Ocean salmon fishing at Neah Bay, La Push, and Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Areas 4, 3, and 2) opens June 21; and Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) opens June 25

OLYMPIA – Recreational anglers will have the opportunity to reel in a salmon off the Washington coast beginning June 21 at Neah Bay, La Push, and Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Areas 4, 3, and 2), and June 25 at Ilwaco (Marine Area 1).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) approved a recreational Chinook catch quota of 53,750 fish, up from last year’s quota of 41,000. The PFMC, which establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast, also adopted a quota of 99,720 hatchery-marked coho for this year's recreational ocean fishery up from last year’s quota of 79,800.

“With these approved quotas, ocean anglers can look forward to an enjoyable ocean salmon fishing season, all while upholding federal and state conservation mandates for all salmon stocks,” said Dr. Alexandrea Safiq, Marine Salmon Policy Coordinator with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

WDFW may use in-season management to sustain season length and keep harvest within the overall Chinook and hatchery-marked coho recreational total allowable catch in all four marine areas. These areas could close earlier if the guideline or quota is met.

Season details are listed below:

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

• Open seven days per week beginning June 25 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. Prior to June 25, possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited on days when the subarea is closed to salmon retention. 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 16,600 (12,510 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 49,860 (39,000 in 2024).

Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores)

• Open seven days per week beginning June 21 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. 15. 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 22,270 (17,430 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 36,900 (29,530 in 2024).

  Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1) is open under the same rules as Marine Area 2 from June 21 to July 31. Rules for Marine Area 2-1 change in August, and details will be listed in the 2025-2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. The portion of Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2) west of the Buoy 13 line and the Grays Harbor Control Zone is open June 21 to Sept. 15 under the same rules as Marine Area 2. Grays Harbor east of the Buoy 13 line is closed beginning June 21 to July 31. The Westport Boat Basin and Ocean Shores Boat Basin opens beginning Aug. 16.

Marine Area 3 (La Push)

• Open seven days per week beginning June 21 to July 3. 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 4 to Sept. 15. 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 2,280 (1,630 in 2024) and hatchery coho quota is 2,590 (2,070 in 2024).

Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)

• Open seven days per week beginning June 21 to July 3. 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 4 to 31. 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.

  Open seven days per week beginning Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. 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 4 Chinook guideline is 12,600 Chinook (9,430 in 2024) and the hatchery coho quota is 10,370 (8,300 in 2024).

  Waters east of a north-south line through Sail Rock are closed from June 21 to July 31. Beginning Aug. 1, 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 though Aug. 15.

Throughout the summer, anglers can check WDFW's webpage for ocean salmon catch updates.

WDFW works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.