Marine Area 9 is a special place to target chinook salmon to puget sound rivers. Typically opening in mid-July, the waters of Admiralty Inlet / Marine Area 9 will see all of the interior Puget Sound chinook salmon swimming through on their way to natal streams.
Close enough to major population centers to be a short boat ride away and host to famous salmon fishing haunts such as Possession Bar, Point no Point and Mid-channel bank, Marine Area 9 represents the very soul of Puget Sound salmon fishing.
As chinook abundance in specific rivers throughout Puget Sound becomes more of a challenge, places to target chinook that could see all runs of salmon passing through become harder and harder for fisheries managers to craft seasons around.
Indeed, in 2022 salmon season planning, sport anglers almost lost most if not all of the Marine Area 9 opportunity.
Updated Creel Report for Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet Chinook Salmon Fishing
The above chart will update automatically with data as catch rates are reported in Marine Area 9…I wouldn’t be using this to plan my fishing trip though…when it’s open, just go!
When to fish for Chinook Salmon in Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet
As you can see that early part of the season is typically the best. This is in large part to the metabolic factors of chinook being more active in feeding earlier on, but also chinook don’t spend a ton of time in Marine Area 9. They generally pass through on their way to other marine areas which boast the rivers they stage around before heading into freshwater.
Marine Area 9 doesn’t boat any such rivers that returning chinook salmon will stage around, so they generally pass through while munching on a variety of bait fish and other critters.
Permanent Regulations for Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet
Please refer to the permanent regulations for Marine Area 9 as maintained by WDFW here.
Here are the “proposed seasons” for 2023 for Marine Area 9, more details and regulations for each area will be included in the 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, which outlines the regulations from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 and will be available in early summer 2023:
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 12 |
Closed |
|
|
July 13 – July 30 |
Open Thursday through Saturday only |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook Release Wild Coho |
|
July 30 – Sept. 17 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Wild Coho |
|
Sept. 18 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Need more help understanding saltwater salmon regulations? Consult our guide to understanding saltwater salmon regulations in Washington here.
Emergency Regulations for Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet
Please refer to WDFW’s emergency rules page for a full list that are in effect.
How to fish for Chinook Salmon in Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet
Take a look at our parent page on hooking chinook in the puget sound.
