Species guide · Washington
Coho salmon fishing in Washington
Oncorhynchus kisutch, a sea-run species also called silver salmon, silvers and hooknose. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Off season, about 29 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 29 more weeks- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Off season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Off season
Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jun to Oct.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
Ocean coho off Washington and Oregon June through September, mostly hatchery (fin-clipped) retention with quotas. Buoy 10 coho peak through mid-September. Puget Sound coho peak September into early October. Resident coho are caught in South Puget Sound in winter and spring. California north of Point Conception is not listed because coho retention is prohibited in all California ocean fisheries and its coho are state and federally endangered.
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 coho salmon score this hour.
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (35) · 8 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (35) · 20 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (35) · 268 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (35) · 27 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (20) · 23 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (20) · 11 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (20) · 22 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 12 AM (20) · 308 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 45°F to 63°F, best between 50°F and 58°F.
- Water depth
- 5 to 600 ft of water.
- Structure
- Rip, point, kelp, open water, estuary, bay and beach, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water and incoming tide, with moderate current.ADF&G's Sitka guide says the best coho fishing is usually an hour or so before or after a tide change, in areas where currents and shoreline shape concentrate fish and bait. WDFW advises finding tide and current rips. When the run peaks, tide matters less.
- 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
Coho feed in the top 30 to 50 feet along tide rips, kelp edges and bait schools, and often hit within a few feet of the surface. Troll faster than for Chinook, 2 to 4 mph, with a small flasher and hoochie, bucktail fly or herring, or cast spinners and flies from beaches near stream mouths as fish stage in late summer. The hour around a tide change is often the best window.
- Methods
- trolling, casting from shore, fly fishing, mooching, drifting herring
- Lures
- small flasher with hoochie, bucktail flies, trolling spoons, spinners, streamer and needlefish flies, casting jigs
- Bait
- whole herring, cut-plug herring, herring strip, anchovy
Regulations
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Nov 2, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
6 salmon combined per day · Minimum 12 in. Minimum length for coho. 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
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
2 salmon combined per day
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
2 salmon combined per day
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
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 coho salmon rule on file in Marine Area 1, Marine Area 2, Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4. Check with WDFW.