Washington · Strait & Sound
COHO SALMON FISHING
IN PORT TOWNSEND
Port Townsend is a solid destination for coho salmon fishing, with peak season in September and good catches in August, October. Book a charter and target coho salmon with local experts.
About Coho Salmon Fishing in Port Townsend
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 Townsend
Month-by-month availability for coho salmon in Port Townsend, WA.
How to Catch Coho Salmon in Port Townsend
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 Townsend
Top spots where local captains target coho salmon and other nearshore species.
Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet connecting the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound funnels powerful tidal currents past Port Townsend, creating prime habitat for Chinook salmon, lingcod, and rockfish. Mooching and jigging in the inlet's deep water produces quality salmon and bottomfish.
McCurdy Point
McCurdy Point on Marrowstone Island features rocky nearshore structure where lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon hold in current-swept habitat. The point's position in Admiralty Inlet catches strong tidal flows that concentrate baitfish and attract predators.
Protection Island
The waters around Protection Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Port Townsend hold Chinook salmon, lingcod, and rockfish over rocky bottom. The island's protected wildlife refuge status limits approach distance, but fishing the surrounding waters is productive.
Kala Point
Kala Point south of Port Townsend features rocky nearshore reefs where lingcod, rockfish, and greenling hold in 30 to 70 feet of water. The point's kelp beds and rocky structure provide reliable nearshore bottom-fishing for small boats.
Other Species in Port Townsend
More fish you can target while visiting Port Townsend.
Coho Salmon Fishing in Port Townsend — FAQ
The peak months for Coho Salmon fishing in Port Townsend are September. During these months, Coho Salmon are most active and abundant in the Port Townsend area.
Coho Salmon fishing charters in Port Townsend 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 Townsend, 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 Townsend, 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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