September's Here - But It's Not A Normal Year

In a normal year we would be hot and heavy into our Coho season here in Puget Sound. Possession Bar, Ship Wreck and the Edmonds shoreline would literally have 100's of boats fishing Coho. Beach anglers would be lined shoulder to shoulder on the Whidbey Island beaches tossing Rotaters, Buzz Bombs or herring under a float. Everyone would be trying to connect with Coho on their annual migration into Puget Sound streams. This year all of those spots are barren of any salmon anglers due the closures imposed by WDFW to protect the few Coho that we have returing this season. With these extremely poor returns we have very little opprotunities to fish salmon locally in the saltwater. If you are one of those die hard anglers that has to fish no matter how bleak things are here's a run down on the few salmon fishing spots that are open to angling.

Tulalip Terminal Area Fishery 

     Open Frdays to noon on Mondays through September 5th, Daily Limit 2 - Chinook 22" min size, no size on other Salmon species, Release Coho and Wild Chinook.

     Open Saturday & Sunday September 10th through September 25th

Marine Area 7 - San Juan Islands

     Open through September 30th - Chinook 22" min size, no size on other Salmon species, Daily Limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional sockeye. Only 1 Chinook may be retained. Release Coho and Chum.

     Open October 1 -31st - Chinook 22" min size, no size on other Salmon species, Daily Limit 2 (combined) Release Coho and wild Chinook.

Marine Area 10, Sinclair Inlet Fishery

     Open through September 30th - Chinook 22" min size, no size on other Salmon species, Daily Limit 3 (combined) Release Coho and wild Chinook. Release Chum through September 15th.

Marine Area 10, Waterman Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk and Illahee State Park Pier - Open Year Around - Chinook 22" min size , no size on other Salmon species, Daily Limit 2 (combined) Only 1 Chinook may be retained. Release wild Coho. Release Chum through September 15th.

Marine Area 12 (North of Ayock Point) Open through September 30th. No min size. Daily Limit 4 (combined) Release Chinook and Chum

Marine Area 12 (South of Ayock Point) Open through September 30th. Chinook min size 20", no size on other Salmon species. Release Chum and wild Chinook.

Though not alot of open areas at least we do have some fishing for those that are willing.

Make sure to read your WDFW Regulation phamplet as the regulations I posted are just an over view and have area restrictions etc.