coho salmon

November is here, bringing chilly winds and icy rains. Although the year is almost over, the good news is that the coho run is not. Many rivers, coastal ones in particular, hold late-running fish from November well into December and January. But how do you get these fish in your cooler? 
Bait has its time and place. For picky A run fish in clear, low water conditions, eggs are king. November is the perfect time to start using hardware for these big and aggressive B-run fish. Let's go over how to use spinners and spoons for these late B run coho.

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Spinners

If I had to pick my favorite way to fish for coho, it would be throwing spinners. The takedown is aggressive, and there is no question when you have a fish on. Spinners are a great way to search for fish when you aren't sure where they are holding. Cast and retrieve in a spot several times, then walk down 10 steps and repeat until you get a bite. Late-run fish are more aggressive and more likely to strike a well-presented spinner. It's a good idea to bring weighted and unweighted spinners. Make sure to use a bead chain or two attached to a snap swivel so you can change between the types of spinners easily. Unweighted spinners such as Wicked Lures can be fished with a variety of different inline weights according to the depth and speed of the run you're at, making them incredibly versatile. I carry inline weights between 1/4 oz and 1/2 oz. Wicked Lures come in a variety of different colors and sizes. I like the pink/green ones as well as the black/pink ones for most conditions. 
Alternatively, weighted spinners such as Blue Foxes are a great option as well. Use small, dark size 3 spinners in clear conditions, and bright size 5 or 6 spinners in murky conditions. Fish will chase down spinners and aggressively chomp them, making for a fun fight. Vibrax spinners have a lot of drag and tend to ride higher in the water column than torpedo spinners. Use the right spinner for the conditions!

Spoons

Much like spinners, spoons are an effective way to search the run for aggressive fish. Spoons can be fished a multitude of ways for coho. You can drift small spoons like Dick Nites or throw larger ones, like Little Cleos and Kastmasters. Smaller spoons wobble and dart when drifted like a cork and a yarn. Many northern Puget Sound anglers use this technique with great success. Use a 3-6ft leader and don't change out the hook- no matter how tempting it is! Bigger hooks would change the action of the spoon. The stock hook works just fine as long as you don't horse the fish in. Cast upstream and follow the drift with your rod tip, using just enough lead to tick the bottom every few seconds. It takes some patience and time to learn what a bite feels like. It can be subtle, so don't wait to set the hook until you feel headshakes. 
For larger spoons, it's tempting to fish them like a spinner, but the technique is slightly different. Cast upstream and allow your spoon to sink. Point your rod at the spoon and mend your line as it drifts downstream. Feed out the line as necessary to keep the spoon slowly wobbling near the bottom. The action drives coho crazy! The takedown is much like a spinner bite- aggressive and unmistakable. 50/50 colors work well in most water conditions. It's a good idea to keep a variety of different spoon shapes and colors to see what the fish key in on. Every day is different, and every fish is different.

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Setups

Rods and reels for hardware fishing tend to be based mostly on personal preference. While some anglers prefer to use a heavier, shorter rod, I like to use a light and long noodle rod. I find that these absorb the headshakes and jumps much better than a short, stiff rod. They also allow me to cast light spinners when the conditions call for it. Pair your rod with a size 3000 to 4000 reel.

I highly recommend using braided line with a monofilament top shot. This allows you to have the sensitivity of braid, but if you break off, you'll leave monofilament in the river instead of braid, which will break down much sooner. 8-17lb rated rods work great, but I've used 6-12lb rods as well. Use at least an 8ft rod. For my leader line, I use 10-15lb fluorocarbon. I find it has good abrasion resistance but also looks almost invisible in the water. Tighten your drag, but loosen it up after your hookset. Remember, these B run fish are big, hook-nosed brutes. You're in for a fun fight!

Now is the time of year to perfect your hardware technique for those large, aggressive B-run coho. Spinners and spoons can be used in both slow and fast water, making them a versatile technique. Not every river is open in November, so make sure to check both the regulations and emergency rules before heading out. Pinch those barbs or buy barbless hooks if required; it never hurts to double-check. The Fish Washington app is a great resource! 
 

If you ask me my favorite fishery of the year, I will always tell you that winter steelhead fishing is king! There is a romance to steelhead fishing in the winter that is unlike anything else, and I can’t get enough of it. A very close second is fishing for Coho salmon in our many rivers around the Puget Sound and along the Washington Coast.

Coho salmon begin entering our river systems in the early fall, generally from mid-late August, depending on rain. The migrations vary by river, but in some cases continue through January. The peak time to target these fish is from late September into late November. Since 2025 is a pink return year, I expect that the Coho will likely push in just a bit later to avoid the massive influx of pinks. We have over 7,000,000 pinks forecasted to return to the Puget Sound this year. You can always find both species in a system at the same time, but I don’t believe that they like to compete for water, and hence, the Coho tend to avoid the pinks as best they can. For this reason, I have found that early run Coho are often found in less common water when the pinks are in. Think center of the river in the current and on the soft edges.

The best thing about fishing for Coho is that they tend to be very predictable. You are going to find them holding up in softer water, staging for their final push to their spawning grounds. As one group moves out of a hole and upstream, another will travel up and fill in. This will continue as fresh fish enter the river system and continue to migrate upstream. For this reason, I have found that Coho are much more predictable and easier to target than species such as spring Chinook or winter Steelhead. The advantage of Coho fishing is that we often experience greater numbers of encounters, get to fight many fish, and often restock our freezers for the winter.

It is important to note that during the fall, you may find Chinook, summer Steelhead, Pinks, Coho, and even Chums in the same system. Depending on the river, you may be able to keep multiple species and, in some cases, even unmarked fish. Make sure that you read the regulations closely and comply with all rules related to gear restrictions and retention.

Coho can be finicky and may not bite at times, but by nature, they are very aggressive and territorial. It might take a bit to get one to bite, but once you do, it is usually game on for a while. The nice thing with Coho is that you can employ many techniques to target and catch them. It is fun to anchor in a slot and pull plugs. There is nothing quite like the takedown on a plug to get your heart pumping. This is a great technique for those who are looking for a relaxing day on the water. Note that fishing plugs generally means that you are fishing the traveling lanes, not the soft pockets of holding water.

Some prefer to use bait. For years, cured eggs drift-fished was the go-to technique. There are so many options today that you don’t see bait used as much. Some are even switching from bait to beads as they work very well and can be drift fished, bobber dogged, and even used under a float. Speaking of floats, fishing jigs like we do for Steelhead is another fun and proven method to target Coho in slow-moving water. Again, a jig takedown under a float makes for an epic fight.

Currently, I see more anglers targeting Coho in holding water by casting presentations at them. My favorite technique is to throw spinners, but depending on the river system, Wiggle Warts, Dick Nite’s behind an inline weight, or with a dropper, spoons, Wicked Lures, homemade hoochie spinners, and jigs all work very well. The technique that is really catching on is twitching jigs. A twitching jig is a bit heavier than a normal jig, weighing anywhere from 3/8 to 1 oz. They come in a variety of colors and are deadly for Coho. To twitch, you simply cast your jig towards your target and let it sink towards the bottom. Twitch up on the rod from about 30 degrees to 75 degrees and reel ¼ to 1 turn as you drop the rod tip. The speed of your retrieve will dictate your depth in the water column. Note that twitching will work in water as shallow as 2 feet and is deadly effective in deep pools. The takedown when twitching is unmistakable and often very violent. The only drawback to twitching is that it does tend to tire you out, so plan to mix it up throughout the day.

For newbies, I highly recommend that you book with a guide for your first few trips. Learn the tricks from them on where to find fish and which technique to use to target them based on the water you are fishing. Try the river systems in the North Sound, such as the Snohomish, Skagit, or Nooksack systems. Try the SW Washington rivers, such as the Cowlitz or Lewis. Target the rivers feeding into Grays Harbor and the Chehalis system. Some of the largest Coho can be found in this region. For a real adventure, try the rivers on the coast from the Humptulips all the way up to the Quileute system near Forks. I know that the lower Quinault can be a ton of fun when fished with a tribal guide.

I have always said that the fishing in an odd year for pinks is a great way to get the kids interested, since they will catch a lot of fish. Coho are not much different in that they tend to be plentiful and are often not hard to catch. The advantage of catching coho is that they make great table fare once they enter the river. Some might even say that they taste better after they have been in fresh water for a bit.

Give it a try and get out this year! Learn a new river system. Try a “new to you” technique. Most of all, have fun!

As we head into September, the color of salmon switches from pink to silver around Puget Sound.

The front end of the migratory coho run – also known as silvers for their shiny silvery-colored body – began to filter into the western Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound in August, and are expected to peak throughout September and early October.

Coho aren’t large – usually averaging 4 to 15 pounds, with some exceeding the 20-plus pounds – but they often put up a good tussle. Young coho spend a year in rivers and estuaries and then migrate out to the Pacific Ocean to feed and grow. They spend about 1½ years in the ocean, then return to spawn as three and four-year-old fish, generally in fall or early winter.

Puget Sound coho returns have gradually made a comeback from a downtrend that began in 2015 and 2016. This was due to negative environmental factors like drought, flooding, and warm water temperatures in their freshwater habitat as juveniles and then in the Ocean from a condition known as El Niño, when surface water becomes warmer than average.

The combined 2025 Puget Sound hatchery and wild coho forecast is 727,490 compared to 722,134 in 2024; 760,029 in 2023; 666,317 in 2022; 614,948 in 2021; and 504,604 in 2020.

Coho fill the air with enthusiasm for their leaping abilities when hooked, and unpredictable movements across the water’s surface.

A positive signal of 2025 expectations began with the good fishing for resident coho, who mainly spend their entire life feeding and growing in local waters – 

caught in Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) from June to early August. Many of these coho have grown since then and will join their larger migratory coho relatives during the late summer and fall marine fisheries.

Knowing when it is “go fishing time” for migrating coho in Puget Sound is to monitor catch rates in the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) and Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca).

The Marine Area 5 salmon fishery is open daily through Sept. 26 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho. The area is then open daily for coho from Sept. 27 to Oct. 9 with a two salmon daily limit, release Chinook, chum, and sockeye.

The Marine Area 6 salmon fishery is open daily through Sept. 26 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho. The area is then open daily for coho from Sept. 27 to Oct. 15 with a two salmon daily limit, release Chinook, chum, and sockeye.

Oftentimes, the best coho fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca occurs offshore in the shipping lanes, which is the main migration path. These deep-water areas are about one to 10 miles out in 200 to 500 feet of water and sometimes even deeper off the edge of the main shipping channels. Remember to stay within the U.S. side of the shipping lane. Look for tide rips and current breaks where krill and schools of baitfish attract coho, and watch for coho jumping and rolling on the surface.

In the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Dungeness Bay hatchery coho fishery is open from Oct. 1 to 31. The 2025 Dungeness River coho forecast is 13,328, down slightly from 14,305 in 2024 and 14,654 in 2023.

The Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) coho season is open daily through Sept. 6 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook, chum, sockeye, and wild coho. The area is then open daily for coho from Sept. 7 to 30 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook, chum, and sockeye. In Marine Area 7, look for coho staging along the western and southern portions of the island chain.

Coho fishing in Marine Area 8–1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay) is open daily, Sept. 30, with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook and chum. Coho fishing is then open daily Oct. 1 to 12 with a daily two salmon catch limit, and release Chinook and chum.

In Marine Area 8–2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner), coho fishing is open daily through Sept. 24 with a two salmon daily limit, and release Chinook, chum, and pink. The Tulalip Bay Terminal Area Fishery has rules that differ from Marine Area 8-2. For details, check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishing regulations webpage at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.

In Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2, anglers should find coho along the entire eastern side of Whidbey Island, Possession Point, off the Clinton Ferry Terminal, the Langley/Sandy Point area, Shipwreck to Mukilteo, Hat Island, Camano Head, the entire west side of Camano Island, and outside of Oak Harbor. West Beach at Deception Pass State Park, located north of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, provides excellent shore fishing access.

Moving further into Puget Sound, Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) is another decent fishing location for hatchery-marked coho, which is open daily through Sept. 30. It has a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.

In Marine Area 9, focus your fishing time in the unmarked shipping lanes where tide rips and current breaks are commonly found. Try Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend; Point Wilson north of Port Townsend (good public shore access); east side of Marrowstone Island (some shore access); Fort Casey to Bush Point and Lagoon Point (some public shore access); Double Bluff off the west side of Whidbey Island; Point No Point (excellent public shore spot); Possession Bar; Scatchet Head; and Pilot Point.

In Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area), coho fishing is open daily through Sept. 30 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release Chinook and chum. Fishing is also open daily from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 with a two salmon daily limit, and release Chinook.

In Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island), coho fishing is open daily through Sept. 30 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release chum and wild Chinook (note, the Chinook fishery may close sooner so check the WDFW fishing regulations webpage for updates. Fishing is also open daily from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 with a two salmon daily limit, and release Chinook.

Look for coho in the deep-water shipping lanes off Jefferson Head to Kingston, Richmond Beach to Meadow Point near Shilshole Bay, Point Monroe, Shilshole Bay south to West Point, Elliott Bay, the Fauntleroy Ferry area southeast to Dolphin Point, both sides of Vashon Island, Redondo Beach to Dash Point and the Tacoma area of Commencement Bay, Browns Point, and Point Defiance Park from the Slag Pile to the Clay Banks.

Two popular events tied to the arrival of coho are the Edmonds Coho Derby on Sept. 6. For details, go to http://edmondscohoderby.com/. That will be followed by the Everett Coho Derby on Sept. 20-21. For details, go to https://everettcohoderby.com/.

Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) is open daily for hatchery-marked coho through Sept. 30 with a two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release chum, wild coho, and wild Chinook. Fishing remains open daily beginning Oct. 1 with a two salmon daily limit, and release chum, wild coho and wild Chinook.

In Marine Area 13, look for coho from the Narrows Bridge south to Anderson Island. The Squaxin Island area has become popular area for those targeting coho. The 2024 Squaxin Island net pens coho forecast is 59,596 up from 48,081 in 2024 and 45,417 in 2023.

If you’re looking for a Chinook and coho option try the Bellingham Bay Terminal Fishery open daily through Sept. 30 with a daily limit of four salmon.

Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard are open daily through Sept. 30 with a three salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink may be retained, and release chum and wild Chinook. Fishing is then open daily from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 with a two salmon daily limit, and release Chinook.

Lastly, a freshwater coho fishing option in Seattle’s backyard is Lake Washington north of the Highway 520 Bridge, which is open daily from Sept. 16 to Oct. 31 with a daily limit of four coho only, and release all other salmon species. The Lake Washington coho forecast is 28,112 up from 24,090 in 2024 and 21,554 in 2023.

In the October issue, we’ll switch gears and take a look at proposed fall and winter coastal razor clam digging opportunities.

I’ll see you on the water very soon!

The list of saltwater salmon fishing options in early summer are far and wide, and in this column, I’ll break down the path to success around Puget Sound and off the Washington coast.

One important factor to keep in mind, when planning a fishing excursion is that the entire 2025-2026 season package won’t be officially adopted until sometime in early to mid-June. What tends to happen is that these early-season summer fisheries will require emergency opening approvals, so anglers should regularly check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website (https://wdfw.wa.gov/) for possible updates and changes.

Back in mid-April, the Pacific Fishery Management Council held meetings in San Jose, California, and the 2025-2026 tentative statewide salmon fishing seasons were adopted by the Council. The season recommendations set forth by WDFW are then moved forward for federal approval by NOAA Fisheries.

While we wait for the ink to officially dry on the approval process, let’s visualize the possibilities of where to go and wet a line in the upcoming weeks, as well as a few pro tips to improve your chances of hooking a fish.

Since no salmon fishing season mirrors another, anglers have learned to become more adaptable to the constant ebb and flow of change. First off, anglers should be mobile and willing to move from location to location to maximize their time on the water.

Don’t focus all your time on one specific area. By doing a little bit of homework and reading this column below, you’ll likely find more choices by going outside of the box. Second, since many seasons are driven by catch quotas/guidelines, it is wise to go sooner rather than later.

Next, build a communication network to stay informed about the latest fishing trends, including the WDFW website and blog posts. Many other social media platforms can be used to gather this kind of information. Attending fishing seminars is another good avenue to gain more knowledge.

Other tips include reading blogs and watching YouTube videos from fishing influencers, especially publications like this magazine, which provide a plethora of information.

Where to go in June

For the past several summers, Marine Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area), mainly the northern portion, has been good for early coho and is open daily beginning June 1. The resident coho average 2 to 4 pounds, along with a few larger ones, and are fairly snappy. Their bright red-orange meat is excellent for the BBQ grill. This is due in part to the abundant schools of krill: small, microscopic, shrimp-like crustaceans found in Marine Area 10 during the summer.

Most will target coho in the shipping lanes off Jefferson Head to the Kingston-Apple Tree Point boundary line, and from the Edmonds oil dock to Richmond Beach. Other locations worth a try are Point Monroe off the north side of Bainbridge Island, West Point south of Shilshole Bay, Blake Island/Southworth area, and the entire eastern side of Bainbridge Island.

If you’re looking to catch an early summer hatchery Chinook, then Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) is an option and open Wednesdays through Saturdays only from June 4 to 30. These hatchery kings average 8- to 15-pounds along with some topping exceeding the 25-pound mark.

WDFW will regularly monitor the Marine Area 11 fishery and could close sooner if the quota or other guidelines are attained. The Chinook catch quota for June is 1,423 (1,423 in 2024 and 2023, 580 in 2022, and 431 in 2021) with a total unmarked encounter of 818, and a total sublegal encounter of 1,601. The Chinook fishery is managed under two separate summer quotas, and a second window of opportunity happens in late July. Commencement Bay east of the Cliff House Restaurant/Sperry Ocean Dock boundary line is closed to salmon.

Those who fish for salmon regularly in Puget Sound marine areas – especially in the Tacoma region – know that dogfish can be an issue in the summer.

To avoid pesky schools of dogfish, anglers will jig or troll with downriggers and meat liners using plugs, spoons or a plastic hoochie squid. If you drop a whole or cut plug herring, make sure you’ve got plenty of extra leaders tied. The sharp teeth and abrasive sandpaper-like skin of a dogfish will fray leaders. Lesson learned, I’ve burned through more than a dozen in a matter of a couple of hours.

In Marine Area 11, look for Chinook lurking around the Clay Banks to Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, the Slag Pile off the Tacoma Yacht Club, the “Flats” outside of Gig Harbor, Quartermaster Harbor, and Point Dalco on the southwest side of Vashon Island.

In the northern part of Marine Area 11, try Dolphin Point and Point Robinson on the northeast side of Vashon Island, south of the Southworth Ferry Landing, Colvos Passage, Dash Point, and Apple Tree Cove to Redondo Beach.

Keep in mind that the salmon fisheries mentioned above for Marine Area 10 and Marine Area 11 are only for June, and that additional salmon fishing opportunities will occur in both areas. Anglers should check the WDFW North of Falcon webpage for additional season information.

Another June option for hatchery Chinook is south of the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge in Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound), which is open seven days per week. Look for fish are Gibson Point, the concrete dock off Fox Island’s east side, Hale Passage, Johnson Point and Point Fosdick.

The Tulalip Bubble Fishery (Marine Area 8-2) is open through Sept. 1 with fishing allowed from 12:01 a.m. Fridays to 11:59 a.m. on Mondays of each week, and closed June 21. Before going, anglers should check the WDFW website as intermittent closures may be needed to ensure the hatchery is meeting spawning escapement goals. Fishing is also open Sept. 6 to 21 and allowed Saturdays and Sundays of each week. The bubble fishery is open within the terminal boundary only – closed east of a line from Mission Point to Hermosa Point – and can be decent for summer Chinook in the 10- to 20-pound range, and is mainly a trolling or jigging show.

You can jig drop down a glow, chartreuse, pearl-white, green-nickel, blue-pearl or blue-gold pattern in three to six-ounce sizes depending on the current and wind. Remember, store-bought jigs have a treble hook, and they’re illegal for salmon in all marine areas. Only single-pointed barbless hooks and one fishing line with up to two hooks may be used.

Trolling is the popular method with downriggers and a flasher combined to plug, spoon, and/or a plastic hoochie squid. Before or at daybreak, the fish tend to be found from the surface down to 90 feet, and as the sun rises, they’ll go deeper up to around 100 to 175 feet.

Many anglers are making plans to visit the coastal ports where Chinook and hatchery coho fishing get underway in late June. The ocean salmon season includes a recreational Chinook quota of 53,750 (41,000 in 2024) and a hatchery-marked coho quota of 99,720 (79,800 in 2024).

Marine Area 1

(Ilwaco)

Is open seven days per week from June 25 through Sept. 30, all salmon, with a subarea guideline of 16,600 Chinook (12,510 in 2024) and a subarea quota of quota of 49,860 marked coho (39,900 in 2024). The daily limit is two salmon and one Chinook only. Columbia Control Zone closed.

Marine Area 2

(Westport-Ocean Shores)

Is open seven days per week from June 21 through June 28, with a subarea guideline of 22,270 Chinook (17,430 in 2024), and the daily limit is one salmon, release all coho. Open seven days per week beginning June 29 through Sept. 15, all salmon, with a subarea quota of 36,900 marked coho (29,530 in 2024). Beginning June 29, the daily limit is two salmon, and only one may be a Chinook.

Marine Area 3

(La Push)

Is open seven days per week from June 21 through July 3, with a subarea guideline of 2,280 Chinook (1,630 in 2024), and the daily limit is one salmon, release all coho. Open seven days per week beginning July 4 through Sept. 15, all salmon, with 2,590 marked coho subarea quota (2,070 in 2024). Beginning July 4, the daily limit is two salmon. No chum retention beginning Aug. 1.

Marine Area 4

(Neah Bay)

Is open seven days per week from June 21 through July 3, with a subarea guideline of 12,600 Chinook (9,430 in 2024), and the daily limit is one salmon, release all coho. Open seven days per week beginning July 4 through Sept. 15, all salmon, with a subarea quota of 10,370 marked coho (8,300 in 2024). Beginning July 4, the daily limit is two salmon. No chum retention beginning Aug. 1. Beginning Aug. 1, Chinook non-retention east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line during the managed ocean fishery.

WDFW fishery managers will monitor the number of salmon caught in season and may close areas earlier if quotas or guidelines are met. In-season management may be used to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook and coho total allowable catch.

Piers open year-round for salmon in Puget Sound include the Edmonds Marina (usually a good place for early summer kings in June), Fox Island, Mukilteo Ferry Landing, Seacrest in West Seattle, Dash Point Dock, Point Defiance Park Boathouse, Les Davis, and Des Moines.

Note: The salmon daily catch limits, species and size restrictions, and other regulations vary for each marine area. Emergency closures or adjustments to marine area seasons are also possible. Anglers should check for details on the WDFW website or the 2025-2026 regulation pamphlet.

(Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Manager and a longtime local fishing and outdoor writer.)

There’s an old adage that when one door closes another opens. In this age of fishery closures I think it rings very true for anglers. We have limited options, but that doesn’t mean we have no options. Nowhere is this truer than for this falls Puget Sound coho fishery. As any salmon angler around Puget Sound knows, Area 9 is closed for boat angling for coho. Per WDFW, the reason for this action is to protect expected low runs of wild coho and pink salmon returning to the Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers. But right next door, Area 10 is open for clipped coho. This presents a unique opportunity for anglers targeting coho. What is that opportunity you ask?

Area 10 is on fire with coho salmon!

My wife JoAnn and I recently launched our boat out of the Edmonds Marina and instead of turning north, we headed south, toward the oil docks. What we found was some impressive coho action that we certainly did not expect. And reports coming in to our web site, NorthwestFishingReports.com, from other anglers confirms it - this could shape up to be an outstanding year for coho fishing in Area 10. The two days we went out resulted in limits for us, the second day it took just an hour to catch a limit of coho. In the two days we fished we only ran into one unclipped fish. I have a couple theories for our success and also some observations that may help improve your success rate if you fish Area 10.

First, the reason I think this will be an outstanding Area 10 coho fishery. Pretty simple, these fish have hit Area 9 and passed through without being targeted. All those fish that would have been caught as they swung through Area 9 instead got a free pass to head south. (This also bodes well for our terminal fisheries of Lake Washington, the Green River). So anglers in Area 10 are getting a shot at fish that are ready and willing to bite and haven’t seen our gear since they left the Strait of Juan De Fuca. They are growing bigger and more aggressive as they head south to their natal destinations.

What are some of the locations anglers should be targeting? I would say follow the boats, but in this case I’m suggesting you stay away from the boats. Oh, there are the usual haunts to use as starting points. The waters just off the ferry terminal at Edmonds, south to the oil docks, Richmond Beach, Meadow Point, and Shileshole will all produce. On the west side Apple Cove Point (south), Kingston, and Jefferson Head are all well known. In addition, Elliot Bay, but check to make sure it’s open (as I’m typing this it is).

As my wife and I caught our easy limits we watched boats around us. We saw nets coming out and fish being caught in decent numbers. That said, there are a few things you can do to increase your success rate.

First off, as noted above, don’t fish in the fleet.

Coho in the Sound are traveling all over as they make their way south. They will concentrate around points because that is where bait can become concentrated, but in the travel lanes they will be all over. So ask yourself, “do I want to fish with seventy five of my close friends or do I want to move 300 yards away and have the water to myself?” I know how I answer that question. I admit its human nature to hang out in a group. That’s why we live in cities. But when it comes to coho fishing in open water you’ll do just as well and probably better off by yourself. Plus it makes it a lot easy to swing back on these fish as they are not loners. When you catch one you should know there are likely a half dozen swimming along.

Let’s talk about another factor that I think many anglers don’t focus on – speed. A few years back I ran a Go Pro off my downrigger ball to film some underwater coho action. (you can watch this video on our YouTube page, just search for “Puget Sound Underwater Coho” on YouTube). The most striking thing I saw on this footage was the response coho had to getting the flasher to fully rotate.

If the flasher did a wave back and forth or an occasional rotation the salmon would just swim behind and watch. But when the speed increased and that flasher went into full rotation mode it was “game on” as the coho suddenly became more excited with the followers suddenly darting back and forth until one committed and hit the bait. Watching the action I became convinced that speed is critical in improving your success rates on coho salmon. That’s not to say you can’t catch coho trolling slower and many do, but I think you’ll do better going fast. How fast? We troll 3.1-3.3 mph into the tide flow and 3.4-3.9 mph with the tide.

The difference in speed is because trolling into the tide activates your flasher, like pulling a plug in the river, the plug dives easier into the current. Trolling with the flow of the tide means your boat is being pushed along by the tide so you need more speed to activate the flashers into full rotation. The other thing you need is good downrigger clips and to bury them at least three quarters into the clip. Trust me, when a coho hits at 3 mph it will pop the clip in almost every case. There’s nothing worse than clipping too light and having to constantly reset your downrigger. It will cause you to slow down which you don’t want.

In addition to fast trolling my boat has an itroll throttle control on my kicker. I bought it from ifish solution’s Alan Hanna. He sold me on the importance of varying your speed. The unit does a superb job with multiple programmable functions to set automatic speed adjustments. Just set it and go. The two days we got limits I had the itroll set to “bump” the speed up 0.3-4 mph every two minutes for 15 seconds. What this does is give the flasher a rotational increase that can stimulate the coho into a bite if they are in “mesmerized mode”, just following your bait but not biting. The speed variation can be enough to trigger a bite. If you don’t have a throttle controller you can simulate this to some extend by doing s-turns from time to time. Avoid the habit of trolling in a straight line at a constant speed.

As to gear that worked for us, we went with smaller 8” flashers, generic medium-sized hoochies in splatter green/glow, white glow, and army truck. We also had good success with an Arctic Fox Trolling Fly Salmon Series in blue. Leader lengths were 26-28”.

In the past we have had great success fishing deep, down to 90-120 feet on the downrigger cable. With a 3 mph trolling speed the sweep back of the cable would suggest actual depths of 70-90 feet deep. This trip, however, we had no fish finder on the boat so set the downrigger rod at 35 feet first thing in the morning and lowering to 45 feet deep as the morning progressed. We also opted to run a Deep 6 on our second rod out 60 feet, which would put that gear right around 30-35 feet deep. This rod saw the majority of the action. There’s nothing like watching a rod double over and hearing that reel clicker scream!

I hope you have a chance to go out and hit this fishery. The action should be good into early October so there is plenty of time to get your coho. Good luck and stay safe.

Standing at the river's edge and surveying the waters, a loud splash disrupted the silence of the day. Coho or silver salmon are known to roll and jump often, and this gives away their location. This fish was in heavy cover where downed logs had created a log jam and there was no way to get to it without risking gear being lost to the sunken trees. But it meant that fish were in the river and that was good enough to load the tackle into the drift boat and launch for a day of searching for more coho. 

Rowing down the river, which was calm and quiet, we came to a large back slough. The water here was stacked up from the previous winter's floods that cut the side channel deep but now the water was shallow at the outfall creating a lake of sorts. This is known as “frog water” and coho prefer to sit here and rest until they regain energy to continue upriver. With a lot of fish holding in the stagnant waters, one would think these fish are easy to catch but anglers often forget that these are resting fish and that means they are lazy and often lockjaw. 

The term “lockjaw” means salmon unwilling to bite. Unfortunately, when anglers come upon a dozen or more fish that are lockjaw the temptation to snag becomes overwhelming. Not only is this illegal but also it hurts the runs of coho because these are resting fish and when snagged they exert energy they are trying to use to head upriver and spawn. When a fish becomes too tired to move it simply dies because water needs to flow through the gills and if the fish cannot move and it is released into slow or stagnant water it will suffocate and die. 

So, how do you get fish to bite when they are all lockjawed? The answer is simple and that is to find fish that are not lockjawed. Seems silly to say that but it is true, you will not get a lockjawed silver to bite. This does not mean giving up fishing for the day but instead knowing that there are biting fish, or a bite might turn on throughout the day. Back to the stagnant waters of the slough.

These fish are resting but that also means they will get their energy back and will bite. If you have ever thrown a spinner or twitched a jig in this water when it is clear enough to see the fish, then you will notice a fish or two out of the school will start to give chase. These are fish that are done resting and have energy and are just waiting for the right conditions. 

The right conditions can be anything from enough time to recover to a shot of rain bringing up the river just enough to make it easier for them to migrate. Anglers often head to the river early to get the “early morning bite” but what is really happening is the water has cooled off from a brisk fall night and the fish are more active. As the day heats up the water also warms, and this means less dissolved oxygen and therefore tired salmon. One way to beat the lockjaw is to fish on cool days, after it rains, or early in the day. 

Sometimes, our schedules do not line up with the perfect conditions and anglers can only hit a river when the conditions are all wrong for active fish. You can still beat the lockjawed effect by looking for parts of the river where the fish are active. For coho this can be a deep hole where the water is cooler, and boulders churn the flowing water creating dissolved oxygen. Same with riffles and holding areas in the shade. One hot fall day we were floating a coastal river and working on our sunburns when we came across a long stretch of water.

The current was moderate, and the bank had overhanging trees. Peering into the shadows we saw coho stacked up in the shade, swaying their tails in the current and we thought they were just resting. Tossing a jig and a few quick twitches later a fish slammed it hard and erupted out of the water. These were not lockjawed fish but ones that were just staying out of the bright sun and being protected by the overhanging branches. They were also not in “frog water” but instead in a moderate current where they could sit and let the water run through their gills. 

Log jams are notorious places for coho and for eating gear. It is the hardest place of all to catch salmon. Look for deep holes often created by the log jams and watch the fish, or when you see the splashing and rolling as this often means fish are active. A tired fish will sit and rest, but an active fish will be splashing and rolling as it uses energy to do this. Why salmon do this is still unknown with several theories but one thing that is known is that fish that are active are not lockjawed.

Be careful parking the boat over a log jam in current but if you find one that is in a soft part of the river then you can oftentimes move the boat over and tie up to the log jam. The key here is to let the hole rest because it is likely the fish moved out once you put the boat over them. Coho like log jams because it is covered and they feel safe from predators here; the boat will become part of that cover once the commotion stops. Several times we have looked over the edge of the boat and seen coho underneath, sitting there just like they do in other cover. 

Techniques vary and sometimes you can get a “lockjawed” silver to bite–though the fish was just resting and is now recovered-by using a bait that it simply cannot resist. Such techniques are often the presentation of bait like cured eggs. If you have ever hoverfished, then you have caught resting fish using eggs. This technique which is extremely popular in the Columbia River Gorge is done at tributary mouths where the colder water from the tributary is dumping into the warmer Columbia. The fish will stack up here to rejuvenate in the cooler water and the bite is often very subtle. Floating eggs under a bobber is a top technique to get resting coho to bite. Back to the frog water slough, it is best to float fish it first and see if there are any resting but willing biters in there. 

Twitching jigs and swinging spoons or spinners are for active fish. Use these techniques where fish that are more active, such as in runs, riffles, and deep holes. Yes, they also work in stagnant waters but again you will notice that out of the entire school of fish, only a few will chase down the lures. This means having patience and knowing that the fish will eventually get their strength back and bite.

Same with moving fish, be ready for a long lull in action and then all a sudden the “bite” is on. It is likely fish moved upriver and to your location. One cold November day we were fishing the Satsop River and anchored by a small back eddy along a cut bank. We stayed there all day long twitching jigs and occasionally, a pod of coho would make their way upriver. This was announced by one of us hooking a fish and then it would be “on” for a few minutes with everyone catching a fish or two and then the coho simply moved on. 

Lockjawed coho are hard to catch and the best way to catch them is to look for fish that are willing to bite. Knowing when they are lockjawed and not harassing them is the best technique you can do to catch more fish. Find willing biters and leave the tired fish alone. Wasting time on them only hurts the run and will cause you to become frustrated. When you make your way to the edge of the quiet river, pause and look around, listening for the splash of a coho. These are the fish you can catch.

It has been an awesome year for chasing salmon out on the salt, but if you are a Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) fisherman you may be thinking now what? MA 7 chinook is closed for the year. At this point, there are limited fall chinook opportunities for our Western Washington salmon slayers. Then halibut, although the fishery is open through September 29^th most of them are out in the open ocean doing halibut things. Lingcod are closed for the season and our rockfish fishery continues on a long-term conservation closure… What do we fish for? Why not chase San Juan Island coho, the other red meat?

As always review the regulations and Emergency Regulation notices before heading out but the current season is modeled as being open as follows:

When heading out to hunt San Juan Island Coho, make sure you are aware of the southeast MA 7 closure, and if you plan to fish the banks be cognizant of your actual location. Know where the Canadian border is and where both the MA 7 and MA 6 boundaries are. 

Regarding regulations; this year there has been an increase in the number of WDFW staff Safety and Security Incident Reports filed for harassment of WDFW personnel. The Safety and Security Incident Reports relate to negative interactions with anglers and were submitted by Puget Sound Sampling staff over a two-month period this summer. The negative interaction makes WDFW recruitment and retention difficult and staff have quit their job over the treatment they've received this summer.

As a participant in our recreational salmon fishery, please remember that the department is required to monitor the fishery. If they do not have the staffing or there are safety concerns, they may have to close a given fishery because they are unable to monitor it as required under the Federal Fisheries permit.

Once you’ve sorted through the regulations and generally know where you are going, what’s the game plan? During Coho season a good chunk of MA 7 will have coho available. Many of the points along the SW side of San Juan Island produce tide rips that will concentrate bait. Find the bait and coho will be there. This time of the year coho put on the feed bag and fatten up for their spawning rituals. Instead of naming off several already busy point fisheries think bait. 

Generally, coho will be found anywhere there is bait. Meter around offshore from the point fisheries and look for bait. Study your charts and note any high spots or ridges that will create a current break and have a look.

You don’t need to find a boiling tide rip, even a subtle rolling seam along an otherwise glassy sea will hold bait. Look for seabirds, a bunch of diving birds sitting on the water means deep bait. a flock of gulls, either floating around or on the wing usually means shallow bait, so continuously keep a lookout for birds.

They are kind of the blue light special for coho fishing. Although fishing with the flotilla puts a lot of coho on ice each year, consider finding fish outside the masses. The key to locating coho is locating the bait, find the bait and you will find coho.

One previous September morning, after a quick stop at Holiday for nonethanol and a freshly made breakfast burrito I was off to Cornet Bay. On arrival, I found the bay glassy calm with no wind and was in the water in no time. Fishing with good friends we had agreed to meet at 5:30. I visited with my dock mate and readied the boat and gear for our adventure.

5:30 sharp a set of headlights signals my guests' arrival and we were on the way shortly thereafter. We were handed a gift; the water was dead calm as we motored our way through the predawn darkness. We planned to fish for coho in the Eagle Point area along the south side of San Juan Island. The point was really crowded so I headed offshore to look for bait.

We found a very subtle current break with a number of diving birds sitting on it. Although I had three downriggers onboard, one had problems so we were running 2 and focused on chasing meter marks. We would be rotating through hookups. With very few other boats around we went gear down and started the hunt. 

Running only two downriggers turned out to be a blessing because we were on fire. Every hookup turned into a double. Enjoying nonstop action, we had two people fighting fish and one on net duty (2 nets onboard) as we cycled through our rotation. When it was over we had lost about 10 or 12 fish, released a number of fat wild fish but still got easy limits of 8# - mid-teens coho. 

It was a stellar day of coho fishing and other than some sore arms my guests had an absolute blast. It was one of the best coho days I have ever experienced. Although I was the skipper, I give credit for our success to a handful of diving birds sitting on a tide rip.

Although many coho are caught on the surface with a cut-plug herring or on trolling flies MA 7 coho are a downrigger show. While most days there is a butt crack of dawn surface bite and occasionally during the day you’ll get a fish with weight or a diver running at 33 pulls, downriggers are a must. Downriggers allow you to target feeding fish.  

Regarding gear, probably not a popular opinion, but I think that MA 7 coho are brainless feeding machines. Once they move into the inner sound, they are more selective maybe even smart. In the straights, they focus on their next meal. We have caught coho that were either barfing up small herring or had a number of herring tails sticking out of their mouths, yet they had just snarfed down a hoochie/flasher rig. 

You can’t go wrong with a flasher/hoochie of a flasher/spoon combo. Some version of green or chartreuse would be my starting point but if presented correctly almost any color will work. Many other lures will work too. Consider an Old Goat Lure, a herring or anchovy in a helmet, hoochie/Wigglefin Action Disc combo or even a spinner/bait rig. While coho fishing I always run 11” flashers and the color will vary depending on what the fish want the day that I am fishing.  

The day that I took my friends out we found huge schools of small bait so we sized our flies and spoons accordingly. We were running 32-34” of 30# fluorocarbon leaders with a 20’ setback from the clip. All our fish were caught with between 60’ and 140’ of cable out while trolling at 3.2-4.0 mph. The flies we were using were 2 barbless hook rigs and I tipped the lead hook with salted herring strips. The spoons were lathered up with either anchovy or herring goo and also ran on 32-34” leaders. 

I want to address the MA 7 weather. I work 5 to 6 days a week on the water in MA 7. While working in the San Juans last year I encountered a significant squall line of thunderstorms. Basically, the weather went from summer boating weather to “what the heck” in minutes. It was windy, pouring icy rain/hail, and very dark. Then the thunder was relentless and deafening. 

Coho season falls while our typical summer boating weather is transitioning to an unsettled weather pattern. Most of the time the sea conditions will be very pleasant. But be aware of and prepared for changing conditions. If the forecast is questionable don’t go, or at least proceed with caution. A 15-mph wind against a running tide can be uncomfortable or even dangerous.

Especially as you depart/approach Deception Pass/Cornet Bay, a key launch area for MA 7 coho. Know the limits of both your boat and crew, and have properly fitting life vests for each person on board and the required safety equipment. Make sure that you have adequate fuel on board, with the longer runs to the fishing grounds and the potential for inclement weather this is not the fishery to play chicken with your fuel gauge. Always err on the cautious side.

Have a game plan for caring for your catch. It will be different for each skipper but have a fish bonker, a bleed bucket, or divers clip and ice available. Once you determine you have a legal fish in the net, stun it to prevent bruising. Then tear or cut a gill, bleed the fish, and get them on ice as soon as they are bled out. Coho are excellent table fare when properly cared for.

Good luck in your quest to catch a box full of San Juan fall coho. It is an ideal family fishery. They are relatively easy to find, usually hungry, and have some serious shoulders. Pack plenty of snacks (no bananas), watch the weather and think safety. Good times and you will find your freezer full of the other red meat, San Juan Islands coho!

Grab your rods and coolers, it's time for Puget Sound coho! As far as saltwater salmon go, coho tend to be aggressive and eager biters. You can find them in most areas of the Sound, and the bite will only improve as the season progresses. Coho are plentiful and tasty! They taste good when caught in rivers, but you can't beat a chrome coho fresh from the salt. Having the right strategy, the proper gear and good preparation will help you get a boatload of coho this summer!

Trolling is the most popular way to catch these Puget Sound coho. It's a great way to cover water and adjust your depth based on the fish's location. Having the right gear is certainly important, but having a good strategy makes all the difference. I recommend getting an early start and fishing shallow. As the day progresses, fish deeper. Watch for marks and don't be afraid to drop your gear right down into the fish. Pay close attention to your fish finder.

Coho will school up most of the time, so don't be afraid to circle back to wherever you get bites. Coho like a shorter setback than you'd think. I usually use a 50 to 75-ft setback. Trolling speed for coho can be a controversial topic. Speeds anywhere from 2.5 mph to 3.5 mph will work. Here again, is where having a fish finder is crucial. In addition, study tide tables ahead of time. It's no secret that coho love a good tide change. Targeting tide changes early in the morning often results in a full cooler.

So, what gear do you need? There are several different ways to go. You can use trolling flies, herring, spoons, plugs, or spinners. Sometimes coho can be picky, so it's best to employ a variety of lures. You'll want to run your lures behind a flasher. Many different tackle companies make flashers that work well. Don't forget to smear your flasher and lure with a bit of scent! Coho are smart and some scent can fool them into grabbing your lure a little longer. Most days, coho just can't resist herring. They're out there feeding before going into rivers to spawn, so they're hungry! Don't be afraid to add a herring strip to any lure. You can brine up herring strips ahead of time and attach them to hooks, tie herring bellies to your plugs, or stuff your plugs with herring and tuna. Some fishermen dye their herring during the brining process, others don't. 

Knowing the right spots to fish is an important part of your prep work that you should research ahead of time as well. The fish start flooding into the Sound through the Strait, so fishing will be best up north early in the season. My experience fishing for saltwater coho is within Marine Areas 9 and 11, so we will discuss those locations here. The oil docks, shipwreck, and Picnic Point are all well-known producers.

You can launch your boat at Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Whidbey Island. Just be mindful that you don't accidentally cross into another Marine Area once you have fish on board. Sometimes you can keep wild fish in one area, but not in another. In Marine Area 11, common spots include the Yacht Club, Dash Point, and Browns Point. In both areas though, I'd caution against just following the crowd. Don't be afraid to study maps and find your own spots. Points and bays are always good places to start.

Preparation is key! Make sure to check for emergency rules before heading out. Don't forget to brine your bait ahead of time and grab ice to ensure your catch stays cool. Grab those life jackets and check the weather forecast. The Sound can turn nasty at the drop of a hat, especially for small boats. Preparation can make all the difference between a cooler full of coho and a day of disappointment. I'll leave you with a story to help drive this point home.

One day, I was out on the Sound fishing for coho on Mike Carey's boat with another friend. The day had started well- we got on the water at the crack of dawn and saw lots of fish on the meter. We started getting our 3 fishing rods set up when my friend said "Uh oh... I forgot my fishing license!" Mike and I immediately stopped setting up the 3rd rod and told my friend he was on boat-driving duty for the rest of the day. It went from a (potential) 6-fish day to a 4-fish day for us. Preparation is everything! Do your research, make a checklist, and give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Have fun and go catch a cooler of coho!

When it comes to fall salmon, anglers consider August to be part of the time of year when pumpkin spice lattes and crisp mornings are the norm. The eighth month of the year is technically still summer but anyone who has headed to the ocean this time of year can feel the chill of an early fall coming on. Fog and rainstorms are normal, along with high winds and rough seas but then there are the days of bright sunshine and hot temperatures that remind us it is still summertime, even if only for a few hours in the afternoon. Much like the weather, salmon fishing can change in an instant… Mostly in the form of regulations. 

August ocean salmon fishing is all about the rules and emergency closures and openings. The fish are regulated by quotas and estimated returns to natural rivers so be sure to check the regulations and emergency rules daily and be ready to change your location to fish as often as you switch out your cut plug herring. Knowing the rules also means knowing where you are fishing. 

Marine Area 1 is slated to be open for salmon fishing in August for both chinook and coho and this is where anglers will be targeting fish stacked up to enter the Columbia River. Known as Buoy 10, the famed August fishery at the mouth of the Columbia River continues out beyond this buoy marker but is considered Marine Area 1. Depending on sea conditions and bar crossing, fishing can be good out in the open ocean. Especially for coho as the chinook are mostly staging in the brackish water and rushing into the Columbia with each tide change. Coho will stay just offshore a bit longer as they prefer to enter the river in September and into late fall. 

Keep an eye on the Buoy 10 rules and regulations as well as any emergency closures or adjustments. If you have the right boat and navigation skills to cross the deadly Columbia River bar, then Marine Area 1 could save your trip if they close or restrict the Buoy 10 fishery. The same goes for about every ocean area you need to know before you go. 

Marine Area 2 gets a little more complex come fall. You can still hit the open ocean from the tiny town of Westport. Extremely popular in July when it first opens Westport becomes a mecca of salmon anglers come August. The complexity comes from the Marine Area itself which is broken down into three segments. Marine Area 2 is the open ocean and is slated to be open, but most likely for coho as the chinook quota gets eaten up quickly as the fish pass by heading to the Columbia or start to stage for Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. This is where Marine Area 2 is broken down into sub-areas. 

Marine Area 2-1 is Willapa Bay which has three separate zones known as zones 4, 5, and 6. Zones 4 and 5 are closed and zone 6 is most of the bay itself. A kelp and grass shallow water bay where salmon will stage for weeks before heading up the Willapa River and to hatcheries. Wild chinook must be released, and anglers can use two rods each with the endorsement. A dropper weight system is used since this is shallow water and the amount of eelgrass makes it hard to use downriggers. Watch your gear closely and change out baits often but it is hard to beat hooking a large chinook in shallow water which is why this fishery can be immensely popular. 

Grays Harbor is Marine sub-Area 2 known as Area 2-2 with zones 1, 2, and 3. Zone 1, known as the Grays Harbor Control zone, closes in mid-August to salmon fishing, which allows fish to enter the harbor. Zone 2 is the Humptulips North Bay fishery zone and is limited to 1 fish, no wild fisher per day. The other zone known as the East Grays Harbor Zone 3 is mostly a coho fishery in front of the Johns River as all chinook must be released.

The Grays Harbor area is not exceedingly popular as you also compete with commercial and native fisheries but can be productive for those that try it. One of the most unique fisheries in the Grays Harbor area is the Westport boat basin fishery which is fishing in the marina where the fleets of charters and commercial boats are stored. Coho returns here thanks to a release effort with a recent addition of 50,000 late coho expected to return in October and November starting in 2026. For now, the fish arrive in late August and into September and can be caught right off the docks at Westport. 

Marine Area 3 is known as LaPush and is very remote. With limited launches and extreme weather area 3 is mostly accessed on days with optimal ocean conditions. It is slated to be open in August for both chinook and coho, but this is one fishery that is often adjusted with an emergency rule. Chinook are prime and targeted in July which often means an August closure but coho here are making their way to the many rivers that have both robust hatchery returns and wild runs as well. Wild coho are not allowed to be kept keeping those runs going so be sure to only keep clipped silvers. This is also a staging area for chums and in the salt, they can be misidentified easily as their purple bars are light and sometimes even non-existent this time of year. Chums must be released so be sure to look at the fish closely and know what you have caught. 

Marine Area 4, the last of the “ocean” areas had a rough start to the chinook fishing. As of July 11th, only 25% of the quota had been caught which normally that time of year the quota is getting close to being filled. I fished this area on July 12^th and 13^th, when the daily limit of chinook went to 2 per day and we did not hook a single adult chinook. The seas were rough and kept my little 18-foot boat limited to trolling along the kelp line and near shore but those that could make it further out did well. This indicated the chinook were here but out deeper than usual. Coho were being caught but not in respectable numbers which could indicate a later return this year which is great since area 5 to the east is slated to be open into October for coho. Come August the rules for chinook change in Marine Area 4 with it only being open west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. Coho is slated to remain open until mid-September in all Marine Area 4. 

Regardless of where you decide to go, be sure to head out to the open ocean for some great fall salmon fishing. Of course, before you go be sure to check the emergency regulations as these fisheries are subject to quotas and can close quickly. They can also open or be extended as well and just maybe you will find a bonus opportunity out in the ocean. Either way, be ready for some cold, wet, and rough weather as well as bring sunscreen as afternoons are known to burn off the fog and remind us it is still summertime. 

Summer is upon us and for many of us, that means that our home rivers are closed to fishing to protect ESA-listed wild Chinook. As a result, we are looking forward to fall when we begin to see runs of Coho and Chum salmon flooding into our rivers with increasing opportunities to catch them. Fingers crossed!

It is anyone’s guess what WDFW will do and many of us are eagerly awaiting news concerning our seasons, emergency closures, and changes in general. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at five coastal river systems to check out that could present great opportunities.

Let’s start on the Northern Coast and work our way South. For the sake of this article, the focus will be from Forks in the North to Grays Harbor in the South. There are other coastal river systems South of Grays Harbor, but we are going to focus on the most popular systems.

Quillayute River System

The Quillayute empties into the Pacific Ocean at La Push, Washington. The Quillayute River is formed by the confluence of the Bogachiel River, Calawah River , and the Sol Duc River near the town of Forks, WA. The Dickey River joins the Quillayute from the north, just above the river's mouth at the Pacific Ocean. Though it is world-renowned as a winter Steelhead mecca, this system also receives returns of all five species of salmon. With spring and summer Chinook salmon returning in lower numbers than expected, the Quillayute river system, including the Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey, Sitkum, and Sol Duc rivers, as well as Thunder Creek closed to all fishing on July 15. Historically this system produced great returns of spring and summer chinook, but like so many of our rivers, the runs are now endangered. The Coho and Chum will return in September and hopefully, there will be opportunities to catch and retain hatchery fish.

Hoh River

At 56 miles long, the Hoh River originates at the snout of Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows westward through the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through foothills in a broad valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean at the Hoh Indian Reservation. The final portion of the Hoh River's course marks the boundary between the south coastal segment of Olympic National Park and the Hoh Indian Reservation.

Returns of Steelhead and Salmon make the Hoh River a fishing destination worth exploring. While there are fish in the Hoh River year-round, Steelhead are mostly targeted in the Winter, Chinook, and Coho are mostly targeted in August through November, and Dolly Varden and Cutthroat Trout are targeted anytime the water is in shape.

According to the 2024-2025 regulations, parts of the Hoh will open for Salmon fishing on September 16^th, presenting some great opportunities to target Coho.

Queets and Quinault Rivers

The Queets and Quinault Rivers and their tributaries flow from the Olympic National Park into tribal lands. While opportunities exist in the upper reaches of these systems and within the park, they are most noted for their tribally guided lower sections. Note that the rivers are governed by WDFW, the Federal Government, and the Tribes, depending on where you are, so pay close attention to the rules. 

The Quinault and Queets Nations have built some very robust hatchery programs, and they control the lower stretches of the rivers. Anglers can fish for all five species of Salmon as well as Steelhead and Trout. Fall Coho on the lower Quinault is a very fun fishery and can result in a freezer full of fish to last the winter. Note that you must book a trip with a tribal guide to fish the waters that lay within the reservations.

Humptulips River

The Humptulips River is located in Grays Harbor County, just North of Aberdeen and Hoquiam. Its main tributaries are the East Fork Humptulips River, about 20 miles long, and West Fork Humptulips River, about 30 miles long. After the forks join, the main river is approximately 20 miles long and provides some of the best salmon habitat in Washington. This river is not a secret and is often very congested, when open.

I will say that the “Hump” as it is called is one of my favorite rivers for fall Salmon fishing. It is renowned for its runs of Chinook, Coho, Chum, and Steelhead. As with other coastal rivers and due to low returns of wild Chinook, opportunities are limited. According to the current regulations, parts of the river should open in early September for hatchery Chinook and Coho. As this river can get very congested, it is best to know what you are doing and even better, book a trip with a guide.

Chehalis River System

The Chehalis River originates in several forks in southwestern Washington, flows east, then north, then west, in a large curve, before emptying into Grays Harbor, an estuary of the Pacific Ocean. The river is the largest solely contained drainage basin in the state. Both the Wynoochee and Satsop Rivers flow into the Chehalis between the towns of Elma and Montesano. While the Chehalis has many other tributaries, the Satsop and Wynoochee are likely the most popular and offer fantastic fall Coho fisheries. The mainstem Chehalis, near the mouth of these rivers, can be epic when conditions are favorable and some of the largest Coho in the state can be caught here. This system is also known for large limits of Coho allowed but check the most up-to-date regulations for specific details and don’t forget to look for emergency closures.

With all these rivers, please remember to check the regulations before you make plans or head out to fish. Things change often and it is very important to make sure that a river is open to avoid disappointment. Also, do yourself a favor and book a trip with a guide. I just cannot emphasize this enough. Your opportunities for success will greatly improve if you learn from a local guide and you are more likely to take fish home to eat later.
In closing, you are welcome to message me if you need to be connected to a guide. I am easy to find on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/brent.knight.148) and am happy to help. Good fishing!!!