THE FOLLOWING ORIGINATED FROM WDFW
Recreational anglers will have the opportunity to reel in a salmon off the Washington coast beginning June 20 at Ilwaco, Westport-Ocean Shores, La Push, and Neah Bay (Marine Areas 1, 2, 3, and 4).
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) approved a recreational Chinook catch quota of 54,000 fish, up slightly from last year’s quota of 53,750. The PFMC, which establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast, also adopted a quota of 102,900 hatchery-marked coho for this year’s recreational ocean fishery up from last year’s quota of 99,720.
“These quotas represent strong forecasts for key Chinook and coho stocks that drive fisheries off the Washington coast and should provide good recreational fishing opportunity in the ocean this summer,” said Kyle Adicks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) intergovernmental salmon manager.
WDFW may use in-season management to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook and hatchery-marked coho recreational total allowable catches in all four marine areas. These areas could close earlier if the respective guideline or quota is met.
Season details are listed below:
- Open seven days per week beginning June 20 to Sept. 30. 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.
- The Columbia River Control Zone is closed to salmon fishing, except from the north jetty when adjacent waters north of the Control Zone are open to salmon fishing or the Buoy 10 fishery is open to salmon fishing.
The Marine Area 1 Chinook guideline is 16,780 (16,600 in 2025) and the hatchery coho quota is 51,450 (49,860 in 2025).
Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores)
- Open seven days per week beginning June 20 to June 28. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
- Open seven days per week beginning June 29 to Sept. 30. 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.
The Marine Area 2 Chinook guideline is 21,910 (22,270 in 2025) and the hatchery coho quota is 38,070 (36,900 in 2025).
Salmon fishing seasons in Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1), Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2), and Westport Boat Basin and Ocean Shores Boat Basin, will be listed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
- Open seven days per week beginning June 20 to June 30. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
- Open seven days per week beginning July 1 to Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size. Anglers must release chum beginning Aug. 1.
The Marine Area 3 Chinook guideline is 2,200 (2,280 in 2025) and the hatchery coho quota is 2,680 (2,590 in 2025).
- Open seven days per week beginning June 20 to June 30. The daily limit is one salmon. Anglers must release all coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
- Open seven days per week beginning July 1 to Sept. 30. The daily limit is two salmon. Anglers must release wild coho. The Chinook minimum size is 24 inches, and the hatchery-marked coho minimum size is 16 inches. Other salmon species have no minimum size.
- No Chinook retention east of Bonilla-Tatoosh line beginning Aug. 1. Anglers must release chum beginning Aug. 1. Waters east of a true north-south line running through Sail Rock are closed in June and July. Kydaka Point Area (area bounded by a line from Kydaka Point to Shipwreck Point) closed to salmon fishing through Aug. 15.
The Marine Area 4 Chinook guideline is 13,110 Chinook (12,600 in 2025) and the hatchery coho quota is 10,700 (10,370 in 2025).
Throughout the summer, anglers can check WDFW’s webpage for ocean salmon catch updates. The Salmon Fishing Current blog: summer and fall 2026 edition, updated regularly throughout the season.
Anglers can now choose to use an electronic catch record card (eCRC) to record and report salmon, steelhead, halibut, and sturgeon. The eCRC offers a faster, easier way to report catch while you’re on the water. No cell service required — anglers can save entries, and information will automatically submit once your device reconnects. WDFW still offers paper reporting options for anglers who prefer it, but paper licenses and catch record cards will look different this license year compared to in the past. The eCRCs and 2026-2027 fishing licenses are now available in the MyWDFW and Fish Washington® mobile apps.
