UTERCoho (silver) salmon fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, Coho (silver) salmon peak August–October and are around June–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Coast coho strong; Buoy 10 coho late in the month.
Coho in the river mouths and estuaries — Snohomish, Skagit and Hood Canal points; casting buzz bombs from the beach.
Coho (silver) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneAroundFirst ocean coho on the coast.
- JulyArrivingResident coho in central Puget Sound and the coast troll — small hoochies near the top.
- AugustPeakCoast coho strong; Buoy 10 coho late in the month.
- SeptemberPeakPeak: Puget Sound coho off Point No Point, Edmonds and the Tulalip Bay; Buoy 10 on hatchery coho.
- OctoberPeakCoho in the river mouths and estuaries — Snohomish, Skagit and Hood Canal points; casting buzz bombs from the beach.
- NovemberLeavingLate coho in the terminal areas.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Coho (silver) 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 Coho (silver) salmon hold on.
What to use for Coho (silver) 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 46–62°F water, best at 50–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Coho (silver) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is August–October. Coho (silver) salmon are in Washington Coast and Puget Sound June–November. August: Coast coho strong; Buoy 10 coho late in the month.
Where do Coho (silver) 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 Coho (silver) 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 Coho (silver) 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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