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

The Washington daily bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + coastal; reach-specific bag on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie tribs; Catch Record Card recording required. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

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

Yes. Washington 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 Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.

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

Yes. In Washington, coho salmon (silver 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 + listed mid-Columbia + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed Quality Management reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + most coastal tribs; restricted on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened 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); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates.

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

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

2026 regulation year

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

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Last updated May 27, 2026

Washington coho 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) carries ~500,000 coho returning annually through the September 1 – November 30 coho season + the Puget Sound 13-marine-area inland sea (San Juan Islands + Strait of Juan de Fuca + Whidbey Basin + Hood Canal + Central Sound + Elliott Bay + South Sound) carries the country's most-concentrated saltwater + nearshore coho fishery alongside the dominant chinook fishery. The Puget Sound coho fishery peaks September – November in the marine areas as coho stage at the mouths of their natal Skagit + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie + Green + Puyallup + Nisqually + Skokomish + Dungeness + Elwha + Hood Canal tributaries. The Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers (Hoh + Quinault + Queets + Sol Duc + Bogachiel + Calawah + Quillayute) carry the country's premier coastal wild-coho winter return + Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers + 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision. The Lower Columbia River ESU coho (federally Threatened ESA since 2005) requires hatchery-marked retention — only adipose-fin-clipped coho may be retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs (Cowlitz + Lewis + Kalama + Toutle + Naselle + Grays + Chehalis), wild-clipped coho must be released. Hood Canal summer-run chum (federally Threatened ESA) parallel framework — coho + chum joint protection on Hood Canal tribs (Skokomish + Duckabush + Dosewallips + Hamma Hamma + Big Quilcene + Little Quilcene). WDFW + USFWS + Tulalip Tribes + Stillaguamish Tribe + Sauk-Suiattle Tribe + Upper Skagit Tribe + Swinomish Tribe + Muckleshoot Tribe + Puyallup Tribe + Nisqually Tribe + Skokomish Tribe joint harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision. WDFW stocks ~6 million smolt coho annually statewide via Forks Creek + Naselle + Cowlitz + Toutle + Kalama + Lewis + Klickitat + Yakima + Skagit + Snohomish + Skykomish State Fish Hatcheries + USFWS Quilcene NFH (Hood Canal coho production) + USFWS Quinault NFH + USFWS Makah NFH (treaty-tribal coho hatcheries). Open seasonally under Catch Record Card.

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Season

September 1 – November 30 coho season on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound (13 marine areas + Hood Canal) + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed tribs (with state-specific in-river allocation under Columbia River Compact + 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision).

September 1 – November 30Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal + Hood Canal + listed tribs
Coho run — country's most-concentrated saltwater + nearshore coho fishery (Puget Sound) + ~500,000 returning annually (Columbia)

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + coastal; reach-specific bag on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie tribs; Catch Record Card recording required
Possession: Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 16 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; 12 in min on Puget Sound; reach-specific minimums elsewhere
Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier coho anadromous fishery (~500,000 coho returning annually); Puget Sound 13-marine-area inland sea country's most-concentrated saltwater + nearshore coho fishery; Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA since 2005 (only hatchery-marked retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs); Hood Canal summer-run chum federally Threatened ESA parallel framework; Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers country's premier coastal wild-coho winter return + Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers + 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + ocean + listed reaches
Barbless single hook required on Columbia + listed mid-Columbia + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed Quality Management reaches
Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + most coastal tribs; restricted on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches
Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened 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)
Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Washington waters:

Columbia River
Coho 2 / day adult September 1 – November 30 under Catch Record Card; OR/WA joint reciprocal compact (WDFW + ODFW); ~500,000 coho returning annually
Puget Sound
Coho 2 / day adult September 1 – November 30; country's most-concentrated saltwater + nearshore coho fishery; 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision
Hood Canal
Hood Canal summer-run chum federally Threatened ESA parallel framework; coho 2 / day adult under Catch Record Card; Skokomish + Port Gamble S'Klallam + Suquamish Tribes joint harvest allocation
Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers
Country's premier coastal wild-coho winter return; Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers; Quileute + Quinault + Hoh + Makah tribal harvest allocation under Boldt Decision
Skagit + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie tribs
Coho reach-specific bag; 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision (Tulalip + Stillaguamish + Sauk-Suiattle + Upper Skagit + Swinomish + Muckleshoot Tribes)

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

Visit official Washington fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Coho salmon (silver 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 coho salmon (silver salmon) season in Washington?: September 1 – November 30 coho season on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound (13 marine areas + Hood Canal) + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed tribs (with state-specific in-river allocation under Columbia River Compact + 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision). 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 coho salmon (silver salmon)?: The Washington daily bag limit for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 2 / day adult coho on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + coastal; reach-specific bag on Skagit + Stillaguamish + Snohomish + Skykomish + Snoqualmie tribs; Catch Record Card recording required. The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint Columbia River Compact catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size coho salmon (silver salmon) can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for coho salmon (silver salmon) is 16 in min adult on Columbia mainstem; 12 in min on Puget Sound; reach-specific minimums elsewhere. Trophy rule: Columbia River OR/WA joint compact country's premier coho anadromous fishery (~500,000 coho returning annually); Puget Sound 13-marine-area inland sea country's most-concentrated saltwater + nearshore coho fishery; Lower Columbia River ESU coho federally Threatened ESA since 2005 (only hatchery-marked retained on listed Lower Columbia tribs); Hood Canal summer-run chum federally Threatened ESA parallel framework; Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers country's premier coastal wild-coho winter return + Coastal Salmon-Steelhead Stamp required for non-tribal anglers + 50/50 treaty-tribal allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision.
Do you need a license to fish for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Washington?: Yes. Washington 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 Washington license — compare resident and non-resident Washington fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for coho salmon (silver salmon) in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, coho salmon (silver 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 + listed mid-Columbia + Olympic Peninsula coastal + listed Quality Management reaches; Live bait permitted on Columbia mainstem + Puget Sound + most coastal tribs; restricted on Olympic Peninsula coastal listed reaches; Wild-clipped coho (no adipose-fin clip) must be released on Lower Columbia + listed tribs (federally Threatened 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); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for in-season emergency-closure updates.
Do specific Washington waters have different coho salmon (silver salmon) rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide coho salmon (silver salmon) regulation, including Columbia River, Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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