What is the Washington bag limit for sockeye salmon (red salmon)?

The Washington daily bag limit for sockeye salmon (red salmon) is 4 / day no min Lake Washington when open; 4 / day combined Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker when open; Catch Record Card recording required; Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population). The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size sockeye salmon (red salmon) can you keep in Washington?

The Washington size rule for sockeye salmon (red salmon) is No statewide minimum; reach-specific minimums on listed Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal tribs. Trophy rule: Lake Washington country's premier urban sockeye salmon run (350,000-500,000 sockeye annually through Ballard Locks fish ladder); Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee country's premier mid-Columbia sockeye run; Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos country's only US-Canada-shared sockeye run under Okanagan Nation Alliance joint management; Baker River + Baker Lake country's premier dedicated-fish-trap-and-haul sockeye reintroduction fishery (Puget Sound Energy + WDFW + USFWS + Skagit River System Cooperative joint operation); Ozette Lake sockeye federally Threatened ESA since 1999 endemic-population — 0 / day catch-and-release-only (WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program).

Do you need a license to fish for sockeye salmon (red salmon) in Washington?

Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for sockeye salmon (red 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 sockeye salmon (red salmon) in Washington?

Yes. In Washington, sockeye salmon (red salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on Lake Washington + Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker + listed reaches; Live bait permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches; Sockeye season opens only when WDFW spawning-escapement forecast threshold is met (~350,000 Lake Washington / WDFW-published thresholds on Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker); Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested sockeye under joint catch-allocation tracking; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater); Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population — WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for season-opening announcements + in-season emergency-closure updates.

Do specific Washington waters have different sockeye salmon (red salmon) rules?

Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide sockeye salmon (red salmon) regulation, including Lake Washington, Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee, Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Washington Sockeye salmon (red salmon) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus nerka

Last updated May 27, 2026

Washington sockeye salmon fishery is country-defining (alongside Alaska + BC + the Bristol Bay system) — country's premier inland-spawning sockeye fishery in the lower 48. Lake Washington (22,000-acre King County urban natural lake — Cedar River + Sammamish River + Lake Washington Ship Canal Locks at Ballard route) is the country's premier urban sockeye salmon run — Pacific sockeye route through downtown Seattle via the Ballard Locks fish ladder, with peak returns of 350,000-500,000 sockeye annually during the June-August summer run. The Lake Washington sockeye season opens only on years that forecast returns clear the WDFW spawning-escapement threshold — typically ~350,000 returning sockeye triggers season opening at the Cedar River + Ship Canal Locks (the threshold protects the spawning run when forecasts run below the threshold + no fishery opens). The Cedar River carries the dominant Lake Washington spawning run (~80% of returns) + the Sammamish River + Issaquah Creek carry the remaining 20%. The Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee (Chelan County — 2,486-acre Cascade Range natural lake) carries the country's premier mid-Columbia sockeye run — peak returns 100,000-250,000 sockeye annually depending on Columbia ocean conditions + reservoir passage at the lower 4 mainstem Columbia dams (Bonneville + The Dalles + John Day + McNary). The Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos (Okanogan County — bi-national lake straddling the US/Canada border) carries the country's only US-Canada-shared sockeye run — peak returns 200,000-400,000 sockeye annually + joint US-Canada Okanagan Nation Alliance + Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation joint management. The Baker River + Baker Lake (Skagit County — Puget Sound Energy Baker River Hydroelectric Project Lower Baker Dam 1925 + Upper Baker Dam 1959) is the country's premier dedicated-fish-trap-and-haul sockeye reintroduction fishery — Puget Sound Energy + WDFW + USFWS + Skagit River System Cooperative jointly operate a fish trap at Lower Baker Dam to capture upstream-migrating sockeye, transport them by truck around the dam, and release them above Baker Lake to spawn (one of country's only sockeye fisheries with a dedicated fish-trap-and-haul reintroduction system) — peak returns ~30,000 sockeye annually. Lake Ozette (Clallam County — Olympic National Park 922,650-acre federal NPS park overlay — Makah Indian Reservation) carries the Ozette Lake sockeye salmon population — federally Threatened ESA since 1999 — endemic-population WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program — 0 / day catch-and-release-only (closed to retention). WDFW + USFWS + Skagit + Tulalip + Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + Makah + Quileute + Quinault Tribes joint harvest allocation under US v. Washington 1974 Boldt Decision + US v. Oregon. Open seasonally under Catch Record Card when WDFW spawning-escapement threshold is met.

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Season

Lake Washington (Cedar River + Sammamish River + Ballard Locks) June 1 – August 31 when open (only on years that forecast returns clear the WDFW spawning-escapement threshold — typically ~350,000 returning sockeye triggers season opening); Wenatchee River + Okanogan River July 1 – August 31 when open; Baker Lake (Skagit County) July 1 – August 31 via Puget Sound Energy fish-trap-and-haul reintroduction framework.

June 1 – August 31Lake Washington (Cedar River + Sammamish River + Ballard Locks) when open
WDFW spawning-escapement threshold ~350,000 returning sockeye triggers season opening — sockeye season opens only on years that forecast returns clear the threshold
July 1 – August 31Wenatchee River + Okanogan River + Baker Lake when open
Mid-Columbia + Baker River sockeye runs — joint WDFW + Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation + Puget Sound Energy + Skagit River System Cooperative management

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 4 / day no min Lake Washington when open; 4 / day combined Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker when open; Catch Record Card recording required; Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population)
Possession: Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint catch-allocation tracking

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum; reach-specific minimums on listed Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal tribs
Trophy rule: Lake Washington country's premier urban sockeye salmon run (350,000-500,000 sockeye annually through Ballard Locks fish ladder); Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee country's premier mid-Columbia sockeye run; Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos country's only US-Canada-shared sockeye run under Okanagan Nation Alliance joint management; Baker River + Baker Lake country's premier dedicated-fish-trap-and-haul sockeye reintroduction fishery (Puget Sound Energy + WDFW + USFWS + Skagit River System Cooperative joint operation); Ozette Lake sockeye federally Threatened ESA since 1999 endemic-population — 0 / day catch-and-release-only (WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches
Barbless single hook required on Lake Washington + Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker + listed reaches
Live bait permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches
Sockeye season opens only when WDFW spawning-escapement forecast threshold is met (~350,000 Lake Washington / WDFW-published thresholds on Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker)
Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested sockeye under joint catch-allocation tracking
WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater)
Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population — WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program)
Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for season-opening announcements + in-season emergency-closure updates

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Washington waters:

Lake Washington
Sockeye 4 / day no min when open June 1 – August 31; WDFW spawning-escapement threshold ~350,000 returning sockeye triggers season opening; peak returns 350,000-500,000 sockeye annually through Ballard Locks fish ladder; country's premier urban sockeye salmon run
Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee
Sockeye 4 / day combined no min when open July 1 – August 31; peak returns 100,000-250,000 sockeye annually; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation joint harvest allocation; country's premier mid-Columbia sockeye run
Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos
Sockeye 4 / day combined no min when open July 1 – August 31; peak returns 200,000-400,000 sockeye annually; joint US-Canada Okanagan Nation Alliance + Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation joint management; country's only US-Canada-shared sockeye run
Baker River + Baker Lake
Sockeye 4 / day combined no min when open July 1 – August 31 via Puget Sound Energy fish-trap-and-haul reintroduction framework; peak returns ~30,000 sockeye annually; country's premier dedicated-fish-trap-and-haul sockeye reintroduction fishery
Lake Ozette
Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA since 1999 endemic-population — WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program); sockeye harvest prohibited

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

Visit official Washington fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Sockeye salmon (red 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 sockeye salmon (red salmon) season in Washington?: Lake Washington (Cedar River + Sammamish River + Ballard Locks) June 1 – August 31 when open (only on years that forecast returns clear the WDFW spawning-escapement threshold — typically ~350,000 returning sockeye triggers season opening); Wenatchee River + Okanogan River July 1 – August 31 when open; Baker Lake (Skagit County) July 1 – August 31 via Puget Sound Energy fish-trap-and-haul reintroduction framework. 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 sockeye salmon (red salmon)?: The Washington daily bag limit for sockeye salmon (red salmon) is 4 / day no min Lake Washington when open; 4 / day combined Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker when open; Catch Record Card recording required; Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population). The possession limit is Reach-specific possession; Catch Record Card recording on every harvested fish under joint catch-allocation tracking. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size sockeye salmon (red salmon) can you keep in Washington?: The Washington size rule for sockeye salmon (red salmon) is No statewide minimum; reach-specific minimums on listed Puget Sound + Olympic Peninsula coastal tribs. Trophy rule: Lake Washington country's premier urban sockeye salmon run (350,000-500,000 sockeye annually through Ballard Locks fish ladder); Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee country's premier mid-Columbia sockeye run; Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos country's only US-Canada-shared sockeye run under Okanagan Nation Alliance joint management; Baker River + Baker Lake country's premier dedicated-fish-trap-and-haul sockeye reintroduction fishery (Puget Sound Energy + WDFW + USFWS + Skagit River System Cooperative joint operation); Ozette Lake sockeye federally Threatened ESA since 1999 endemic-population — 0 / day catch-and-release-only (WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program).
Do you need a license to fish for sockeye salmon (red salmon) in Washington?: Yes. Washington requires a valid fishing license to fish for sockeye salmon (red 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 sockeye salmon (red salmon) in Washington?: Yes. In Washington, sockeye salmon (red salmon) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches; Barbless single hook required on Lake Washington + Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker + listed reaches; Live bait permitted on Lake Washington + Lake Wenatchee + Baker Lake + listed reaches; Sockeye season opens only when WDFW spawning-escapement forecast threshold is met (~350,000 Lake Washington / WDFW-published thresholds on Wenatchee + Okanogan + Baker); Catch Record Card recording required on every harvested sockeye under joint catch-allocation tracking; WDFW Fishing License required ages 15+ ($29.50 res Freshwater / $124 NR Freshwater); Ozette Lake sockeye 0 / day catch-and-release-only (federally Threatened ESA endemic-population — WDFW + Makah Tribe + NPS Olympic National Park joint recovery program); Confirm current-year WDFW Sport Fishing Regulations for season-opening announcements + in-season emergency-closure updates.
Do specific Washington waters have different sockeye salmon (red salmon) rules?: Yes. 5 named Washington waters carry rules that override the statewide sockeye salmon (red salmon) regulation, including Lake Washington, Wenatchee River + Lake Wenatchee, Okanogan River + Lake Osoyoos, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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