We made it, we’re finally here in the summer of 2023! And, I cannot believe I haven’t yet made a comprehensive post about the Puget Sound salmon seasons this year. Inside this blog post I will cover the “likely” seasons WDFW has published for Marine Area 5 – 13, the catch charts that give you some idea about timing the runs, and some of my thoughts on each area.
Puget Sound Salmon Seasons by Marine Area for 2023
The below seasons have been sourced from WDFW’s page on their “Season summaries and agreed on fisheries”. I’ve added my commentary and some charts to them to hopefully enhance your understanding of them.
Here’s a link to the 2023 Puget Sound Salmon Forecasts, and below is my video on the topic:
Don’t forget that 2023 is a pink year! Here’s a link to where you can get more information than you could want about the pink salmon run in 2023.
Always refer to WDFW pages and emergency-regulations for the most accurate understanding of the current marine area regulations. Whatever WDFW publishes or what I’ve copied and pasted from WDFW below can change at any time via emergency regulation announcements
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – June 30 |
Closed |
|
|
July 1 – Aug. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Wild Chinook |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 16 – March 31 |
Closed |
|
|
April 1 – April 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Coho Release Wild Chinook |
|
May 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 5 Salmon in 2023
The above chart shows the average chinook caught per angler in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu / Pillar Point). Basically great fishing (anything above .20 chinook per angler is solid fishing for anyone that knows what they are doing) any time it is open.
You can catch coho around Sekiu as soon as it opens on July 1st, but there will be a few challenges you will encounter:
- The coho won’t be that big, 2-4 lbs.
- The mark rate on the coho will be around 10% due to all the fish headed to Canadian waters which are not fin clipped
With that said, 2022 was a pretty awesome year to get coho early in July, so who knows what 2023 will bring us!
Checkout my page on Sekiu Salmon Fishing for more info and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulations |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – June 30 |
Closed |
|
|
East of true North/South line through “2” buoy |
||
|
July 1 – Aug. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
West of true North/South line through “2” buoy |
||
|
July 1 – Aug. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Wild Chinook |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 16 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 6 Salmon in 2023
Port Angeles has some of the best and most consistent catch rates of chinook salmon when the season is open that it’s definitely worth your time to checkout and it’s a bit closer than the almost 4 hour drive to Sekiu.
Checkout my page on Port Angeles Salmon Fishing for more info and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 12 |
Closed |
Closed to Salmon |
|
July 13 – July 15 |
Open Thursday through Saturday only. Additional days may be added based on in-season updates. |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook Release Wild Coho Bellingham and Samish Bay closed to Salmon |
|
Aug. 1 – Aug. 31 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Wild Coho Bellingham Bay open 8/16
|
|
Sept. 1 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit, 1 may be Coho Release Chum Release Chinook
|
| Oct. 1 – May 14 | Closed |
Timing the run for Marine Area 7 Salmon in 2023
The bottom line with fishing for chinook salmon in the San Juan’s is, when it’s open you fish it. Seasons have been on incredibly tight quotas relative to the effort and success encountered, so I wouldn’t expect additional days to be added.
While the limited chinook opportunity is a bit of a bummer, so of the chinook encounter quota went to making sure there are longer seasons available in August and September to catch both coho and pinks, including a non-selective coho fishery in September, which is a big win for island anglers.
Checkout my page on San Juan Islands Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 8-1 – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 8-1 – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 31 |
Closed |
|
|
|
Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
|
Oct. 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 8-1 Salmon in 2023
Area 8-1 is primarily about targeting coho and pinks, which can be very good when open, but especially heading into September.
Marine Area 8-2 – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 8-2 – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 31 |
Closed |
|
|
Aug. 1 – Sept. 24 |
Open |
2 fish limit, 1 may be Coho Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Sept. 25 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 8-2 Salmon in 2023
Area 8-2 will primarily provide an opportunity to catch non-selective coho and pink salmon and can be quite good in September.
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet ) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 12 |
Closed |
|
|
July 13 – July 31 |
Open Thursday through Saturday only |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook Release Wild Coho |
|
Aug. 1 – 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 |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 9 Salmon in 2023
Marine Area 9 is a great place to target the entire run of Puget Sound chinook heading towards their natal streams.
The seasons have been greatly shortened to reflect smaller quotas and higher angler effort. However, timing the first MA9 opener with MA7 may cut down on some boat traffic and spread effort out.
Checkout my page on Marine Area 9 Chinook Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Coho in MA9 can be extremely good when the run begins to pour over possession bar.
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – May 31 |
Closed |
|
|
June 1 – July 12 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
July 13 – Aug. 31 |
Open |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
Sept. 1 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
| Oct. 1 – Oct. 31 | Open | 2 fish limit Release Chinook |
|
Nov. 1 – Feb. 29 |
Closed |
|
|
March 1 – April 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
April 16 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 10 Salmon in 2023
Marine Area 10 is where you really begin to notice big numbers of chinook that aren’t as willing biters as in other marine areas earlier in the migration route. However, in years where they come into MA10 still actively feeding and bulking up, fishing success continues to build into mid-August when the quota is often reached.
Checkout my page on Marine Area 10 Chinook Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Coho in Marine Area 10 really has two distinct periods of intense effort and success. In June and early July, primarily the resident coho is what’s being targeted, followed by a lull and then a big spike in coho success in late August and throughout September.
With the huge numbers of coho present and 2 fish non-selective limit, this is the best place to target coho in the Puget Sound.
Checkout my page on Marine Area 10 Coho Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma / Vashon) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma / Vashon) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – May 31 |
Closed |
|
|
June 1 – Sept. 30
|
Open |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 31 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chinook |
|
Nov. 1 – Feb. 29 |
Closed |
|
|
March 1 – April 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
April 16 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 11 Salmon in 2023
Similar to Marine Area 10, Area 11 generally gets better throughout the month of August as more and more chinook show up until the quota is reached.
Marine Area 11 in places like the clay banks are great places to jig for chinook as large numbers will stack up and will not always be willing to expend energy to chase trolling gear.
Checkout my page on Marine Area 11 Chinook Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 11 is not always the best place to target coho, but working the ferry lanes and random places “out in the middle” can be a great place to target them.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
North of Ayock |
||
|
May 15 – July 9 |
Closed |
|
|
July 10 – Oct. 31 |
Open |
4 fish limit Release Chum through 10/15 Release Chinook |
| Nov. 1 – Nov. 30 | Open |
4 fish limit Release Chinook Release coho |
|
Dec. 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
|
South of Ayock |
||
|
May 15 – July 9 |
Closed |
|
|
July 10 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
4 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook 20” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 31 |
Open |
4 fish limit Release Chum through 10/15 Release Chinook |
| Nov. 1 – Nov. 30 | Open |
4 fish limit Release Chinook Release coho |
|
Dec. 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 12 Salmon in 2023
Hood Canal doesn’t get as much creel checking, so these numbers fluctuate quite a bit. Liberal limits of 4 fish can make Marine Area 12 a lucrative place to target chinook or coho. Assuming you have it dialed in!
Checkout my page on Marine Area 12 Chinook Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 13 (South Sound) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2023
Marine Area 13 (South Sound) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2023
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – June 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Wild Chinook Minter Creek mouth closed 4/16 – 9/15 Lower Budd Inlet closure zone 7/16-10/31 |
|
July 1 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook – 20” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Wild Chinook Minter Creek mouth closed 4/16 – 9/15 Lower Budd Inlet closure zone 7/16-10/31 |
|
Oct. 1 – May 14 |
Open |
2 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Wild Chinook Minter Creek mouth closed 4/16 – 9/15 Lower Budd Inlet closure zone 7/16-10/31 |
Timing the run for Marine Area 13 Salmon in 2023
Marine Area 13 is close to home for me and one of my favorite places to target big staging chinook. Find them feeding in a few places or target them migrating/staging in front of rivers like the Nisqually.
Checkout my page on Marine Area 13 Chinook Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Definitely not a place where I’ve caught many coho in the past, but they are present in September and early October.
Wrapping up my summary of 2023 Puget Sound Salmon Seasons
Check here if you’re looking for a big page full of tips and tricks to target Puget Sound Salmon.
I love to follow the run of chinook salmon into Puget Sound and up the rivers from June to October! I already completed a trip to Neah Bay in June, now I need to hit Sekiu and Port Angeles in early July.
From there, I will hit MA9 and MA10 in mid-July, followed by concentrating more effort near home in the south sound in late July in August.
