UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, Chinook (king) salmon peak July–August and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Peak for kings on the coast; Sekiu and Neah Bay on the Strait.
Blackmouth come back into the inner Sound as fall areas open.
Chinook (king) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuaryAroundWinter blackmouth (resident immature kings) in Puget Sound's open marine areas — mooching or trolling a spoon near bottom; areas open and close by quota.
- FebruaryAroundBlackmouth on the bait off Point No Point, Possession and the San Juans when open.
- MarchAroundBlackmouth season winding down in the Sound; check which marine areas are still open.
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneArrivingCoast salmon opens at Neah Bay, La Push, Westport and Ilwaco — kings on the troll in 60–150 ft.
- JulyPeakPeak for kings on the coast; Sekiu and Neah Bay on the Strait.
- AugustPeakWDFW calls August 'prime time' for Puget Sound kings, Sekiu to Kingston; Buoy 10 at the Columbia mouth opens August 1.
- SeptemberLeavingKings thin out; bays and terminal areas only.
- OctoberAroundBlackmouth come back into the inner Sound as fall areas open.
- NovemberAroundWinter blackmouth fishery restarts in the open Sound marine areas.
- DecemberAroundBlackmouth on the bait schools in the Sound.
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Ilwaco, Westport, La Push
An exposed outer coast (Westport, La Push, Neah Bay), the Columbia mouth and Willapa Bay at the south end, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound and Hood Canal — deep, cold fjords with points, kelp and steep shelves.
Fish Scouter charts 82 lake spots in the Washington Coast & Puget Sound map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is July–August. Chinook (king) salmon are here year-round. July: Peak for kings on the coast; Sekiu and Neah Bay on the Strait.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, marker / buoy, beach / surf, fishing pier, ledge / hard bottom, river — around Ilwaco, Westport, La Push, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Seattle.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Chinook (king) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing.
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