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Coho Salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon are a highly popular sport fish in Washington's coastal streams, tributaries, and marine waters.

Washington has two distinct coho populations: resident coho that live their entire lives in Puget Sound (2-4 pounds early season, growing to 6-8 pounds), and ocean coho that migrate to the Pacific and return at peak size.

Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus kisutch

Also known as silver salmon

Physical Characteristics:
  • During their marine phase, coho display dark metallic blue or greenish backs with bright silver sides and light bellies.
  • When returning to freshwater to spawn, adults develop dark coloration with reddish-maroon sides.
  • They typically weigh 6-12 pounds but can reach up to 31 pounds, with the Washington state record being 25.34 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found in virtually every small coastal stream with year-round flow, and can even thrive in urban settings if cold, clean water is available.
  • They're found in Washington's coastal streams, tributaries, and marine waters.

Key Locations

  • Lakes across counties like King (Lake Sammamish, Lake Washington), Lewis (Mayfield Lake, Riffe Lake), Skamania (Swift Reservoir), all major Puget Sound marine areas and coastal rivers, Central Puget Sound areas like Possession Bar, Jeff Head, Point No Point shipping lanes, Richmond Beach to Shilshole Bay, and rivers like the Skagit, Snohomish, and coastal streams.

Specific Spots

  • Small coastal streams with mid-velocity water and small to medium gravels for spawning.

Coho Salmon FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Coho Salmon in Washington?

3.5-inch hoochies (plastic squid) always tipped with herring for scent, Grand Slam Bucktails, Ace Hi Flies, McOmie's Custom Glow Spoons, Gold Star Yamashita Octopus Hoochies, Silver Horde Kingfisher Spoons, Brad's Cut Plugs, P-Line Laser Minnows, Buzz Bombs, spinners (Blue Fox, Holy Moly Customs), jigs with rabbit...

What flies work for Coho Salmon in Washington?

Large, bright, flashy patterns like chartreuse-over-pink Clouser Minnows with stinger hooks.

When is the best time to fish for Coho Salmon in Washington?

Peak coho season runs from July through September, with August-September being optimal. Puget Sound marine areas typically open for coho fishing in June or July. River fishing is productive from late September through November.

How do you catch Coho Salmon in Washington?

For saltwater fishing, trolling is most effective at 2-4 mph using 11-inch flashers. For beach fishing, cast as far as possible and jig back. For river fishing, use twitching jigs. For fly fishing, retrieve flies extremely fast with erratic strips and pauses - never slower than the fish can swim.

What do Coho Salmon eat?

Their diet consists of plankton and aquatic invertebrates as juveniles, transitioning to herring, anchovies, sand lance, sardines, squid, and other small fish as adults in marine environments. In estuarine areas, they feed heavily on juvenile salmon species, especially pink and chum salmon.

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