07_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 11
fishing
SUMMER SALMON MARK YUASA
Summer saltwater salmon
fishing fun is now in full
swing as the number of
opportunities continues
to ramp up, and hopefully,
the decent catches seen in
open areas last month are a
signal of what lies ahead for
the remainder of summer.
With no jarring
environmental changes in
the ocean salmon pastures
for the past several years
and based on what we saw
last summer, it is likely that
success will remain status
quo and possibly a smidge
or so above preseason
predictions.
A number of marine areas
opened in late May and
June, including the Tulalip
Terminal Area and Marine
Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon
Island) for hatchery kings,
both of which were decent.
Marine Area 10 (SeattleBremerton Area) opened
last month for coho,
and anglers have been
reeling in a good share of
resident fish, averaging
2 to 4 pounds with a few
larger-bodied fish. In fact,
participation and Chinook
catch rates have been so
good, surpassing preseason
expectations, in the Tulalip
Terminal Area that WDFW
announced salmon fishing
will be open Fridays and
Saturdays only of each
week now through Sept.
1 – closed Sundays and
Mondays.
MARINE AREAS 1 - 4
The ocean salmon fisheries
off Marine Areas 4, 3, 2,
and 1 (Neah Bay, La Push,
Westport-Ocean Shores,
and Ilwaco) also opened in
late June. Early indicators
from the commercial troll
fishery show a good mix
of Chinook and coho are
lurking from Neah Bay
south to the WashingtonOregon border.
Word has it that this huge
forecast of nearly 7.8 million
pinks has already started to
filter into the Strait of Juan
de Fuca, including some
caught in Marine Area 10’s
coho fishery, and likely
means the buildup for what
happens in August will
come to fruition.
Whatever location you
choose to try your luck this
summer, be sure to check
the 2025-2026 WDFW
regulation pamphlet or
website for specific salmon
daily catch limits, species
and size restrictions, and
other regulations that
vary for each marine area.
Emergency closures or
adjustments to seasons are
also possible.
All those early-season
indicators have me really
stoked for more options in
July, including the Strait of
Juan de Fuca’s hatchery
king opener. While I do
mention some salmon
fisheries here in August and
beyond, we’ll dig deeper
into those in the August
issue of this magazine.
