Can I Keep?Coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) Regulations in Washington (2026)
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Recreational coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) rules in Washington saltwater, as published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Last checked November 7, 2026.
Limits differ by area — the summary below is the first published rule; see every rule underneath.
Size limit
Coho minimum size 16 inches.
Bag limit
Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook.
Season
Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. Daily limit two, including no…
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Recreational Coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) rules in Washington
- Where
- Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) (ocean)
- Size limit
- Coho minimum size 16 inches.
- Bag limit
- Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook.
- Season
- Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho.
- Local term: mark-selective / hatchery coho — WDFW rule: 'Release wild coho.' (keep only hatchery/marked coho; release wild coho).
- Shared bag: Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook.
- The Marine Area 1 catch guideline is 16,780 Chinook (16,600 in 2025), with a subarea quota of 51,450 marked coho (49,860 in 2025). The Columbia River Control Zone is closed to fishing for salmon, except open to fishing from the north jetty when adjacent waters north of the Control Zone are open to fishing for salmon or the Buoy 10 fishery is open to fishing for salmon.
- Update 2026-08-12 (Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) recreational salmon season update): Closes salmon angling in a portion of Marine Area 1 . Effective: Aug. 13–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Update 2026-08-17 (Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) recreational salmon season update): Closes Chinook retention in open portion. Near-shore salmon angling remains closed. Possession of Chinook onboard a vessel is prohibited. Effective: Aug. 18–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Update 2026-08-21 (Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) recreational salmon season closes Aug. 25): Closes salmon fishing and prohibits possession of salmon onboard a vessel. Effective: Aug. 25–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Update 2026-09-01 (Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) recreational salmon season update): Opens five days of hatchery coho retention (Sept. 4–8) with a nearshore salmon fishing closure. Effective:
- Where
- Marine Area 2 (Westport – Ocean Shores) (ocean)
- Size limit
- Coho min. size 16 inches.
- Bag limit
- June 29 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook.
- Season
- Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. June 20 – June 28: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho. June 29 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. Coho min. size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho.
- Local term: mark-selective / hatchery coho — WDFW rule: 'Release wild coho.' (keep only hatchery/marked coho; release wild coho).
- Shared bag: June 29 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook.
- Not included in this card's seasons (coho must be released): June 20 – June 28: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho.
- Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) is open under the same rules as Area 2 from June 20 – July 31. Rules for Area 2-1 change in August, and details will be listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Grays Harbor Control Zone and that portion of Grays Harbor (Area 2-2) west of the Buoy 13 line is open June 20 – Sept. 30 under the same rules as Area 2. The Marine Area 2 catch guideline is 21,910 Chinook (22,270 in 2025), with a subarea quota of 38,070 marked coho (36,900 in 2025).
- Update 2026-08-17 (Marine Area 2 (Westport – Ocean Shores) recreational salmon season update): Closes Chinook retention and possession onboard a vessel. Effective: Aug. 22–Sept. 30, 2026
- Where
- Marine Area 3 (La Push) (ocean)
- Size limit
- Coho minimum size 16 inches.
- Bag limit
- July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two.
- Season
- Effective June 20 –Sept. 30, 2026. June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho. July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release chum and wild coho.
- Local term: mark-selective / hatchery coho — WDFW rule: 'Release wild coho. Release chum and wild coho.' (keep only hatchery/marked coho; release wild coho).
- Shared bag: July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two.
- Not included in this card's seasons (coho must be released): June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho.
- The Marine Area 3 catch guideline is 2,200 Chinook (2,280 in 2025), with a subarea quota of 2,680 marked coho (2,590 in 2025).
- Where
- Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) - west of Bonilla-Tatoosh line (ocean)
- Size limit
- Coho minimum size 16 inches.
- Bag limit
- July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two.
- Season
- Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho. July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release chum and wild coho.
- Local term: mark-selective / hatchery coho — WDFW rule: 'Release wild coho. Release chum and wild coho.' (keep only hatchery/marked coho; release wild coho).
- Shared bag: July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug. 1 – Sept. 30: Daily limit two.
- Not included in this card's seasons (coho must be released): June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho.
- The Marine Area 4 catch guideline is 13,110 Chinook (12,600 in 2025), with a subarea quota of 10,700 marked coho (10,370 in 2025).
- Update 2026-08-21 (Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) recreational salmon season closes Aug. 24): Closes salmon fishing, and prohibits possession of salmon onboard a vessel. Effective: Aug. 24–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Update 2026-08-25 (Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) salmon possession rules update): Allows salmon legally caught in Canada and Marine Areas east of Sekiu River (Marine Areas 5-13) to be transported through Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) and landed in Neah Bay. Maintains salmon closure in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). Effective: Aug. 26–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Where
- Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) - east of Bonilla-Tatoosh line (ocean)
- Size limit
- Coho minimum size 16 inches.
- Bag limit
- July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug.1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two.
- Season
- Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho. Waters east of a north-south line through Sail Rock are closed. July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho. Waters east of a north-south line through Sail Rock are closed. Aug.1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho. Kydaka Point Area (waters south of a line from Kydaka Point to Shipwreck Point) is closed to salmon fishing through Aug. 15.
- Local term: mark-selective / hatchery coho — WDFW rule: 'Release wild coho. Release Chinook, chum, and wild coho.' (keep only hatchery/marked coho; release wild coho).
- Shared bag: July 1 – 31: Daily limit two. Aug.1 – Sept. 30 Daily limit two.
- Not included in this card's seasons (coho must be released): June 20 – 30: Daily limit one. Chinook minimum size 24 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release coho. Waters east of a north-south line through Sail Rock are closed.
- The Marine Area 4 catch guideline is 13,110 Chinook (12,600 in 2025), with a subarea quota of 10,700 marked coho (10,370 in 2025).
- Update 2026-08-21 (Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) recreational salmon season closes Aug. 24): Closes salmon fishing, and prohibits possession of salmon onboard a vessel. Effective: Aug. 24–Sept. 30, 2026.
- Update 2026-08-25 (Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) salmon possession rules update): Allows salmon legally caught in Canada and Marine Areas east of Sekiu River (Marine Areas 5-13) to be transported through Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) and landed in Neah Bay. Maintains salmon closure in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). Effective: Aug. 26–Sept. 30, 2026.
Quick answers
What is the coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) size limit in Washington?
Coho minimum size 16 inches. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
How many coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) can I keep in Washington?
Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
When is coho salmon — hatchery only (fin-clipped) season in Washington?
Effective June 20 – Sept. 30, 2026. Daily limit two, including no more than one Chinook. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. Coho minimum size 16 inches. Other salmon species no minimum size. Release wild coho.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.
More salmon & trout in Washington
All Washington saltwater fishing regulations →
Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Most anglers need a Washington saltwater license or registry: get one here.