Species guide · Washington
Sockeye salmon fishing in Washington
Oncorhynchus nerka, a sea-run species also called red salmon, reds and blueback. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Off season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Admiralty Inlet 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 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Not present
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Not present
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Aug.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
Fraser, Skagit and Baker sockeye pass through Marine Areas 5, 6 and 7 (Strait of Juan de Fuca and San Juan Islands) in July and August. Retention openings are short and irregular (for example Aug 19 to 31 in 2025) and fish bite poorly on conventional gear. The large Lake Washington and Baker Lake fisheries are freshwater.
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 sockeye salmon score this hour.
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 23 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 11 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 4 AM (35) · 8 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 22 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 20 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 308 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35) · 268 named spots
Best window today 4 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 27 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 44°F to 60°F, best between 48°F and 56°F.
- Water depth
- 5 to 600 ft of water.
- Structure
- Estuary, inlet, bay, beach, channel and open water, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with light current.At terminal areas fish mill off lagoon and creek mouths and new fish move in on the flood. Open-water trolling for Fraser sockeye is less tide driven. Low confidence, based on terminal-fishery descriptions rather than tide studies.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 4 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Sockeye feed on plankton and rarely chase lures, so saltwater catches come where fish crowd into terminal areas near hatchery creeks and lagoons in late June and July. In Alaska most saltwater sockeye are snagged where that is legal in salt water, while boat anglers troll a small flasher ahead of a bare red hook, a small fly or cut herring. In Washington, Fraser and Skagit sockeye pass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and San Juan Islands in July and August, with short retention openings.
- Methods
- snagging where legal in salt water, trolling with dodger or flasher, casting from shore
- Lures
- small flasher or dodger ahead of a bare red hook, small red or pink hoochie, small red flies, weighted treble hook where snagging is legal
- Bait
- cut herring
Regulations
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Sep 21, 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 · No minimum size.
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 sockeye. 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 · No minimum size.
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
No retention
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
No retention
Season: Aug 16 to Sep 24, 2026
Changes to closed 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
No retention
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: Sep 19 to Sep 30, 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
No retention
Season: Aug 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to special rules on Oct 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