Hooked on Westport! Salmon Fishing 101
Back in the 1950s, Westport was known as the Salmon Capital of the World. While the fishing environment has changed, Westport still offers excellent salmon fishing in addition to our thriving bottomfish and tuna fisheries. But what makes salmon so exciting to catch? Besides making excellent table fare, salmon are some of the most exhilarating, acrobatic fish you can hook up to in the Pacific Northwest. It is not uncommon for them to leap feet out of the water, spool yards of line from the reel as they run, and rapidly dart from one end of the boat to the other before landing them in the net. Even when you land a fish that must be returned to the sea, there is something breathtaking about coming face to face with such a unique and powerful fish.
The WDFW recently released the dates and regulations for our recreational sportfishing salmon season in Marina Area 2 as follows: From June 19th through June 26th, anglers may fish for salmon seven days a week with a daily limit of one salmon but may not retain Coho (silver) salmon. Starting June 27th, anglers may target all salmon species but only Sunday through Thursday. The daily catch limit is two salmon, though only one may be a Chinook (King) salmon.
The minimum size for Chinook salmon is 22 inches, and Coho must be 16 inches in length or greater to be legally kept. Additionally, wild Coho must be released. Wild Coho can be recognized by the intact thumb-shaped adipose fin on their back between their dorsal fin and tail. When Coho are released from the hatchery, this fin is “clipped” or cut off, leaving a smooth, healed area when they become adults indicating their hatchery origin and legal catch status. The season will extend until September 15th, but may close sooner if the quota is reached earlier.
Through the North of Falcon process, Washington salmon seasons are decided upon when federal and tribal fisheries managers meet with commercial and recreational fishing industry leaders and federal, state, and tribal government members to determine the annual salmon regulations. Each area is allotted a quota of catchable fish based on the expected returns.
Salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they start their life as eggs laid in freshwater rivers and then migrate out to the saltwater. After one to five years, depending on the species, they return to their home river to spawn. Because they return to the river where their life-cycle started, fisheries scientists estimate the expected number of returning salmon and develop fishing quotas to prevent excessive impacts on these returns allowing salmon to spawn and replenish their population. If you are interested in learning more about this management process or attending some of the public meetings, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon.
Fishing regulations also vary depending on the area you are fishing. The offshore area outside the mouth of Grays Harbor bay and Westport are part of Marine Area 2. Marine Area 2-2 (the area within the Grays Harbor bay inside of a line extending from the tip of the north jetty to the tip of the south jetty) and the Westport Boat Basin are not included in Marine Area 2 and have different regulations around opening dates, tackle, and catch quantities.
Anglers targeting salmon in Marine Area 2 must have a saltwater fishing license and catch record card. These licenses can be obtained at the Hungry Whale gas station in Westport, or if you are going on a chartered salmon trip, daily licenses are available at the booking offices, and catch record cards are on board the fishing vessels. For more information, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing page (https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing). The updated fishing rule book reflecting these regulations and tackle restrictions will be available in June and can be found at http://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/.
“…salmon are some of the most exhilarating, acrobatic fish you can hook up to in the Pacific Northwest.”
”…there is something breathtaking about coming face to face with such a unique and powerful fish.”
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About the Author:
Meet Marina May, one of Westport's most beloved deckhands, and a veterinarian technician turn fish slayer! She's a baitgirl, master filleter, fishing line management expert, and purveyor of good times!