wednesday, Sept. 17 to add salmon fishing days in the mainstem Columbia River, from west Puget Island upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, through Sunday, Sept. 21. The daily limit is two adult salmon (Chinook or coho), but only one may be a Chinook. Wild coho caught downstream of the Hood River bridge must be released.
Under permanent regulations, salmon retention closed Sept. 6 from west Puget Island upstream to Warrior Rock and was scheduled to close Sept. 18 through Sept. 30 from Warrior Rock upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge. The fishery will return to permanent regulations after Sept. 21 and will be closed to salmon and steelhead angling through Sept. 30.
Fishery managers also took joint state action to reopen Chinook retention at Buoy 10 effective Thursday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 21. The fishery, which extends from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia River to a line at the west end of west Puget Island, had closed to Chinook retention after Sept. 6 under permanent rules. The daily limit is two adult salmon (Chinook or hatchery coho) but only one may be a Chinook. Anglers must release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho. The fishery will return to hatchery coho retention only after Sept. 21 with a daily limit of two hatchery coho.
The U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Sept. 15 updated the run size projection for adult fall Chinook returning to the mouth of the Columbia River to 637,870. This run size update is 13% lower than the preseason forecast of 736,200 adult fall Chinook. However, the updated forecast includes 307,600 upriver bright fall Chinook returning to Columbia River tributaries upstream of Priest Rapids Dam and the Snake River, which is similar to the preseason forecast of 328,100 adult fish.
“While the overall forecast is lower than preseason expectations, the projection for upriver brights is tracking similar to expectations,” said Ryan Lothrop, WDFW’s Columbia River Fisheries Manager. “That gives us flexibility within our allowable harvest limits to provide additional opportunity in the lower river while still meeting our conservation obligations.”
Fishery managers remind anglers that fishing is closed in the Columbia River in an area adjacent to Tanner Creek on the Oregon shore through Oct. 15. This closure, near Hamilton Island Boat ramp downstream of Bonneville Dam, helps protect Chinook staging at the mouth of Tanner Creek. For more details, including a map of the closure area, refer to the emergency fishing rule.
As of Sept. 16, 341,725 adult fall Chinook have been counted at Bonneville Dam. Fishery managers will continue to monitor the run size to determine if additional opportunities can be considered. The U.S. v. Oregon TAC is expected to meet again Monday, Sept. 22.
In-season catch estimates for Buoy 10 and other sections of the lower Columbia River are available on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Columbia River fishing reports webpage or on WDFW’s Buoy 10 fishing reports webpage.
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.
Anglers can be notified of any in-season rule changes as they are announced by signing up for Columbia River Compact and WDFW regulation updates.
Sept. 4, 2025 — Chinook fishing in Columbia River from Buoy 10 to Warrior Rock remains open through Saturday, Sept. 6
This year’s Buoy 10 fishery kicked off Aug. 1 with usual fanfare, drawing anglers from near and far to participate in the popular salmon fishery near the mouth of the Columbia River. Despite warm weather, preliminary catch rates are within preseason expectations, and a strong run of fall Chinook has led to consistent bites. Coho fishing has also been productive at Buoy 10.
The Buoy 10 fishery is open to Chinook and hatchery coho retention through Sept. 6. After that date, Chinook retention will close under permanent rules, and only hatchery coho can be kept as part of the adult daily limit through Dec. 31. Hatchery steelhead retention closed Sept. 1.
“We’re currently reviewing catch data and stock composition to see how fisheries are performing against preseason expectations,” said Ryan Lothrop, WDFW’s Columbia River fisheries manager. “Whether additional recreational opportunities will be possible depends in part on an upriver fall Chinook run size update, which we expect to have in the coming weeks. In the meantime, recreational fisheries are ongoing throughout the river as scheduled.”
Salmon fishing will be closed from Puget Island upstream to Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock Sept. 7 through Sept. 30 and from Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco Sept. 18 through Sept. 30. These lower Columbia River salmon closures are necessary to keep harvest of upriver bright Chinook within harvest constraints.
As of Sept. 4, over 150,000 adult fall Chinook have been counted passing Bonneville Dam. The preseason forecast expects 736,200 adult Chinook and 342,100 coho to return to the mouth of the Columbia River in 2025. It’s too early for the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to provide a run size assessment for upriver fall Chinook, but fishery managers expect TAC to provide an update in September.
Fishery managers may modify regulations as in-season data becomes available about actual returns. Anglers should review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or Fish Washington® app for specific rules in the waterbody they plan to fish, as well as check the emergency rule changes before heading out.
To receive regulation updates and Columbia River Compact fishery notices via email, subscribe to WDFW’s mailing lists. For more information about this year’s Columbia River salmon fisheries, refer to the summer and fall fishery plan on the Columbia River Compact webpage.
Sept. 4, 2025 — Salmon fishing in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) will close for the season beginning Sunday, Sept. 7
Salmon fishing in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) will close for the season beginning Sunday, Sept. 7, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined the recreational coho catch total was nearing the allowable quota.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 4 through Sunday, Aug. 31, have reached 88% of the hatchery coho quota (9,128 of 10,370) and 75% of the Chinook guideline (9,442 of 12,600). The catch per angler trip from Aug. 25–31 was 0.06 for Chinook and 1.39 for coho for a total of 1.45.
In Marine Area 4, salmon fishing west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line is open from Sept. 4 to 6. The daily limit is two salmon. Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release chum and wild coho.
In Marine Area 4, salmon fishing east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line is open Sept. 4 to 6. The daily limit is two salmon. Coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release Chinook, chum and wild coho.
Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores) will remain open daily for salmon fishing through Sept. 15 and could close earlier if quotas/guidelines are projected to be met. Anglers can retain one Chinook as part of their two salmon daily limit. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Hatchery coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all wild coho.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 2 through Aug. 31, have reached 80% of the hatchery coho quota (29,548 of 36,900) and 60% of the Chinook guideline (13,375 of 22,270). The catch per angler trip from Aug. 25–31 was 0.24 for Chinook and 1.33 for coho for a total of 1.57.
Salmon fishing at Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) and Marine Area 3 (La Push) are closed for the season. The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth is open for late-summer salmon fishing. The North Jetty at Cape Disappointment is open under Buoy 10 salmon fishing rules. For catch information, refer to the ocean sport salmon report and the Buoy 10 fishing report, which WDFW typically updates once each week.
Refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or Fish Washington® app mobile app for coastal salmon fishing rules. Anglers are encouraged to sign up for WDFW’s Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules prior to fishing. See the WDFW Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition for additional salmon fishery information.
Aug. 29, 2025 — Salmon fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) will reopen for one day on Aug. 30 only; Marine Area 3 (La Push) to close for salmon fishing on Sept. 2
Salmon fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) will reopen for one day on Saturday, Aug. 30 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers determined enough salmon remained in the recreational catch quota.
Through Aug. 18, the catch estimate for Marine Area 1 had reached 93% of the hatchery coho quota (46,431 of 49,860) and 44% of the Chinook guideline (7,228 of 16,600). Fishery managers will evaluate catch and remaining quota following the upcoming opener to determine whether the fishery can be opened for additional opportunity this season.
On Aug. 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 restriction. The Columbia River Control Zone is closed to fishing for salmon, except for the North Jetty at Cape Disappointment.
Marine Area 1 is closed for salmon fishing through Aug. 29 and from Aug. 31 through Sept. 30. When salmon fishing is closed, possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited, including in transit between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter Point.
Marine Area 3 (La Push) to close for salmon fishing on Sept. 2 and was expected to reach its catch quota of 2,590 hatchery coho by Sept. 1. Possession of salmon onboard a vessel in Marine Area 3 is prohibited, including in transit.
Other coastal ports including Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores) and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) remain open daily for salmon fishing through Sept. 15. All three marine areas could close earlier if quotas/guidelines are projected to be met.
The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth is open for late-summer salmon. The North Jetty at Cape Disappointment is open under Buoy 10 salmon fishing rules. For catch information, refer to the ocean sport salmon report and the Buoy 10 fishing report, which WDFW typically updates weekly.
Refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or Fish Washington® app mobile app for coastal salmon fishing rules. Anglers are encouraged to sign up for WDFW’s Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules prior to fishing. See the WDFW Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition for additional salmon fishery information.
Aug. 22, 2025 — Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) closes to Chinook retention beginning Monday, Aug. 25
Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) will close for the season on Monday, Aug. 25, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers announced today.
WDFW fishery managers have determined the maximum number of Chinook sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — will be reached by the end of Aug. 24. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
Marine Area 11 remains open from Aug. 22 through Aug. 24 for hatchery Chinook retention. The daily limit is two salmon and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 11 is open seven days per week from Aug. 25 through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon. Anglers must release chum and Chinook.
Marine Area 11 is also open seven days per week from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release Chinook.
At Marine Area 11 year-round piers — Des Moines Pier, Les Davis Pier in Tacoma, Point Defiance Park Boathouse Dock in Tacoma, and Redondo Pier — refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet, for specific salmon fishing rules.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (South Puget Sound) — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the Fish Washington® mobile app and 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and more information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
Aug. 21, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens for one day on Saturday, Aug. 23 only
Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens for one day on Saturday, Aug. 23 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough hatchery Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
The latest catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 Chinook fishery indicate that 92% of the harvest quota (2,904 of 3,166), and 22% of sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — (1,466 of 6,742) have been reached. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
When Marine Area 10 is open Aug. 23 only for hatchery Chinook retention, the daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 10 is also open seven days per week for nonselective coho fishing through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon, with no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook and chum other than during the Aug. 23 fishery.
Within in Marine Area 10, Shilshole Bay and waters of “West” Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point up to a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 are closed to salmon fishing. Both areas will open Sept. 1 for coho and pink salmon only. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, the Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) are currently open for salmon fishing.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (South Puget Sound) — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the Fish Washington(c) mobile app and 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
Aug. 19, 2025 — Pink salmon non-retention rule in effect for anglers planning to fish in Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner)
With millions of pink salmon arriving throughout Puget Sound and anglers finding good success, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds anglers that pink retention is not allowed in Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner). This rule also applies to the Tulalip Terminal Area Fishery, and the Stillaguamish River.
Anglers are not allowed to stop and fish in Marine Area 8–2 with a catch of pink salmon onboard even if they caught them in an open area.
The 2025 Stillaguamish River pink salmon forecast is expected to be low compared to past years so there are fishing restrictions along the migration highway from marine areas and into the river.
Marine Area 8–2 is open daily through Sept. 24 for non-selective coho fishing only. The daily limit is two salmon with no minimum size restriction. Release all Chinook, chum, and pink salmon.
For more information on pink salmon and other fisheries, go to the WDFW blog at https://wdfw.medium.com/its-time-to-think-pink-salmon-2fc151048c77. Refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional salmon fishing rules. 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.
Aug. 19, 2025 — Projected larger than expected sockeye salmon return to Fraser River in southern British Columbia will allow sockeye retention in three marine areas
Sockeye retention opens in Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), and 7 (San Juan Islands) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 31.
The Fraser River sockeye salmon population is experiencing a larger than expected return in 2025, with estimates now exceeding 10 million fish. The 2025 preseason forecast was 2,947,000.
The Fraser River Panel — created in 1985 is responsible for in-season regulation of Fraser River-origin sockeye and pink salmon fisheries within southern British Columbia and northern Puget Sound — updated its in-season estimate on Aug. 19 for the total Fraser sockeye return to 10,175,000 fish.
The 2025 Fraser River pink salmon return is also quite large with a preseason forecast of nearly 27 million.
The Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7 daily limit is two, plus two additional pink salmon. There is no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook, chum, and wild coho. This rule applies to Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7 when salmon retention is open by permanent rule except Bellingham Bay.
The Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7 daily limit is two, plus two additional pink salmon. There is no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook, chum, and wild coho. This rule applies to Marine Areas 5, 6, and 7 when salmon retention is open by permanent rule except Bellingham Bay.
Anglers can research techniques on how to catch sockeye in saltwater areas online or from local tackle shops. Often the terminal tackle used to catch sockeye is similar to kokanee gear.
Refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional salmon fishing rules. 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.
Aug. 14, 2025 — Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) to close for salmon fishing beginning Aug. 19, other coastal ports to remain open
Salmon fishing in the ocean at Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) to close beginning Tuesday, Aug. 19, until further notice, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined the recreational coho catch total was nearing the allowable quota.
“Coho fishing off the mouth of the Columbia has been hot over the past several weeks, and Marine Area 1 is getting close to its quota,” said Kyle Adicks, WDFW’s Intergovernmental Salmon Manager. “With weather expected to improve early next week, we need to close the fishery after Monday to make sure the quota is not exceeded.”
The catch estimate for Marine Area 1 has reached 86% of the hatchery coho quota (43,043 of 49,860) and 39% of the Chinook guideline (6,524 of 16,600) through Aug. 10. The catch per unit effort from the week of Aug. 4 through 10 was 1.36 salmon per angler, with more than 10,500 coho landed during the week.
The Marine Area 1 closure prohibits salmon possession aboard vessels, including in transit, between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter Point when the closure takes effect on Aug. 19, until further notice. The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth is open for late-summer salmon.
Marine Area 1 is open daily through Sunday, Aug. 18. 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.
Catch and remaining quota for Marine Area 1 will be evaluated after the closure to determine whether the fishery can be opened for additional opportunity this season.
Other coastal ports including Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), Marine Area 3 (La Push), and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) remain open daily for salmon fishing through Sept. 15. All three marine areas could close earlier if quotas/guidelines are projected to be met.
The catch estimate for Marine Area 2 has reached 58% of the hatchery coho quota (21,413 of 36,900) and 50% of the Chinook guideline (11,160 of 22,270) through Aug. 10; Marine Area 3 has reached 55% of the hatchery coho quota (1,425 of 2,590) and 44% of the Chinook guideline (1,010 of 2,280); and Marine Area 4 has reached 30% of the hatchery coho harvest quota (3,087 of 10,370) and 72% of the Chinook guideline (9,029 of 12,600). Refer to ocean salmon catch webpage, which is usually updated by WDFW once a week.
In Marine Area 2, anglers can retain one Chinook as part of their two salmon daily limit. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Hatchery coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all wild coho.
In Marine Areas 3 and 4, anglers can retain up to two Chinook as part of their two salmon daily limit. Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Hatchery coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all chum and wild coho.
In Marine Area 4, 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 through Aug. 15.
Refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional coastal salmon fishing rules. 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. See the WDFW Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition for additional salmon fishery information.
Aug. 14, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Aug. 16 only
Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Saturday, Aug. 16 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 Chinook fishery indicate that through Aug. 10, 86% of the harvest quota (2,726 of 3,166), and 19% of sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — (1,261 of 6,742) have been reached. The total catch was 449 hatchery Chinook on the Aug. 9 opener, and 440 hatchery Chinook remain in the harvest quota. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
When Marine Area 10 is open Aug. 16 only for hatchery Chinook retention, the daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 10 is also open seven days per week for nonselective coho fishing through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon, with no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook and chum other than during the Aug. 16 fishery.
Within in Marine Area 10, Shilshole Bay and waters of “West” Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point up to a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 are closed to salmon fishing. Both areas will open Sept. 1 for coho and pink salmon only. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, the Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) are currently open for salmon fishing.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (South Puget Sound) — are open for salmon fishing. Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) reopens on Aug. 16 for pink and hatchery coho salmon. Refer to the Fish Washington(c) mobile app and 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
Aug. 13, 2025 — Record return of hatchery Chinook salmon expected to Whatcom Creek
More than 7,000 Chinook salmon are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham this season.
“We’re forecasting the largest return of Chinook on record back to Whatcom Creek over the next two months and are thrilled by how successful this partnership has been,” said Edward Eleazer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) North Puget Sound Region Fish Program manager.
Chinook begin arriving at the mouth of Whatcom Creek in mid-August and will continue returning into October. Though they’re following the same instinctive urge as their cousins in nearby rivers, these hatchery-produced salmon are not intended to reproduce in the wild or even make it more than a mile up the urban creek.
The state-managed salmon fishery in lower Whatcom Creek is open Saturdays and Sundays only through Sept. 14. Fishing is closed Monday through Friday. The fishery is open from the Whatcom Creek mouth upstream to the footbridge below Dupont Street. WDFW and City of Bellingham have posted signs near the fishing area boundaries.
A valid fishing license and salmon Catch Record Card are required. Only hatchery Chinook may be retained; any other salmon caught must be released. Fishing is closed at night from one hour after official sunset to one hour before official sunrise.
An Anti-Snagging Rule is in effect during the state fishery, meaning fishing gear is restricted to a lure or bait with one single-point hook; check the regulations or Fish Washington mobile app for details. Snagging is defined as an effort to take fish with a hook and line in a manner that the fish does not take the hook or hooks voluntarily in its mouth.
Chum and pink salmon may also return to Whatcom Creek and must be released if caught by recreational anglers unless opened to retention under an emergency Fishing Rule Change.
The Whatcom Creek Chinook return is thanks to an ongoing collaboration between Bellingham Technical College, WDFW, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. For additional information on Whatcom Creek, refer to the WDFW news release.
Reports of suspected poaching or unlawful fishing can be sent to WDFW Police by calling 877–933–9847, emailing reportpoaching@dfw.wa.gov, or using the form at wdfw.wa.gov/about/enforcement/report. Refer to in-season salmon management updates on WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
Aug. 12, 2025 — Fall Chinook harvest to open in the Snake River
A Chinook salmon fishery opens in select areas of the Snake River beginning Aug. 18 and expands Sept. 4. The 2025 Columbia River forecasted return of upriver bright adults is 313,400, with a significant portion of these fish expected to return to the Snake River. The 2024 forecast was 258,300 with an actual return of 318,089.
Anglers can fish in three main Snake River areas, each with specific dates and rules:
- Sections from below West Evans Road to the Washington/Idaho state line, and from the state line to the Oregon border will be open daily starting Aug. 18, with a daily limit of three adult Chinook. The minimum size for retained Chinook is 12 inches in all areas. Jacks (younger Chinook under 24 inches) have no daily limit but must be properly identified and recorded on a Catch Record Card.
- The Lyons Ferry Bubble Fishery will be open Thursdays through Sundays from Sept. 4–Oct. 26, with a daily limit of two adult Chinook, including no more than one wild adult.
All anglers with a Washington fishing license must stop fishing for salmon once they’ve reached their daily adult Chinook limit. Because coho salmon and steelhead are also present in the Snake River during this time, anglers should carefully identify their catch to avoid keeping protected species. Any salmon or steelhead not kept as part of the daily limit must be immediately released unharmed. Two-pole fishing is prohibited during this fishery.
For more detailed information including specific location descriptions, dates, rules, and information about fishing in the Snake River between Washington and Idaho, anglers should consult the full Snake River Fall Chinook fishing rule.
Sign up for Fishing Rule Change email updates and check the WDFW website regularly for any emergency rule changes before heading out.
Aug. 12, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook salmon retention in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) closing from Aug. 13 through 15, fishing remains open for pink and hatchery coho
Hatchery Chinook salmon retention in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) will close Aug. 13 through 15, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined the recreational Chinook legal-size catch guideline is expected to be reached.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 5 Chinook fishery had reached 86% of the legal-size encounters guideline (5,389 of 6,247) through Aug. 3. The legal-size encounters guideline is expected to be reached by Aug. 12. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
Marine Area 5 remains open daily through Aug. 15 for pink and hatchery coho salmon, except the Kydaka Point area, which is closed to salmon fishing during that time. In the open area of Marine Area 5, the daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. There is no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho.
From Aug. 16 through Sept. 26, all of Marine Area 5 is open daily for pink and hatchery coho salmon only. The daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. There is no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho.
From Sept. 27 through Oct. 9, Marine Area 5 is also open daily for pink and coho salmon only. The daily limit is two salmon. There is no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all Chinook, chum, and sockeye. For additional Marine Area 5 fishing regulations, refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the Tulalip Terminal Fishery — are open for salmon fishing. Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) reopens on Aug. 16 for pink and hatchery coho salmon. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
Aug. 8, 2025 — All salmon fishing in Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) closing from Aug. 11-15; fishing to reopen for pink and hatchery coho beginning Aug. 16
All salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, in Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca) will close Aug. 11-15, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined the recreational Chinook legal-size catch guideline is expected to be reached by Aug. 10.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 6 Chinook fishery had reached 90% of the legal-size catch guideline (5,896 of 6,550) through Aug. 3. The legal-size catch guideline is expected to be reached by Aug. 10. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
Marine Area 6 — west of a true north/south line through the #2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook — is open daily through Aug. 10 for hatchery Chinook retention. The daily limit is two salmon, including no more than one hatchery Chinook, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. No minimum size restriction for other salmon species. Release all chum, sockeye, wild coho, and wild Chinook.
Another section of Marine Area 6 — east of a true north/south line through the #2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook — is open for pink and hatchery coho salmon only until Aug. 10. The daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release all Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho.
All of Marine Area 6 is then closed to all salmon fishing from Aug. 11-15 and will reopen daily from Aug. 16-Sept. 26 for pink and hatchery coho salmon only. The daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release all Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho.
Marine Area 6 is also open daily from Sept. 27-Oct. 16. The daily limit is two salmon. No minimum size restriction. Release all Chinook, chum, and sockeye. For additional Marine Area 6 fishing regulations, refer to the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the Tulalip Terminal Fishery — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
Aug. 6, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Aug. 9 only
Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) reopens Aug. 9 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 Chinook fishery indicate that through Aug. 3, 72% of the harvest quota (2,277 of 3,166), and 13% of sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — (888 of 6,742) have been reached. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season.
Additional Chinook retention days may be possible in Marine Area 10 pending additional catch estimates from Aug. 9 opener. Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
When Marine Area 10 is open Aug. 9 only for hatchery Chinook retention, the daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 10 is also open seven days per week for nonselective coho fishing through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon, with no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook and chum.
Within in Marine Area 10, Shilshole Bay and waters of “West” Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point up to a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 are closed to salmon fishing. Both areas will open Sept. 1 for coho and pink salmon only. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) are currently open for salmon fishing.
Inner-East Elliott Bay will open for coho and pink salmon fishing from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30. The open area is east of a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 to a line extending from Jack Block Park through the northernmost tip of Harbor Island extending to shore northeast of the North Waterway. The daily limit is two salmon, and anglers may keep two additional pink salmon. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release Chinook and chum. For all Marine Area 10 fisheries, follow rules listed in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the Tulalip Terminal Fishery — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
Additional Chinook fishing days for Marine Areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) may occur, pending additional catch estimates. It might be possible to open hatchery Chinook retention as late as Aug. 15 in both areas as per the “List of Agreed Fisheries.”
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
July 31, 2025 — Upper Columbia River and Entiat River summer Chinook fishery closes for the season
The Upper Columbia River and Entiat River salmon fisheries will close for the season beginning Aug. 2, after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishery managers determined the summer Chinook harvest allocation will be achieved by Aug. 1.
Salmon fishing from Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam, the last section still open to salmon retention, will close for the season beginning Aug. 2 along with the remaining Upper Columbia River.
The area closing for the season beginning Aug. 2 on the Entiat River is from the mouth (at the Railroad Bridge) to the Mad River Bridge crossing the Entiat River near Ardenvoir.
Sockeye retention remains open seven days per week in Lake Wenatchee in Chelan County through Aug. 31 and refer to the WDFW emergency rules webpage for details. Through July 26, 47,350 sockeye — spawning escapement goal is 23,000 — had been counted at Tumwater Dam fish passage.
Fishing for fall Chinook on the Columbia River from Priest Rapids to Rock Island Dam will open Sept. 1, as planned and described in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Refer to the WDFW fishing rule change webpage for additional information on the Upper Columbia River and Entiat River fisheries.
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 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional fishing rules. Download the Fish Washington mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
July 31, 2025 — Lower Columbia River, including Buoy 10, opens for fall Chinook and coho fishing Aug. 1; hatchery steelhead fishing extended through Aug. 31
Update (July 31): Fishery managers on July 30 took joint state action to open hatchery steelhead retention on the Columbia River downstream of The Dalles Dam through Aug. 31. Season dates and regulations below have been updated. For more details, refer to the emergency fishing rule on WDFW’s website.
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 to the mouth of the Columbia River in pursuit of fall Chinook and coho salmon.
Preseason forecasts anticipate a return of 736,200 adult fall Chinook to the mouth of the Columbia River this year, up from the 2024 return of 669,505 fish. The projected coho return is 342,100 fish.
The Buoy 10 recreational fishery, which extends from Buoy 10 to a line on the west end of Puget Island, will be open for the following dates and species in 2025:
- Aug. 1 to 6: Daily limit two salmon or one salmon and one hatchery steelhead. No more than one Chinook may be retained. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Aug. 7 to 25: Daily limit two salmon or one salmon and one hatchery steelhead. No more than one hatchery Chinook may be retained. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Aug. 26 to 31: Daily limit two salmon or one salmon and one hatchery steelhead. No more than one Chinook may be retained. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Sept. 1 to 6: Daily limit two salmon. No more than one Chinook may be retained. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Sept. 7 to 30: Daily limit two salmon. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.
- Oct. 1 to 31: Daily limit six, including up to two adult salmon. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.
- Nov. 1 to Dec. 31: Daily limit six, including no more than two adult salmon, two hatchery steelhead, or one of each. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
Note: The section of the Columbia River from Tongue Point/Rocky Point to west Puget Island is managed under slightly different regulations than Buoy 10, including allowances for jack salmon retention. Refer to the annual fishing pamphlet (page 51), Fish Washington® app, or emergency fishing rule for details.
This year’s season includes both early and late non-mark selective opportunities, when anglers can keep either hatchery or wild Chinook within their daily limit. A mark-selective period — when only hatchery Chinook may be kept — will take place during the peak of the wild Chinook presence in the lower Columbia River.
“Offering both mark-selective and non-mark fisheries gives anglers more choices of when to fish while protecting vulnerable wild stocks,” said Ryan Lothrop, WDFW’s Columbia River fisheries manager. “This balanced approach helps meet conservation goals without sacrificing access for anglers.”
Anglers are reminded that Buoy 10 is a challenging fishery. Large tide changes combined with wind and hundreds of boats can be dangerous. Anglers should know the tide schedule, weather, and their own limitations. Be sure to bring required and recommended equipment, including personal floatation devices and marine radios, and know what to do in case of an emergency.
Lower Columbia River fisheries upstream of Buoy 10
Update (July 31): Fishery managers on July 31 approved additional hatchery steelhead fishing opportunities on Drano Lake through Aug. 31. For more information, refer to the emergency fishing rule on WDFW’s website.
Other sections of the lower Columbia River — from west Puget Island upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco — will also open to fall salmon fishing Aug. 1, with regulations varying by river section.
Anglers are reminded that continuing to fish for jack salmon is prohibited once the daily adult salmon and steelhead limit has been retained. In freshwater, adult Chinook measure 24 inches or longer, and adult coho measure 20 inches or longer. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
West Puget Island to Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock
Daily limit is six, including up to two adult salmon (or one adult salmon and one hatchery steelhead when steelhead retention is allowed). No more than one adult Chinook may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead. Steelhead may not be retained Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.
- Aug. 1 to 31: Open for Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Sept. 1 to 6: Open for Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Sept. 7 to 30: Closed.
- Oct. 1 to Dec. 31: Open for hatchery coho.
Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock to Hood River Bridge
The daily limit is six, including up to two adult salmon (or one adult salmon and one hatchery steelhead when steelhead retention is allowed). No more than one adult Chinook may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead. Steelhead may not be retained Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.
- Aug. 1 to 31: Open for Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Sept. 1 to 17: Open for Chinook and coho.
- Sept. 18 to 30: Closed.
- Oct. 1 to Dec. 31: Open for hatchery coho.
Hood River Bridge to Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco
The daily limit is six, including up to two adult salmon (or one adult salmon and one hatchery steelhead when steelhead retention is allowed). No more than one adult Chinook may be retained when Chinook retention is allowed. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
- Aug. 1 to 31: Open for Chinook, coho, and hatchery steelhead (except steelhead retention is closed from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31).
- Sept. 1 to 17: Open for Chinook and coho.
- Sept. 18 to 30: Closed.
- Oct. 1 to Dec. 31: Open for coho.
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.
To receive regulation updates and Columbia River Compact fishery notices via email, subscribe to WDFW’s mailing lists. For more information about this year’s Columbia River salmon fisheries, refer to the 2025 summer and fall fishery plan on the Columbia River Compact reports and forecasts webpage.
July 30, 2025 — Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will reopen Aug. 1 only
Hatchery Chinook retention in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will reopen Aug. 1 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 7 indicate the fishery through July 27 has reached 73% of the hatchery Chinook catch quota (1,582 of 2,181), 33% of unmarked encounters (1,123 of 3,368), and 80% of sublegal encounters (1,573 of 1,967) — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit.
Marine Area 7 is open for salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, on Aug. 1 only. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release chum, sockeye, wild coho, and wild Chinook.
Additional Chinook fishing days for Marine Area 7 may occur, pending catch estimates from the Aug. 1 opener. It might be possible to open hatchery Chinook retention as late as Aug. 16 as per the “List of Agreed Fisheries.”
Marine Area 7 is also open seven days per week from Aug. 2 through Sept. 6. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho. Marine Area 7 is then open seven days per week from Sept. 7 to 30. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook, sockeye, and chum.
There are specific year-round fishing closures within Marine Area 7. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details. Bellingham Bay is open for salmon fishing from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restrictions. Daily limit is four salmon.
Many other marine areas are open for salmon fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition. To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
July 30, 2025 — Salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will reopen July 31 to Aug. 2 only
Salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) will reopen on July 31 to Aug. 2 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 Chinook fishery indicate that through July 27, 50% of the harvest quota (1,576 of 3,166), and 9% of sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — (579 of 6,742) have been reached. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season.
Marine Area 10 is open for salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, on July 31 to Aug. 2 only. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Release chum and wild Chinook. It might be possible to open hatchery Chinook retention sometime in August as per the “List of Agreed Fisheries.”
On fishing days other than Aug. 1 to 2, Marine Area 10 is also open seven days per week for nonselective coho fishing through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook and chum. Beginning Aug. 1, anglers may retain two additional pink salmon.
Shilshole Bay and waters of Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point remain closed to salmon fishing on July 31. Waters of Elliott Bay will open for coho and pink salmon on Aug. 1 and Shilshole Bay remains closed through Aug. 31 as listed in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) follow rules listed in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Other marine areas open for salmon fishing
WDFW fishery managers are still assessing the Chinook catch for Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) and plan to announce an update soon. Additional Chinook openings may occur based on available quota and wild Chinook encounter limits.
Marine Area 7 is open seven days per week from Aug. 1 through Sept. 6. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho. Marine Area 7 is also open seven days per week from Sept. 7 to 30. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook, sockeye, and chum.
There are specific year-round fishing closures within Marine Area 7. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details. Bellingham Bay is open for salmon fishing from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restrictions. Daily limit is four salmon.
Inner-“East” Elliott Bay is open salmon fishing, including Chinook retention, from Aug. 1 until 12 p.m. on Aug. 4. The open area is east of a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 to a line extending from Jack Block Park through the northernmost tip of Harbor Island extending to shore northeast of the North Waterway. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release chum.
Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) is open seven days per week beginning Aug. 1 through Sept. 24. Daily limit is two salmon. No minimum size restriction. Release Chinook, chum, and pink.
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) is open for salmon fishing, including hatchery Chinook retention, now through July 31. Daily limit is two including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 11 is also open seven days per week from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon, including no more than two hatchery Chinook plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook. Chinook retention may close earlier if the quota is attained.
In Marine Area 11, the waters of Commencement Bay east of a line bearing 215 degrees true from the Cliff House Restaurant on north shore through Sperry Ocean Dock are closed for salmon fishing through July 31. Salmon fishing is open seven days per week from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon, including no more than two hatchery Chinook, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook. Chinook retention may close earlier if the quota is attained.
Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay) is open seven days per week from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size limit. Release Chinook and chum.
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is open seven days per week from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. No minimum size limit. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho. There are specific fishing closures within Marine Area 9. The Edmonds Public Fishing Pier and the northern Hood Canal fishery (waters of Marine Area 9 south of a line drawn from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point) have summer/early fall fishing opportunities.
Many other locations — including Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), 2–1 (Willapa Bay), 2–2 (Grays Harbor), 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the Tulalip Terminal Fishery — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 5 indicate the fishery through July 27 has reached 64% of the hatchery legal-size Chinook encounters (3,981 of 6,247). Marine Area 6 has reached 72% (4,690 of 6,550). Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications. Check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
July 23, 2025 — Marine Areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) salmon fishing will reopen on July 25 only
Salmon fishing will also reopen on July 24 in Marine Areas 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) and 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area).
Salmon fishing in Marine Areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will reopen on July 25 only, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough summer Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 7 indicate the fishery through July 20 has reached 66% of the hatchery Chinook catch quota (1,433 of 2,181), 31% of unmarked Chinook encounters (1,046 of 3,368) and 77% of sublegal encounters (1,510 of 1,967) — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit.
Marine Area 7 is closed in July for all salmon fishing except July 25 when it is open for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release chum, sockeye, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Additional Chinook fishing days for Marine Area 7 may occur, pending catch estimates from the July 25 opener. It might be possible to open as late as Aug. 16 as per the “List of Agreed Fisheries.”
Marine Area 7 is open from Aug. 1 through Sept. 6 for hatchery coho and pink salmon with no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho.
Marine Area 7 is then open from Sept. 7 to 30 fishing for coho and pink salmon with no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release Chinook, sockeye, and chum.
There are specific year-round fishing closures within Marine Area 7. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details. Bellingham Bay is open for salmon fishing from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restrictions. Daily limit is four salmon.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 9 indicate the fishery through July 20 has reached 69% of the hatchery Chinook catch quota (2,681 of 3,900).
Marine Area 9 is closed in July for all salmon fishing except July 25 when it is open for hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho and pink salmon. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 9 is open from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 for hatchery coho and pink salmon with no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.
There are specific fishing closures within Marine Area 9. The Edmonds Public Fishing Pier and the northern Hood Canal fishery (waters of Marine Area 9 south of a line drawn from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point) have summer/early fall fishing opportunities. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
Several other marine areas — including Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area), 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound), and the Tulalip Terminal Fishery — are open for salmon fishing. Refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details.
Catch estimates for Marine Area 5 indicate the fishery through July 20 has reached 54% of the hatchery legal-size Chinook encounters (3,389 of 6,247), and Marine Area 6 has reached 56% (3,640 of 6,550). Refer to the WDFW website for the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced, go to the WDFW mailing notification lists. Refer to the WDFW fishing rules webpage for additional details. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
July 22, 2025 — Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) Chinook fishing to reopen July 24–26 only; and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) to reopen seven days per week beginning July 24
Chinook salmon fishing in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) will reopen on July 24 to 26 only, and Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island Area) will reopen seven days per week beginning July 24, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined enough Chinook remained in the recreational catch quota.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 10 Chinook fishery indicate that through July 20, 30% of the harvest quota (951 of 3,166), and 7% of sublegal encounters — Chinook under the 22-inch minimum “keeper” size limit — (453 of 6,742) have been reached. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow for this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season.
Marine Area 10 is open for salmon fishing on July 24 to 26 only. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size restriction. Daily limit is two salmon including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Release all chum and wild Chinook.
Marine Area 10 is also open seven days per week for nonselective coho fishing from July 27 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon. No minimum size restriction. Release all Chinook and chum. Beginning Aug. 1, anglers may retain two additional pink salmon.
Shilshole Bay and waters of Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point remain closed to salmon fishing. Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, Agate Pass Area, and year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) follow rules listed in the 2025–26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Marine Area 11 is open seven days per week for salmon fishing from July 24 to 31. The daily limit is two including no more than one hatchery Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook.
Catch estimates for the Marine Area 11 Chinook fishery indicate that through July 20, 8% of the harvest quota (259 of 3,379), 7% of sublegal encounters (248 of 3,675), and 6% of unmarked encounters (99 of 1,771) have been reached. Based on daily catch rates, sufficient quota remains to allow this additional opening of the 2025 Chinook season.
Marine Area 11 will then be open for salmon fishing from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon, including no more than two hatchery Chinook plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook. Chinook retention may close earlier if the quota is attained.
In Marine Area 11, the waters of Commencement Bay east of a line bearing 215 degrees true from the Cliff House Restaurant on north shore through Sperry Ocean Dock are closed for salmon fishing through July 31. Salmon fishing is then open seven days per week from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 with a two salmon daily limit, including no more than two hatchery Chinook, plus two additional pink salmon may be retained. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size restriction. Release chum and wild Chinook. Chinook retention may close earlier if the quota is attained.
WDFW fishery managers are still assessing the Chinook catch after the initial July 17–19 opener for Marine Areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and plan to announce an update soon. Additional Chinook openings may occur in each marine area based on available quota and wild Chinook encounter limits.
To support conservation objectives, in areas where multiple salmon stocks overlap — throughout Puget Sound — state and tribal fisheries managers must abide by harvest quotas and allowable impacts that are federally approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service based on agreed-upon run forecasts prior to the fishing season.
Given this federal oversight and the challenge of accurately assessing individual salmon stocks in a mixed-stock system, WDFW cannot increase salmon harvest quotas or encounter limits while fishing seasons are underway. However, salmon managers can add or extend fishing opportunities when available salmon harvest quota and encounter limits allow, as is the case with this extension.
Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon and information can be found on the WDFW North of Falcon webpage.
Several other marine areas — including Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point), 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca), 12 (Hood Canal), and 13 (South Puget Sound) — are currently open for salmon fishing and refer to the 2025–26 WDFW regulation pamphlet for details. Click here to view the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas. To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced sign up for email notifications at wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists. Follow in-season salmon management updates, by going to the WDFW’s The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2025 edition.
WDFW fishery managers continue to call on salmon anglers to submit voluntary Salmon Trip Reports to help to increase the amount of data available for in-season management. These trip reports are just one tool in a suite of options fisheries managers use to collect biological and fishery data for Puget Sound salmon. Other monitoring tools include dockside sampling, test fishing, and boat surveys. Anglers can complete the voluntary Salmon Trip Report Form online or visit the WDFW website to download a paper copy.
July 21, 2025 — Hanford Reach and Upper Columbia River recreational sockeye fishery has closed
The Hanford Reach and Upper Columbia River sockeye fishery is now closed as the recreational sockeye harvest allocation has been met.
On July 21, 2025, the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) downgraded the Columbia River sockeye run size from a preseason forecast of 350,200 to 167,500 on July 21. To help support conservation objectives at this reduced run size, the available sockeye harvest was 11,725 fish through July 21.
In early July the run-size was downgraded, and to slow harvest down and extend the season as far into the summer as possible, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers reduced the daily catch limit from four sockeye to two and shortened the numbers of days per week the recreational fishery was open (Wednesdays to Saturdays only).
The summer Chinook fishery on the Upper Columbia River from Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam will remain open Wednesdays through Saturdays only through Aug. 31. The salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is four including no more than one adult hatchery Chinook. Release sockeye, coho and wild adult Chinook. Refer to the WDFW fishing rule change webpage for additional information on the Upper Columbia River fisheries.
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 28.
Other statewide sockeye fisheries
There are other sockeye fishing options, including Lake Wenatchee in Chelan County which is set to open one hour before official sunrise July 23 through one hour after official sunset Aug. 31. Based on current sockeye passage analysis at Tumwater Dam and mainstem Columbia River dams, WDFW projects a surplus of harvestable sockeye destined for Lake Wenatchee, well above the natural spawning escapement goal of 23,000 fish. Refer to the fishing rule change webpage for additional information on the Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery.
On the west side of the state, WDFW and tribal co-managers met last week and updated the Baker River in-season sockeye forecast to 90,000 up from a preseason forecast of 60,214. The previous record was 65,000 in 2023. A portion of the Skagit River is open for sockeye retention through July 31, and Baker Lake is open through Aug. 31. Refer to WDFW’s Baker River webpage for additional information.
July 3, 2025 — 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.
