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. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca at 68, one of 8 Washington bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Peak season, about 1 more week- 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 5 PM-12 AM (79) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (83) · 11 named spots
Best window today 8-10 PM (80) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 8 PM (80) · 8 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (76) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (82) · 308 named spots
Best window today 8-10 PM (74) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 8 AM (75) · 20 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (73) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (83) · 23 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (77) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (81) · 22 named spots
Best window today 4-10 PM (71) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 AM (81) · 268 named spots
Best window today 1 PM-12 AM (20) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (71) · 27 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 Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
No retention
Season: Sep 9 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Oct 1, 2026
Closed to salmon fishing. Possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited.
WDFW emergency rule: Marine Area 1 salmon season update (Sept. 1, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 salmon combined per day · Minimum 16 in. Minimum length for coho. See the WDFW pamphlet for how to measure.
Season: Aug 22 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Oct 1, 2026
Possession of Chinook on board a vessel is prohibited.
WDFW emergency rule: Marine Area 2 salmon season update (Aug. 17, 2026) · 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: Sep 16 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Feb 1, 2027
West of the Buoy 13 line: Marine Area 2 rules through Sept. 30, daily limit 2, release Chinook and wild coho. 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. Minimum size 12 inches inside the harbor. 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
2 salmon combined per day · Minimum 16 in. Minimum length for coho. See the WDFW pamphlet for how to measure.
Season: Aug 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Oct 1, 2026
WDFW manages this season to a Chinook guideline and a hatchery coho quota and can close it early by emergency rule.
WDFW emergency rule: Marine Area 3 salmon seasons (June 10, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Aug 24 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on Oct 1, 2026
Closed to salmon fishing. Possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited, except that from Aug. 26 salmon legally caught in Canada or Marine Areas 5 to 13 may be carried through Marine Area 4 and landed in Neah Bay.
WDFW emergency rule: Marine Area 4 salmon season closes Aug. 24 (Aug. 21, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 salmon combined per day
Season: Aug 16 to Sep 24, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 16, 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: Aug 16 to Sep 24, 2026
Changes to special rules on Oct 16, 2026
Dungeness Bay is closed to salmon through Sept. 30. 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: Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026
Bellingham Bay has a separate daily limit through Sept. 30. 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: Aug 1 to Oct 11, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 12, 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: Aug 1 to Sep 25, 2026
Changes to closed on Sep 26, 2026
The Tulalip Terminal Area has 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: Aug 1 to Sep 18, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026
Edmonds Fishing Pier has 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: Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 16, 2026
Hatchery Chinook may be kept only in Sinclair Inlet (south of the Manette Bridge, south of a line true west from Battle Point, and west of a line true south from Point White), where the daily limit is 3, Chinook minimum 22 inches, release wild Chinook and chum. Elsewhere release all Chinook. Year-round piers (Seacrest, Pier 86, Waterman, Bremerton Boardwalk and Illahee State Park) have separate rules. 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 · No minimum size.
Season: Aug 15 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 16, 2026
Year-round piers (Des Moines, Les Davis, Point Defiance Boathouse Dock and Redondo) have separate rules. Barbless hooks required in Marine Areas 5 through 13.
WDFW emergency rule: Marine Area 11 salmon fishery update (Aug. 12, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
4 salmon combined per day
Season: Aug 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to catch & release on Nov 1, 2026
South of Ayock Point: hatchery Chinook may be kept (Chinook minimum 20 inches), release wild Chinook, chum and sockeye. North of Ayock Point: release all Chinook, chum and sockeye. 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: Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to check regulations on May 1, 2027
Two-pole endorsement allowed. The Minter Creek mouth is closed and lower Budd Inlet has a closure zone through Oct. 31. 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