What is the Washington bag limit for chinook salmon (king salmon)?

The Washington daily bag limit for chinook salmon (king salmon) is 1 / day adult spring chinook on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; 1 / day adult summer chinook on mid-Columbia (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); 2 / day adult fall chinook on Columbia mainstem + Snake; Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested fish. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for chinook salmon (king salmon) in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for chinook salmon (king 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 Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for chinook salmon (king salmon) in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, chinook salmon (king salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on Columbia + Snake + mid-Columbia tribs + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound saltwater; restricted on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Wild-clipped chinook (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened/Endangered ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested salmon under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater / $32.50 res Saltwater / $80 NR Saltwater / $54.75 res Combination / $190 NR Combination); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact (WDFW + ODFW).

Do specific Washington waters have different chinook salmon (king salmon) rules?

Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide chinook salmon (king salmon) regulation, including Columbia River, Snake River, Puget Sound, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Washington Chinook salmon (king salmon) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Last updated May 27, 2026

Washington chinook salmon fishery is country-defining (alongside OR + AK + BC) — the Columbia River (under the OR/WA Columbia River Compact administered jointly by WDFW + ODFW since 1918) is the country's premier spring chinook + summer chinook + fall chinook anadromous fishery, with ~1.5 million chinook returning annually under the modern post-Endangered Species Act listing joint management framework. The Columbia spring chinook run (March 1 – June 15) peaks at Bonneville Dam fish ladder + Hanford Reach + the upstream mid-Columbia tribs (Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat). The Columbia summer chinook run (June 16 – July 31) carries the WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota on mid-Columbia tribs — Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat tribs receive summer-run chinook returns that are managed under a separate harvest allocation framework from the Lower Columbia fall run. The Columbia fall chinook run (August 1 – December 31) is the largest of the three runs by volume, with peak returns through the Lower Columbia + Hanford Reach + into the Snake River + lower Snake tribs (Lewiston ID + the four Lower Snake dam reservoirs). The Snake River (under the OR/WA/ID Snake River reciprocal compact) carries the federally Threatened/Endangered Snake River chinook ESU — anadromous fish that migrate 500+ miles from the Pacific upstream to the Snake + Salmon + Clearwater tribs, the longest anadromous fish migration in the lower 48. The Puget Sound chinook ESU (federally Threatened ESA since 1999) consists of 22 distinct populations across Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Strait of Juan de Fuca tribs — only hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) chinook may be retained on listed reaches; the Puget Sound chinook are the Southern Resident Killer Whale's primary prey base, protected under USFWS + NOAA Pacific Marine Sanctuaries joint conservation framework. The Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) carry the country's premier coastal wild-chinook winter + summer runs — Quileute Tribal Reservation + Quinault Indian Nation + Hoh Tribe + Makah Tribe joint harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision. The Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat mid-Columbia tribs receive chinook returns under Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation joint harvest allocation. WDFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework. WDFW + USFWS Skagit + Snohomish + Skykomish + Sol Duc + Quinault + Forks Creek + Naselle + Cowlitz + Toutle + Kalama + Lewis + Klickitat + Yakima + Spokane State Fish Hatcheries (country's largest hatchery system alongside OR + CA + ID) + USFWS Quinault NFH + USFWS Makah NFH stock ~5 million smolt chinook annually statewide. Open seasonally under Catch Record Card.

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Season

Spring chinook March 1 – June 15 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow + listed tribs; summer chinook June 16 – July 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); fall chinook August 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Puget Sound + coastal.

March 1 – June 15Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow + listed tribs
Spring chinook run — country's premier spring chinook fishery
June 16 – July 31Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat tribs
Summer chinook run — WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota on mid-Columbia tribs
August 1 – December 31Columbia mainstem + Snake + Puget Sound (13 marine areas) + Olympic Peninsula coastal
Fall chinook run — largest of three runs by volume

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 1 / day adult spring chinook on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; 1 / day adult summer chinook on mid-Columbia (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); 2 / day adult fall chinook on Columbia mainstem + Snake; Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested fish
Possession: Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 24 in min adult on Columbia mainstem + Snake; reach-specific minimums on listed Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal + Wenatchee + Methow tribs
Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier spring + summer + fall chinook anadromous fishery (~1.5 million chinook returning annually); Snake River chinook ESU federally Threatened/Endangered ESA migrate 500+ miles from Pacific (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); Puget Sound chinook ESU federally Threatened ESA since 1999 — 22 distinct populations across Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Strait of Juan de Fuca tribs; only hatchery-marked retained on listed reaches; Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers country's premier coastal wild-chinook winter + summer runs under Quileute + Quinault + Hoh + Makah tribal harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision; WDFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches
Barbless single hook required on Columbia + Snake + mid-Columbia tribs + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed reaches
Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound saltwater; restricted on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches
Wild-clipped chinook (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened/Endangered ESA only hatchery-marked retained)
Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested salmon under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW
WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater / $32.50 res Saltwater / $80 NR Saltwater / $54.75 res Combination / $190 NR Combination)
Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact (WDFW + ODFW)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Washington waters:

Columbia River
Spring chinook 1 / day adult March 1 – June 15; summer chinook 1 / day adult June 16 – July 31; fall chinook 2 / day adult August 1 – December 31; OR/WA joint reciprocal compact (WDFW + ODFW); ~1.5 million chinook returning annually
Snake River
Snake River chinook ESU federally Threatened/Endangered ESA only hatchery-marked retained; anadromous fish migrate 500+ miles from Pacific (longest in lower 48); seasonal under joint compact
Puget Sound
Puget Sound chinook ESU federally Threatened ESA since 1999 (22 distinct populations); only hatchery-marked retained; Southern Resident Killer Whale primary prey base under USFWS + NOAA joint conservation framework
Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers
Country's premier coastal wild-chinook winter + summer runs; Quileute + Quinault + Hoh + Makah tribal harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision; Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers
Wenatchee + Methow + Entiat mid-Columbia tribs
Summer chinook 1 / day adult June 16 – July 31 (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation tribal harvest allocation

Official source

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

The chinook salmon (king salmon) rules on this page are sourced from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)'s official chinook salmon (king salmon) regulation page.

Visit official Washington fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Frequently asked questions

When is chinook salmon (king salmon) season in Washington?: Spring chinook March 1 – June 15 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow + listed tribs; summer chinook June 16 – July 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Wenatchee + Methow (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); fall chinook August 1 – December 31 Columbia mainstem + Snake + Puget Sound + coastal. Those are the 2026 Washington dates; always confirm against Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
What is the Washington bag limit for chinook salmon (king salmon)?: The Washington daily bag limit for chinook salmon (king salmon) is 1 / day adult spring chinook on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; 1 / day adult summer chinook on mid-Columbia (WDFW-distinctive separate summer chinook quota); 2 / day adult fall chinook on Columbia mainstem + Snake; Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested fish. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession on Columbia mainstem + listed tribs; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size chinook salmon (king salmon) can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for chinook salmon (king salmon) is 24 in min adult on Columbia mainstem + Snake; reach-specific minimums on listed Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal + Wenatchee + Methow tribs. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier spring + summer + fall chinook anadromous fishery (~1.5 million chinook returning annually); Snake River chinook ESU federally Threatened/Endangered ESA migrate 500+ miles from Pacific (longest anadromous fish migration in lower 48); Puget Sound chinook ESU federally Threatened ESA since 1999 — 22 distinct populations across Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Strait of Juan de Fuca tribs; only hatchery-marked retained on listed reaches; Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers country's premier coastal wild-chinook winter + summer runs under Quileute + Quinault + Hoh + Makah tribal harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision; WDFW + USFWS + Yakama + Umatilla + Warm Springs + Nez Perce four Columbia River treaty tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Oregon federal-court-ordered allocation framework.
Do you need a license to fish for chinook salmon (king salmon) in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for chinook salmon (king 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 Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for chinook salmon (king salmon) in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, chinook salmon (king salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on Columbia + Snake + mid-Columbia tribs + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound saltwater; restricted on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Wild-clipped chinook (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Puget Sound + Hood Canal + Lower Columbia + Snake River Basin tribs (federally Threatened/Endangered ESA only hatchery-marked retained); Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested salmon under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking with ODFW; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater / $32.50 res Saltwater / $80 NR Saltwater / $54.75 res Combination / $190 NR Combination); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates under joint Columbia River Compact (WDFW + ODFW).
Do specific Washington waters have different chinook salmon (king salmon) rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide chinook salmon (king salmon) regulation, including Columbia River, Snake River, Puget Sound, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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