Let’s take a deep dive look into all of the *proposed* and nearly finalized salmon seasons for Puget Sound in 2024.
*Proposed* Puget Sound Salmon Seasons by Marine Area for 2024
The below seasons have been sourced from WDFW’s PDF of “Proposed Seasons” for 2024-2025. I’ve added my commentary and some charts to them to hopefully enhance your understanding of them.
All of the below seasons are still subject to change and I plan to update them if any changes occur between now and final season setting.
This content is intended to help you plan out your summer salmon season in Puget Sound NOT be a reference to what’s legal to retain or where you can fish on a specific day, etc.
Here’s a link to the 2024 Puget Sound Salmon Forecasts, and below is the live stream I recorded on the topic:
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 2024
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| 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 Release Sockeye |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 26 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
Sep. 27 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
Oct. 16 – March 31 |
Closed |
|
|
April 1 – April 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Coho Release Wild Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
May 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 5 Salmon in 2024
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.
However, I will say, the initial fishing, RIGHT after it opens is typically better than what comes after. Good anglers can still get their limits anytime it is open, but there are also a lot of folks returning empty-handed depending on fishing conditions.
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
One of these days I will be taking part in the October non-selective coho fishing that’s legendary up in Marine Area 5!
Checkout my page on Sekiu Salmon Fishing for more info and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| 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 Release Sockeye |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 26 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
Sep. 27 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
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 Release Sockeye |
|
Aug. 16 – Sept. 26 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Wild Coho Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
Sep. 27 – Oct. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Sockeye |
|
Oct. 16 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 6 Salmon in 2024
Port Angeles has some of the best and most consistent catch rates of chinook salmon when the season is open it’s definitely worth your time to check out and it’s a bit closer than the almost 4-hour drive to Sekiu.
Add in the fact that it’s a 2 fish limit on chinook and likely more reliable seasons to plan around with a much larger encounter quota than Sekiu and Marine Area 6 just might be the place to be in 2024.
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 2024
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 12 |
Closed |
Closed to Salmon |
|
July 18 – July 31 |
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 Release Sockeye Bellingham and Samish Bay closed to Salmon |
|
Aug. 1 – Aug. 31 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Wild Coho Release Sockeye Bellingham Bay open 8/16
|
|
Sept. 1 – Sept. 29 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Sockeye
|
| Oct. 1 – May 14 | Closed |
Timing the run for Marine Area 7 Salmon in 2024
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 coho including a non-selective coho fishery in September, which is a big win for island anglers.
Also, in 2024 that September fishery has a 2 fish limit on non-selective coho!
Checkout my page on San Juan Islands Salmon Fishing for more information and daily updated catch graphs.
Marine Area 8-1 – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 8-1 – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 31 |
Closed |
|
|
|
Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
|
Oct. 1 – Oct. 13 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
|
Oct. 14 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 8-1 Salmon in 2024
Area 8-1 is primarily about targeting coho in 2024, which can be very good when open, but especially heading into September.
And new in 2024 we have a season in early October as well to target 2 coho limits non-selectively!
The run of coho on the Skagit River is expected to be very good this year which is a big factor in these expanded seasons.
Marine Area 8-2 – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 8-2 – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 31 |
Closed |
|
|
Aug. 1 – Sept. 24 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Sept. 25 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 8-2 Salmon in 2024
Area 8-2 will primarily provide an opportunity to catch non-selective coho salmon and can be quite good in September.
Also, Area 8-2 is another place with a 2 fish limit on coho.
Tulalip Bubble – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Tulalip Bubble – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – May 25 |
Closed |
|
|
May 24 – Sept. 2 |
Open |
Open 12:01 AM Friday – 11:59 AM 2 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook 22″ minimum size *Closed June 1 for Tulalip fish ceremony |
|
Sept. 3 – Sep 6. |
Closed |
|
|
Sept. 7 – Sep 22 |
Open |
Open Saturday and Sunday each week 2 fish limit 2-pole endorsement Chinook 22″ minimum size |
|
Sept. 23 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Tulalip Bubble Salmon in 2024
Fishing for chinook in the Tulalip Bubble is something I’ve never done, but it’s certainly one of those ways to scratch the chinook itch for North Puget Sound anglers before the bulk for summer opportunity is available.
As you can see, catch success is spread fairly evenly around the period that it’s open.
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet ) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – July 12 |
Closed |
|
|
July 18 – July 31 |
Open Thursday through |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook Release Wild Coho |
|
Aug. 1 – Sept. 23 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook Release Wild Coho |
|
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – May 14 |
Closed |
|
Timing the run for Marine Area 9 Salmon in 2024
Marine Area 9 is a great place to target the entire run of Puget Sound chinook heading towards their natal streams.
In 2024 we will have multiple aligned chinook openers to truly spread out effort and allow local anglers the most opportunity. Marine Areas 9, 7, 10, and 11 will all open the same day and have the same schedule in July.
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. The final week of the season is non-selective as well.
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – May 31 |
Closed |
|
|
June 1 – July 17 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chum Release Chinook |
|
July 18 – 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 – Nov. 15 | Open | 2 fish limit Release Chinook |
|
Nov. 16 – Feb. 28 |
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 2024
I like the changes to Marine Area 10 being proposed for 2024 with regard to chinook retention. In 2023, most of the sub-legal encounter quota was reached before the bulk of migrating summer chinook adults entered the area and we want to avoid that by all means necessary.
August 1st is usually when the bulk of the adults show up.
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 2024
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma / Vashon) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
May 15 – May 31 |
Closed |
|
|
June 5 – June 30
|
Open Wednesday |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
July 18 – Sept. 30
|
Open |
2 fish limit 1 hatchery Chinook Chinook – 22” minimum size Release Chum Release Wild Chinook |
|
Oct. 1 – Nov. 15 |
Open |
2 fish limit Release Chinook |
|
Nov. 16 – Feb. 28 |
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 2024
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.
Fishing can be exceptional in early June for Marine Area 11 chinook, but will tail off towards the end of the month. Fishing for chinook will typically pick up again in late July when the bulk of migrating summer chinook adults show up.
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.
The fishing around Redondo has been in good recent seasons as well for coho.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) – Salmon Fishing Seasons 2024
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| Dates |
Status |
Regulation |
|---|---|---|
|
North of Ayock |
||
|
May 15 – July 31 |
Closed |
|
|
Aug. 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 |
|
|
South of Ayock |
||
|
May 15 – June 30 |
Closed |
|
|
July 1 – 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 2024
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 2024
Marine Area 13 (South Sound) – Agreed Fisheries / Proposed Seasons for 2024
| 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 2024
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 or the travel lanes that lead to Minter Creek around Fox Island and Point Fosdick.
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 August and throughout October.
Wrapping up my summary of 2024 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 cannot wait to target Coho in Marine Area 10 close to home and Chinook in Marine Area 11 once those seasons get underway. I’m also really excited to intercept the leading edge of the run in places like Marine Area 5/6 and then take advantage of the bulk of chinook pouring through Marine Area 9 in mid-July, finally focussing effort close to home in August in places like Marine Areas: 10, 11 and 13 again.
For Coho, I will likely only target that in Marine Areas 10 and 11, but you never know, I might find my way into the North Sound as well during the prime coho return!