When is coho salmon (silver salmon) season in Oregon?

September 1 – November 30 coho season on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs (with state-specific in-river allocation under Columbia River Compact). Those are the 2026 Oregon dates; always confirm against Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.

What is the Oregon bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon)?

The Oregon daily bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific bag on coastal + Willamette tribs; punch-card tagging required under Combined Angling Tag. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size coho salmon (silver salmon) can you keep in Oregon?

The Oregon size rule for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 16 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier coho anadromous fishery (~500,000 coho returning annually); Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA since 2005 (only hatchery-marked adipose-fin-clipped coho may be retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs); Tillamook + Nehalem + Nestucca + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille + Rogue coastal river system most concentrated coastal coho return outside Pacific Northwest WA + BC + AK coho corridor.

Do you need a license to fish for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for coho salmon (silver salmon), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Oregon license — compare resident and non-resident Oregon fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Oregon?

Yes. In Oregon, coho salmon (silver salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on listed Quality Management reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Willamette + most coastal tribs; Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA — only hatchery-marked may be retained); Combined Angling Tag required to harvest salmon ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.

Do specific Oregon waters have different coho salmon (silver salmon) rules?

Yes. 4 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide coho salmon (silver salmon) regulation, including Columbia River, Willamette River, N Oregon Coast rivers, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Oregon Coho salmon (silver salmon) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Last updated May 27, 2026

Oregon coho salmon fishery is country-defining (alongside WA + AK + BC) — the Columbia River (under the OR/WA Columbia River Compact administered jointly by ODFW + WDFW since 1918) carries ~500,000 coho returning annually through the September 1 – November 30 coho season + Willamette Falls fish-counting station Oregon City counts ~6,000 coho annually. The Columbia coho fishery is the largest in the lower 48 — peak returns at Bonneville Dam fish ladder + Columbia mouth at Astoria + Willamette Falls at Oregon City. The Willamette + Sandy + Clackamas tributaries carry the urban-area coho return through the Portland metro. The Tillamook + Nehalem + Nestucca + Salmon + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille + Rogue coastal river system carries the country's most concentrated coastal coho return outside the Pacific Northwest WA + BC + AK coho corridor. ODFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework. The Lower Columbia River ESU coho (Lower Columbia River Evolutionarily Significant Unit) is federally Threatened ESA since 2005 — only hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) coho may be retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs, wild-clipped coho must be released. ODFW stocks ~5 million smolt coho annually statewide via Klaskanine + Big Creek + Cedar Creek + Eagle Creek + Salmon River + Trask + Roaring River + Klamath State Fish Hatcheries + USFWS Eagle Creek NFH + USFWS Warm Springs NFH (treaty-tribal coho hatchery on Warm Springs Reservation). Open seasonally under Combined Angling Tag.

Get change alerts

Watch Oregon Coho salmon (silver salmon) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

September 1 – November 30 coho season on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs (with state-specific in-river allocation under Columbia River Compact).

September 1 – November 30Columbia mainstem + Willamette + coastal tribs
Coho run — largest in the lower 48

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific bag on coastal + Willamette tribs; punch-card tagging required under Combined Angling Tag
Possession: Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 16 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific minimums elsewhere
Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier coho anadromous fishery (~500,000 coho returning annually); Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA since 2005 (only hatchery-marked adipose-fin-clipped coho may be retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs); Tillamook + Nehalem + Nestucca + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille + Rogue coastal river system most concentrated coastal coho return outside Pacific Northwest WA + BC + AK coho corridor

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches
Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on listed Quality Management reaches
Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Willamette + most coastal tribs
Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA — only hatchery-marked may be retained)
Combined Angling Tag required to harvest salmon ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish
ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual)
Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Oregon waters:

Columbia River
Coho 2 / day adult September 1 – November 30 under Combined Angling Tag; OR/WA joint reciprocal compact; ~500,000 coho returning annually
Willamette River
Coho ~6,000 annually through Willamette Falls fish ladder; reach-specific bag under Combined Angling Tag
Tillamook Bay + Nehalem + Nestucca + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille coastal river system
Country's most concentrated coastal coho return outside Pacific Northwest corridor; Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA only hatchery-marked retained
Rogue River 84-mile Wild & Scenic reach (Curry County)
Coho coastal return + Combined Angling Tag required

Official source

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Oregonfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The coho salmon (silver salmon) rules on this page are sourced from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)'s official coho salmon (silver salmon) regulation page.

Visit official Oregon fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Coho salmon (silver salmon) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Oregon trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is coho salmon (silver salmon) season in Oregon?: September 1 – November 30 coho season on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs (with state-specific in-river allocation under Columbia River Compact). Those are the 2026 Oregon dates; always confirm against Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Oregon bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon)?: The Oregon daily bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific bag on coastal + Willamette tribs; punch-card tagging required under Combined Angling Tag. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; punch-card tagging on every harvested fish under Combined Angling Tag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size coho salmon (silver salmon) can you keep in Oregon?: The Oregon size rule for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 16 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier coho anadromous fishery (~500,000 coho returning annually); Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA since 2005 (only hatchery-marked adipose-fin-clipped coho may be retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs); Tillamook + Nehalem + Nestucca + Siletz + Alsea + Siuslaw + Umpqua + Coos + Coquille + Rogue coastal river system most concentrated coastal coho return outside Pacific Northwest WA + BC + AK coho corridor.
Do you need a license to fish for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Oregon?: Yes. Oregon requires a valid fishing license to fish for coho salmon (silver salmon), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Oregon license — compare resident and non-resident Oregon fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Oregon?: Yes. In Oregon, coho salmon (silver salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook + artificial-fly-and-lure only on listed Quality Management reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Willamette + most coastal tribs; Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened ESA — only hatchery-marked may be retained); Combined Angling Tag required to harvest salmon ($46.50 res / $46.50 NR same-fee) + punch-card tagging on every harvested fish; ODFW Angling License required ages 12+ ($44 res annual / $116 NR annual); Confirm current-year ODFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact.
Do specific Oregon waters have different coho salmon (silver salmon) rules?: Yes. 4 named Oregon waters carry rules that override the statewide coho salmon (silver salmon) regulation, including Columbia River, Willamette River, N Oregon Coast rivers, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Oregon regulations overview