Green River Salmon Fishing 2023

Looking ahead to 2023, salmon fishing enthusiasts can look forward to a decent season on the Green River. This popular fishing river originates in the Cascade mountains east of Tacoma, WA and flows into the Howard A Hansen Dam, which was created for flood control and water supply.

Despite passing through heavily populated areas of Pugetropolis, the Green River remains one of the best salmon rivers in the state, with a high number of returning salmon. As the river nears the saltwater of Elliot Bay and the city of Seattle, it forms the Duwamish waterway, providing ample opportunities for anglers to enjoy the fishery.

This blog article attempts to concentrate in one place the angling opportunity, fishing regulations and hatchery data to make your research and trip planning to the Green River as simple as possible.

Every year chinook, coho and chum salmon return to the Green river / Duwamish in good numbers. On odd years the Green gets a massive return of pink salmon as well. I love taking people to the Green to hook their first salmon during chum season in particular!

Let’s take a look at a couple of new features I’ve got up on the blog to help you understand run timing and how many salmon are returning at the hatcheries:

  1. Automatically updating graph of the Escapement Report for the Green River / Duwamish
  2. Historical run timing graph providing a visual of when salmon normally return to the Green River / Duwamish

We will evaluate these separately for coho, chinook, pink and chum salmon.

We also provide an extensive explanation of the forecast for Green River salmon returns in 2023.

Updated Status of returning Fall Chinook on the Green River

Green Fall Chinook 2023

These graphs will automatically update as fish start to return to the hatchery

Historical Run Timing of Fall Chinook on the Green River

Green Fall Chinook Run timing 2023

Updated Status of returning Coho on the Green River

Green Coho 2023

These graphs will automatically update as fish start to return to the hatchery

Historical Run Timing of Coho on the Green River

Green Coho Run timing 2023

Forecast for 2023 Green River Fall Chinook

Green Fall Chinook Escapement History 2023

Escapement history just counts fish at the hatcheries that report escapement, total run-size combines escapement plus estimated catch of hatchery fish.

Hatchery escapement has been pretty strong since the 2014 lows, with 6 of the last 7 years over 10k chinook salmon returning to the hatchery.

Green Fall Chinook Forecast for 2023

Forecasts are for total run-size, total return isn’t available until estimated catch has been calculated and released.

It’s always good to see increasing forecasts from one year to the next as we see for 2023.

2022 all fall chinook returns map

This is the return map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

In this case it’s green or > 125% of the 10 year avg run-size for the 2022 returns.

2023 all fall chinook forecast map

This is the forecast map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

The forecast for 2023 is again, expected to greatly exceed the 10 year average.

Forecast for 2023 Green River Pink

2023 puget sound pink forecast map

This is the forecast map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

The numbers of pink salmon expected back to the Green are simply mind boggling!

Forecast for 2023 Green River Coho

Green Coho Escapement History 2023

Escapement history just counts fish at the hatcheries that report escapement, total run-size combines escapement plus estimated catch of hatchery fish.

The coho trend is not what we want in terms of total hatchery escapement.

Green Coho Forecast for 2023

Forecasts are for total run-size, total return isn’t available until estimated catch has been calculated and released.

I’m guessing total run-size for 2022 will be adjusted much lower than forecast, but for now 2023 is expected to exceed 2022 by 20k coho, which would be great if it materializes.

2022 all coho returns map

This is the return map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

As you can see returns were poor for coho in the Green River in 2022.

2023 all coho forecast map

This is the forecast map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

Returns of Green River coho are expected to be much better in 2023.

Forecast for 2023 Green River Chum

2022 all chum returns map

This is the return map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

2023 all chum forecast map

This is the forecast map published as part of North of Falcon, you need to look for Green River on the map and interpret the color.

Fishing Regulations for Green River Salmon 2023

These reflect what’s been made available electronically to the public regarding permanent fishing regulations on the Green River

from an East-West line extending though the southernmost tip of Harbor Island to Tukwila International Blvd./Old Hwy. 99 CRC (746)

All species

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.

Trout

Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Other game fish

Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Salmon

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 3 of any combination of adult coho and chum. Release Chinook.

from Tukwila International Blvd./Old Hwy. 99 to South 212th St. Bridge CRC (746)

All species

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.

Trout

Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Other game fish

Sat. before Memorial Day-July 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Salmon

Aug. 20-Dec. 31

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 Chinook total may be retained; up to 3 chum may be retained; up to 3 adult coho may be retained. A combination of no more than 3 total of adult coho, chum and Chinook may be retained. Anglers must retain the first 2 Chinook caught.

from 212th St. Bridge to the Hwy. 18 Eastbound Bridge CRC (746)

All species

Sept. 16-Dec. 31

Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.

Trout

Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Sept. 16-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Other game fish

Sat. before Memorial Day-Aug. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Sept. 16-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Salmon

Sept. 16-Dec. 31

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 3 of any combination of adult coho and chum. Release Chinook.

from the Hwy. 18 Eastbound Bridge to the Auburn Black Diamond Rd. Bridge CRC (746)

All species

 

CLOSED WATERS.

from the Auburn-Black Diamond Rd. Bridge to 150’ downstream of Keta (Crisp) Creek CRC (746)

All species

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Night closure. Anti-snagging rule.

Trout

Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Other game fish

Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Salmon

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 3 adults. Release Chinook.

from 150’ downstream of the mouth of Keta (Crisp) Creek to 150’ upstream

All species

 

CLOSED WATERS.

from 150’ upstream of Keta (Crisp) Creek to the Tacoma Municipal boundary marker (1.3 miles downstream of Tacoma Headworks Dam) CRC (746)

All species

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Anti-snagging rule. Night closure.

Trout

Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: Cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout: min. size 14”.

Other game fish

Sat. before Memorial Day-Sept. 15

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Statewide min. size/daily limit.

Salmon

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

Min. size 12”. Daily limit 6 including no more than 3 adults. Release Chinook.

from the Tacoma Municipal Watershed Boundary Marker (1.3 miles downstream of Tacoma Headworks Dam) to Friday Creek CRC (746)

All species

 

CLOSED WATERS.

Always make sure you fully understand the fishing regulations and check emergency regulations to avoid a costly ticket

Emergency Fishing Regulations for Green River Salmon 2023

The above permanent regulations for the Green River are subject to change at any time and without being updated on this blog. One must consult the WDFW Emergency Regulations before any trips to ensure they are in full compliance with state laws regulating fisheries.

How to fish for Chum Salmon on the Green River

Checkout one of my videos on this topic here: