Washington · Strait & Sound
COHO SALMON FISHING
IN PORT ANGELES
Port Angeles is a solid destination for coho salmon fishing, with peak season in August and good catches in July, September. Book a charter and target coho salmon with local experts.
About Coho Salmon Fishing in Port Angeles
Silver salmon are legendary fighters known for explosive surface strikes and aerial acrobatics. Coho run from midsummer through fall along the entire Pacific coast, from California's Smith River to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Bright chrome ocean fish are prized for both sport and table quality.
Coho Salmon — also called Silver Salmon — are prized for their aggressive surface strikes and spectacular aerial acrobatics. Averaging 8-12 pounds, they are smaller than kings but pound-for-pound are considered harder fighters. Ocean-phase coho are brilliant chrome-silver with small black spots confined to the upper lobe of the tail and the back above the lateral line. Spawning males turn deep red on the sides with a dark green head and develop a dramatic hooked jaw. Females become darker but retain more of their shape.
Scientific name: Oncorhynchus kisutch
Coho Salmon Seasonal Calendar — Port Angeles
Month-by-month availability for coho salmon in Port Angeles, WA.
How to Catch Coho Salmon in Port Angeles
Techniques & Bait
Ocean trolling with herring, hoochies (plastic squid lures), or spoons behind flashers at 15-60 feet is the primary technique. Coho often feed higher in the water column than kings, so shallower presentations work well. Casting buzz bombs, Crippled Herring spoons, and spinners into surface-feeding schools produces explosive strikes. In rivers, casting spinners (Blue Fox, Panther Martin), drifting roe under a float, or swinging flies on a sink-tip line are all effective. Coho are aggressive and respond well to fast-moving presentations.
Recommended Tackle
Ocean: 7-8'6" medium rod, level-wind or spinning reel, 15-20 lb mono or 30 lb braid. River: 8'6"-9'6" medium rod, spinning reel, 10-15 lb line, 8-12 lb fluorocarbon leader. Fly: 7-8 weight rod, sink-tip line, bright patterns (Clouser, Bunny Leech, Egg-Sucking Leech).
Best Nearshore Fishing Spots in Port Angeles
Top spots where local captains target coho salmon and other nearshore species.
Green Point
Green Point west of Port Angeles features rocky nearshore structure in the Strait of Juan de Fuca where lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon hold in current-swept reef habitat. The point's position catches tidal currents that concentrate baitfish along the rocky contours.
Ediz Hook Tip
The tip of Ediz Hook drops off into deeper strait water where lingcod, rockfish, and halibut hold along the sandy-to-rock transition. The hook tip's current exposure creates a natural concentration point for both bottomfish and migrating salmon.
Tongue Point (PA)
Tongue Point east of Port Angeles features rocky nearshore reef in the strait where lingcod, rockfish, and greenling hold in 30 to 80 feet of water. The point's position along the strait provides productive bottom-fishing accessible from Port Angeles Harbor.
Angeles Point
Angeles Point near the harbor's western edge features rocky nearshore structure where rockfish, lingcod, and perch hold along submerged ledges. The point's sheltered position provides fishable conditions when wind and waves limit fishing on the open strait.
Other Species in Port Angeles
More fish you can target while visiting Port Angeles.
Coho Salmon Fishing in Port Angeles — FAQ
The peak months for Coho Salmon fishing in Port Angeles are August. During these months, Coho Salmon are most active and abundant in the Port Angeles area.
Coho Salmon fishing charters in Port Angeles are typically nearshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Ocean trolling with herring, hoochies (plastic squid lures), or spoons behind flashers at 15-60 feet is the primary technique. Coho often feed higher in the water column than kings, so shallower presentations work well. Casting buzz bombs, Crippled Herring spoons, and spinners into surface-feeding schools produces explosive strikes. In rivers, casting spinners (Blue Fox, Panther Martin), drifting roe under a float, or swinging flies on a sink-tip line are all effective. Coho are aggressive and respond well to fast-moving presentations.
No — when you book a charter in Port Angeles, your captain provides all required Washington fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Coho Salmon regulations in Washington include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Coho Salmon in Port Angeles, you may also catch Rockfish, Dungeness Crab, Pacific Halibut, Chinook Salmon, Lingcod. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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