Puget Sound Salmon Forecasts

The forecasts for Puget Sound salmon returns are out. Overall, it is better than last year and should provide some fairly good fishing opportunities for us here in Puget Sound. On the better side of things are both Coho and Pinks. Coho numbers come in at 980,000 which is 367,000 over this past year! This hopefully will relate to some fairly good coho fishing come late August and September. Pinks are expected to come in at the 6,000,000 level which is considerably lower than the 2009 record return. Even at six million we should see some outstanding pink fishing opportunities both in the saltwater as well as the rivers. In addition to the Puget Sound pinks, Canada's Fraser River will receive an additional 17 million pinks. This should fair well for those fishing the Straits as well as the San Juan Islands. The projections on Puget Sound Chinook are not fairing as well with a 243,000 projected, slightly greater than last years 226,000.

The forecast on Lake Wahington Sockeye is just 34,600, unfortunately well below the 350,000 needed to consider opening a fishery.

It could be better, but it could be worse but at least we will have some fishing opprutunity.