Fishing enthusiasts, start prepping your gear: Marine Area 4's coastal waters are set to welcome the recreational salmon season from June 22 through September 15, 2024. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, this timeframe marks the period anglers can partake in salmon fishing with varying regulations throughout the season.
For those looking to snag a Chinook, the rules west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line from June 22 to July 31 are straightforward. Fishers can keep a daily limit of two salmon, but no more than one of them can be a Chinook, with a minimum size of 24 inches. Under 16 inches, coho wrecks one's catch because they're required to toss back any wild coho that isn't large enough. The same goes for the rules east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line but with an extra pinch: waters east of a line through Sail Rock are closed, and don't even think about dropping a line in the Kydaka Point Area—they're closed to salmon fishing completely.
Switching gears as August rears its sunny head, regulations from August 1 through September 15 change up a bit. While the daily limit is still two fish, now anglers must release any Chinook, chum, and wild coho they catch. And as before, the Kydaka Point Area remains a no-go for salmon fishing. It's like musical chairs, only with fish and regulations.
The size matters for these fishy pursuits: chinook must meet a 24-inch minimum, and coho a more modest 16 inches from August 1. With an overall quota set at 41,000 Chinook and a beefy 79,800 marked coho for recreational fisheries north of Cape Falcon, it's crucial for fisherfolk to keep abreast of these numbers. Of particular note, Marine Area 4 enjoys a Chinook guideline of 9,430 and the coho quota is aglow at 8,300.
Dive deeper into the details before you set sail; Marine Area 1 is on the calendar to close by September 30. However, Marine Areas 2 through 4 could pack it in earlier if quotas are reached before the September 15 cutoff. It's a delicate balance of protecting resources while allowing for recreational activity—one that requires the cooperation of anglers and regulatory bodies alike. Happy fishing, but don't forget to check back with regulators to keep your practices legal and the salmon stocks sustainable.
