Washington is known for its rugged coastline and vast expanses of ocean, inlets and bays, salmon fishing happens to be the main event in pretty much every corner of the state, and the 2024 salmon fishing season is shaping up to be a great one! Washington's salmon season setting process is wrapping up and we have a great idea of what is in store for the waters of the Pacific Ocean, Strait, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Columbia River. Usually sometime in late-May to early-June, the state will change from the "proposed" seasons to official ones, and we will have it set in stone (and we will promptly update the page!). Keep in mind that things change, so use this as a reference and save the page so you can access all the direct marine area links listed below. Have a great season everyone!
Large returns of Chinook Salmon like these are expected across Washington State this year.
How to use this season guide
Scroll down and check out the salmon fishing season in your favorite Washinton saltwater areas. Links to the official WDFW Salmon Seasons at the bottom of the post. I included a direct link to each marine area's emergency regulations... so you can keep updated throughout the 2024 Washington salmon fishing season.
Jump to Pacific Ocean – Marine Areas 1-4
Jump to Strait & San Juan Islands – Marine Areas 5-7
Jump to Puget Sound - Marine Areas 8-13
Washington's salmon fishing marine areas.
Washington 2024 Pacific Ocean Salmon Fishing Seasons
Marine Area 1 - Anglers the head straight out of the Columbia River mouth usually find some good fishing here, and when you combine the in-river salmon fishing season at Buoy 10, anglers launching out of Chinook and Ilwaco, Washington and Astoria and Hammond, Oregon get to experience some of the best salmon fishing in the state.
Proposed salmon fishing season starting in mid-June with a few management options still on the table, will update when approved.
Marine Area 1 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Buoy 10 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 1 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 2 - Westport is the self-procalaimed salmon fishing capital of the world, and while the large charter fleet based here allows for thousands of guests to experience this fishery, there is also a large contingent of private boaters that head out across the Grays Harbor bar that get in on some amazing salmon fishing.
Proposed salmon fishing season starting in mid-June with a few management options still on the table, will update when approved.
Marine Area 2 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 2 Emergency Regulations
Grays Harbor is a large coastal bay that is a sub-area here (Marine Area 2-2)
Marine Area 2-2 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 2-2 Emergency Regulations
Willapa Bay is a little further to the south and has a great fishery here as well (Marine Area 2-1)
Marine Area 2-1 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 2-1 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 3 - The most remote region of the Washington Coastline is here, as is some of the most amazing coastal scenery and great fishing. The small village of La Push is the only access point for the area and holds a boat launch and marina in the protected waters in the Quillayute River mouth.
Proposed salmon fishing season starting in mid-June with a few management options still on the table, will update when approved.
Marine Area 3 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 3 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 4 - Neah Bay is well known as a fishing town and the entire marine area holds some of my best memories of salmon fishing. Small boats and large boats alike will catch their limits of salmon right out in front of town off Waadah Island, or head further westward to Tatoosh. From there, you can travel as far south or west down the coast and find aggressive Chinook right off the beach or far offshore.
Proposed salmon fishing season starting in mid-June with a few management options still on the table, will update when approved.
Marine Area 4 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 4 Emergency Regulations
Strait of Juan De Fuca Salmon Season 2024
Marine Area 5 - This western portion of the Strait offers one a chance to catch Salmon as they first start their journey into Puget Sound. Fishing activity is centered around the fishing town of Sekiu, where the area's only boat launch and docks offer a great jumping off point. Fish right in front of Clallam Bay or head out into the shipping lanes.
Proposed salmon season starting July 1 for Hatchery Chinook and Hatchery Coho, will update when approved.
Marine Area 5 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 5 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 6 - This area of the eastern Strait has alot of area to cover. Massive fishing banks create a complex system of currents that concentrate bait and fishing. Salmon fishing can be great here and boats will easily travel here from Anacortes, Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend to catch Chinook and Coho during the summer season.
Proposed salmon season starting July 1 for Hatchery Chinook and Hatchery Coho in West 6, and a Hatchery Chinook season in East 6. Will update when approved.
Marine Area 6 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 6 Emergency Regulations
Chinook Salmon love to bite Tomic Plugs, one of our best trolling lures for Washington State salmon fishing.
San Juan Islands Salmon Season 2024
Marine Area 7 - Great salmon fishing abounds in the passageways and channels between the islands, as well as around the perimeter of Washington's northern archipelago.
Proposed salmon season starting July 18 for Hatchery Chinook and Hatchery Coho. Will update when approved.
Marine Area 7 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 7 Emergency Regulations
Kiley with a Puget Sound Chinook caught with some simple salmon mooching gear.
Puget Sound Salmon Season 2024
Puget Sound is divided into several marine areas and each has its own unique salmon fishing opportunties, each with their own opening dates, catch limits and regulations. We are all excited about the chance to catch and keep Hatchery Chinook in many areas of the Puget Sound this year. Some areas offer a chance to target Coho only. Check out your preferred area below.
Summer salmon action in Central Puget Sound.
Marine Area 8-1 - This tucked away pocket includes the areas around Camano Island, Coupeville, Oak Harbor and Skagit Bay. Salmon move through Deception Pass to the west to migrate back to the Skagit and Stillaquamish Rivers.
Proposed salmon season starting August 1 for Coho, will update when approved.
Marine Area 8-1 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 8-1 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 8-2 - The marine area around Everett, Mukilteo and South Whidbey Island towns of Clinton and Langley offers up great salmon fishing close to major marinas and boat ramps. Salmon spend their final weeks of summer feeding off Possession Bar to the south before heading into the area to the Snohomish and Stillaquamish Rivers.
Tulalip Bubble offers a unique opportunity to fish a small portion of Marine Area 8-2 for Chinook. Proposed salmon season starting May 24 from Fridays to Monday at Noon each week for Chinook and Coho. This is one of the few areas where you can use a two-pole endorsement in a Washington marine area!
Proposed 8-2 salmon season starting August 1 for Coho, will update when approved.
Marine Area 8-2 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 8-2 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 9 - One of the Puget Sound's most famous salmon fishing areas are located here. Possession Bar, Point No Point, Craven Rock and the ever so popular Mid Channel Bank.
Proposed salmon season starts July 18 through July 31, on Thursdays through Saturdays only each week for Hatchery Chinook and Hatchery Coho, will update as soon as approved.
Marine Area 9 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 9 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 10 - Boats head out from the marinas of Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Pouslbo and Seattle to find great salmon fishing in the heart of Central Puget Sound. Some of the most well known fishing haunts are located here like Jeff Head, Kingston, Shilshole Bay and Richmond Beach.
Proposed salmon season starts July 18 to July 31, 7-days a week with Hatchery Chinook retention only allowed Thursdays through Saturdays weekly, until August 1 when it will open for Hatchery Chinook retention 7-days a week until the quota is caught. Will update when approved.
Elliott Bay near Seattle's downtown waterfront is a great Chinook Salmon fishing opportunity is proposed for August 2 to August 5 at noon for a 2 salmon limit (both can be Chinook if you are so lucky). Will update as soon as approved.
Marine Area 10 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 10 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 11 - This large marine area holds some great fishing spots around the east side of Vashon Island, in front of Gig Harbor and all around Tacoma.
Proposed salmon season starts June 5 to June 30, Wednesdays through Saturdays only for Hatchery Chinook and Coho. A separate Hatchery Chinook quota is reserved for a proposed season July 18 to September 30, Thursdays through Saturdays only (for the July portion). Will update when approved.
Marine Area 11 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 11 Emergency Regulations
Marine Area 13 - The southern-most portion of Puget Sound is usually a little quieter than the bustling salmon fishing areas further to the north, but offers some great action throughout the year. South of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge at Point Fosdick, as well as around Fox Island down to the Nisqually Reach give us plenty of places to fish for Salmon.
Proposed salmon season is May 15 to June 30, for Hatchery Chinook (22" min) and Hatchery Coho, then from July through September, Hatchery Chinook minimum size drops to 20". Will udpate when approved.
Marine Area 13 – 2023 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 13 Emergency Regulations
Puget Sound has some great salmon fishing opportunities this year! This was caught with a Pro-Troll Flasher and a Salmon Hoochie Rig.
Hood Canal Salmon Season 2024
Marine Area 12 - Hood Canal has some major salmon returns to its rivers. Coho, Chum and Chinook make their way into the canal on their journey back to the Quilcene, Skokomish, Hama Hama, Duckabush, Dosewallips and other rivers, as well as a major saltwater hatchery located in Hoodsport, Washington.
Proposed salmon season North of Ayock Point begins August 1 to October 31 for Coho. After October 15, Chum may also be retained as part of the 4-fish limit. Will update when approved.
Proposed salmon season South of Ayock Point begins July 1 to September 30 with a 4-fish limit for Hatchery Chinook (20" minimum) and Coho. Will update when approved.
Marine Area 12 – 2024 Salmon Fishing Season Summary
Marine Area 12 Emergency Regulations
Chase capitalized on a calm ocean and explored the coast in their small zodiac. Awesome catch!
We wish everyone a safe, successful and enjoyable summer salmon season. If you have any questions about the tackle needed, feel free to contact us via email or phone and we can help put together a package for you!