Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton area) to reopen for Chinook retention Aug. 11-13 only; East Elliott Bay and Sinclair Inlet also reopen for salmon fishing

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Photo by WDFW

OLYMPIA – Chinook salmon retention in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton area) to reopen Aug. 11-13 only, and East Elliott Bay and Sinclair Inlet also reopen for salmon fishing, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

“These fisheries are very dynamic, and this is a prime example of how our expanded data collection can benefit the fishery,” said Kirsten Simonsen, Ph.D., WDFW’s Puget Sound recreational salmon manager. “As more data became available from the test fishery, we were able to observe the push of legal adipose fin-clipped fish into the area, allowing for us to reopen to Chinook retention in Marine Area 10.”

Marine Area 10 reopens for salmon fishing from Aug. 11-13 only. The daily limit is two salmon, no more than one hatchery Chinook or coho but anglers may retain one of each. Chinook minimum size is 22 inches. Release wild Chinook and chum.

The Marine Area 10 coho and pink salmon fishery remains open (with Chinook non-retention) from Aug. 14 through Sept. 30. Daily limit is two salmon, no more than one coho. No minimum size. Release Chinook and chum.

The Marine Area 10 summer Chinook fishery was closed on Aug. 4 after estimates of sublegal Chinook under the 22-inch minimum size limit encounter had reached 122% (9,471 of 7,748) of the limit agreed to in this year’s List of Agreed Fisheries. Additional test fishing during the first week of August before the closure indicated legal-sized marked Chinook increased in the area, which dropped the estimate of sublegal encounters to 75% (5,836 of 7,748). This provided room for additional days of Chinook retention in Marine Area 10.

East Elliott Bay reopens for salmon fishing from Friday, Aug. 11 until noon on Monday, Aug. 14. Fishing is allowed east of a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91 up to the Duwamish River mouth, including Harbor Island (both the west and east Duwamish waterways). Daily limit is two salmon. Chinook minimum size of 22 inches. Other salmon, no minimum size. Release chum.

East Elliott Bay is closed for salmon fishing from noon on Monday, Aug. 14 through Aug. 17, and reopens Aug. 18 through Sept. 30. Salmon daily limit is two, no more than one coho. No minimum size. Release Chinook and chum.

In season information indicates that the expected Chinook return is large enough to support an additional weekend of fishing. The East Elliott Bay recreational salmon fishery was open Aug.4-6, and 652 boats with 1,513 anglers retained 471 Chinook and released 179 Chinook.

West Elliott Bay, waters of Elliott Bay east of a line from West Point to Alki Point and west of a line from Duwamish Head to Pier 91, is closed for salmon fishing from Aug. 11-17, and reopens Aug. 18 through Sept. 30. Salmon daily limit is two, no more than one coho. No minimum size. Release Chinook and chum.

Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard, waters of Sinclair Inlet and Port Orchard south of the Manette Bridge in Bremerton, south of a line drawn true west from Battle Point, and west of a line drawn true south from Point White, reopens for salmon fishing from Aug. 11 through Sept. 30. Salmon daily limit is three, with a Chinook minimum size of 22 inches. Other salmon, no minimum size. Release wild Chinook and chum. The Department reminds anglers that fishing is not allowed in Gorst Creek or Jarstad Park.

Year-round piers (Bremerton Boardwalk, Illahee State Park Pier, Seacrest Pier, and Waterman Pier) remain open as listed in the 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

Puget Sound salmon seasons are a result of an annual collaborative state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon (NOF). The public is invited to participate in this process in late winter and spring of each year and can visit the WDFW NOF webpage for more information. Click here to view the Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas.

For full fishery details and regulations, reference the emergency rule change at WDFW’s website. Permanent regulations can be found in the 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Other marine areas open for salmon fishing can be found on the WDFW website. To be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced sign up for email notifications at wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.