06_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 18
Washington Saltwater Salmon Opportunities By Mark Yuasa
The list of saltwater salmon
fishing options in early
summer are far and wide,
and in this column, I’ll break
down the path to success
around Puget Sound and
off the Washington coast.
One important factor
to keep in mind, when
planning a fishing
excursion is that the entire
2025-2026 season package
won’t be officially adopted
until sometime in early to
mid-June. What tends to
happen is that these earlyseason summer fisheries
will require emergency
opening approvals, so
anglers should regularly
check the Washington
Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) website
(https://wdfw.wa.gov/)
for possible updates and
changes.
Back in mid-April,
the Pacific Fishery
Management Council
held meetings in San
Jose, California, and the
2025-2026 tentative
statewide salmon fishing
seasons were adopted by
the Council. The season
recommendations set forth
by WDFW are then moved
forward for federal approval
by NOAA Fisheries.
While we wait for the ink
to officially dry on the
approval process, let’s
visualize the possibilities of
where to go and wet a line
in the upcoming weeks,
as well as a few pro tips to
improve your chances of
hooking a fish.
Since no salmon fishing
season mirrors another,
anglers have learned to
become more adaptable
to the constant ebb and
flow of change. First off,
anglers should be mobile
and willing to move from
location to location to
maximize their time on the
water.
Don’t focus all your time on
one specific area. By doing
a little bit of homework and
reading this column below,
you’ll likely find more
choices by going outside
of the box. Second, since
many seasons are driven by
catch quotas/guidelines, it
is wise to go sooner rather
than later.
Next, build a
communication network
to stay informed about
the latest fishing trends,
including the WDFW
website and blog posts.
Many other social media
platforms can be used
to gather this kind of
information. Attending
fishing seminars is another
good avenue to gain more
knowledge.
Other tips include reading
blogs and watching
YouTube videos from
fishing influencers,
especially publications
like this magazine, which
provide a plethora of
information.
