Species guide · Washington
Chinook salmon fishing in Washington
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, a sea-run species also called king salmon, king and blackmouth. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Off season, about 3 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm at 35, one of 8 Washington bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Off season, about 3 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Dec to Oct.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
Winter and early spring blackmouth (resident immature Chinook) in Puget Sound Nov to Apr. Ocean and Puget Sound summer Chinook July and August. Buoy 10 at the Columbia mouth opens Aug 1 with Chinook peaking through late August. Oregon coastal bay fall Chinook (Tillamook, Nehalem and others) run August through October. Seasons are set each spring through North of Falcon and PFMC.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Washington bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's chinook salmon score this hour.
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (35) · 8 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (35) · 20 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (35) · 268 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (35) · 27 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (20) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (20) · 23 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (20) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (20) · 11 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (20) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (20) · 22 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (20) · Best day Wed, Nov 4 at 12 AM (20) · 308 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 42°F to 60°F, best between 46°F and 54°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 300 ft of water.
- Structure
- Point, rip, kelp, channel, open water, estuary and bay, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide, high tide and moving water, with moderate current.In Puget Sound and Southeast Alaska, Chinook gather where tidal current runs past points and over underwater ridges, forming rips that stack herring and needlefish. At estuary mouths like Buoy 10 the incoming tide brings cooler ocean water, bait and salmon in, and ODFW names the first hour after high slack as the tide starts out as a prime window. Ocean trolling is less tide driven than inside waters.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 7 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Chinook hold near bait off points, kelp edges and tide rips, usually suspended 20 to 120 feet down and deeper as the sun gets higher. Troll slowly, under 2 mph, with a flasher and herring, hoochie or spoon on a downrigger, or mooch a plug-cut herring at the depth where the sounder shows bait. Winter blackmouth and feeder kings sit within 10 feet of the bottom in 60 to 200 feet.
- Methods
- downrigger trolling, trolling with flasher, mooching, motor mooching, casting from shore
- Lures
- 11-inch flasher with hoochie, trolling spoons, plugs, bucktail flies, large spinners and spoons from shore
- Bait
- plug-cut herring, whole herring, herring strip, anchovy
Regulations
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Nov 4, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
6 salmon combined per day · Minimum 12 in. Minimum length for Chinook. See the WDFW pamphlet for how to measure.
Season: Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027
Changes to check regulations on Feb 1, 2027
Two-pole endorsement allowed. Some waters in the bay have separate closures. Check the pamphlet. Up to 2 may be adult salmon. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-070, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 1 to Nov 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Feb 1, 2027
East Grays Harbor: daily limit 2, release Chinook. Westport and Ocean Shores boat basins: daily limit 6 with up to 4 adults, release Chinook. Humptulips North Bay is closed. No rules are published for waters west of the Buoy 13 line after Sept. 30. Minimum size 12 inches. Rules as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries, which match WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-070). Waters west of the Buoy 13 line follow Marine Area 2 rules.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 16, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027
Changes to check regulations on Mar 1, 2027
Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Nov 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 12, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Sep 26, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Edmonds Fishing Pier stays open year-round with its own limits. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 1 to Nov 15, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 16, 2026
Year-round piers (Seacrest, Pier 86, Waterman, Bremerton Boardwalk and Illahee State Park) have separate rules. Some bays, piers and creek mouths have separate rules or closures. Check the pamphlet. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Oct 1 to Nov 15, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 16, 2026
Year-round piers (Des Moines, Les Davis, Point Defiance Boathouse Dock and Redondo) have separate rules. Some bays, piers and creek mouths have separate rules or closures. Check the pamphlet. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Dec 1, 2026
Some bays, piers and creek mouths have separate rules or closures. Check the pamphlet. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 salmon combined per day · Minimum 22 in. Minimum length for Chinook. See the WDFW pamphlet for how to measure.
Season: Oct 1, 2026 to Apr 30, 2027
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Some bays, piers and creek mouths have separate rules or closures. Check the pamphlet. Two-pole endorsement allowed. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13. Season and limits as listed in WDFW's 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries. WDFW's adopted rule (WAC 220-313-060, WSR 26-13-052) sets the same rules for these dates.
WDFW 2026-27 List of Agreed Fisheries (final) · verified Sep 13, 2026
Check regulations No reviewed chinook salmon rule on file in Marine Area 1, Marine Area 2, Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4. Check with WDFW.