Editor’s note, 2:05 p.m., August 14, 2025: Updated at bottom with a WDFW press release
Federal and state overseers this morning sent out an inseason action notice that salmon fishing off of Oregon’s North Coast and Washington’s South Coast will close early next week.
“Effective 12:01 AM Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the recreational fishery in the area between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter Point (Columbia River Subarea) is closed to fishing for salmon. Possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited in the Columbia River Subarea,” reads an email from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Cape Falcon is located north of the mouth of Oregon’s Nehalem River, while Leadbetter Point is the northern tip of Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula.
WDFW and ODFW reported that these waters were at 86.3 percent of the coho quota through last Sunday.
“The marked (fin-clipped) coho salmon harvest in this area is expected to approach the quota of 49,860 coho salmon by the end of the day on Monday August 18,” an ODFW action notice states. “Through Sunday, August 10 an estimated 43,049 marked (fin-clipped) coho Salmon had been landed out of the quota leaving only 6,811 coho salmon remaining on the quota. During the week of August 4-10 there were an estimated 9,316 angler-trips and a harvest of 10,544 coho salmon and 2,084 Chinook salmon for an average catch of 1.35 salmon per angler-trip. Fishery managers have been reviewing trip information from the current week of fishing and have seen a lower number of trips per day this week due to very poor ocean conditions, but the catch rate per angler has remained at 1.3 salmon per angler. Projected harvest through Monday, August 18, is 48,899 coho to be landed (98%), which would take the fishery to within 961 coho of the quota as of Monday night.”
The decision came during a conference call this morning between NMFS, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, WDFW, ODFW and sportfishery representatives.
THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Salmon fishing in the ocean at Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) to close beginning Tuesday, Aug. 19, after Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers determined the recreational coho catch total was nearing the allowable quota.
“Coho fishing off the mouth of the Columbia has been hot over the past several weeks, and Marine Area 1 is getting close to its quota,” said Kyle Adicks, WDFW’s Intergovernmental Salmon Manager. “With weather expected to improve early next week, we need to close the fishery after Monday to make sure the quota is not exceeded.”
The catch estimate for Marine Area 1 has reached 86% of the hatchery coho quota (43,043 of 49,860) and 39% of the Chinook guideline (6,524 of 16,600) through Aug. 10. The catch per unit effort from the week of Aug. 4 through 10 was 1.36 salmon per angler, with more than 10,500 coho landed during the week.
The Marine Area 1 closure prohibits salmon possession aboard vessels, including in transit, between Cape Falcon and Leadbetter Point when the closure takes effect on Aug. 19, until further notice. The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth is open for late-summer salmon.
Marine Area 1 is open daily through Monday, Aug. 18. The daily limit is two salmon, and only one may be a Chinook. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
Catch and remaining quota for Marine Area 1 will be evaluated after the closure to determine whether the fishery can be opened for additional opportunity this season.
Other coastal ports including Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), Marine Area 3 (La Push), and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) remain open daily for salmon fishing through Sept. 15. All three marine areas could close earlier if quotas/guidelines are projected to be met.
The catch estimate for Marine Area 2 has reached 58% of the hatchery coho quota (21,413 of 36,900) and 50% of the Chinook guideline (11,160 of 22,270) through Aug. 10; Marine Area 3 has reached 55% of the hatchery coho quota (1,425 of 2,590) and 44% of the Chinook guideline (1,010 of 2,280); and Marine Area 4 has reached 30% of the hatchery coho harvest quota (3,087 of 10,370) and 72% of the Chinook guideline (9,029 of 12,600). Refer to WDFW’s webpage for ocean salmon catch updates.
In Marine Area 2, anglers can retain one Chinook as part of their two salmon daily limit. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Hatchery coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all wild coho.
In Marine Areas 3 and 4, anglers can retain up to two Chinook as part of their two salmon daily limit. Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Hatchery coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon have no minimum size restriction. Anglers must release all chum and wild coho.
In Marine Area 4, anglers cannot retain Chinook east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line. Kydaka Point Area (waters south of a line from Kydaka Point westerly approximately four miles to Shipwreck Point) is closed to salmon fishing through Aug. 15.
