Hello Everyone,

If you have any questions or comments regarding any of the information provided through these emails for the 2025 salmon season, please reply to this email and/or contact Barbara McClellan at #360-249-1213.

Recreational Marine Area Fishery

The marine recreational creel monitoring program in the northern area of Willapa Bay ended September 30th.
In summary, there were 987 boats, 2147 anglers, 332 hatchery Chinook, and 191 coho sampled during this 2025 monitoring season from August 1st – September 30th.

There were an additional 130 boats, 288 anglers, 29 Chinook, and 105 coho sampled during the early portion of the marine fishery from late June to July 31st when Willapa Bay was concurrent with Ocean Area 2 rules. (See attachment: 2025 WB Marine Area Recreational Data & Catch Estimate Summary Draft 10.02.2025.pdf).

Spawning Ground Surveys
Stream surveys in Willapa Bay basin are in full swing for most Chinook spawning areas. There have been thousands of Chinook salmon observed staging and spawning throughout the harbor in freshwater systems. Coho have also been observed by staff in freshwater systems as well.


See attachment: 2025 WB Hatchery Broodstock Data Draft 10.02.2025.xlsx)

Naselle River Hatchery

To-date, a total of 9,398 adult and 241 jack Chinook salmon have volunteered into the attraction channel and recruited into the hatchery. Of these, 40 natural origin (NOR) Chinook salmon have been planted upstream above the hatchery. A total of 747 Chinook mortalities have been reported to-date, and there are still approximately 3,567 fish on-hand in the hatchery.

There have been 679 female Chinook spawned, and 2,037,000 Chinook eggs collected at the facility to-date. The hatchery still needs approximately 1,154 females (and males) to meet Chinook broodstock this year.

Nemah River Hatchery

To-date, a total of 3,839 adult and 35 jack Chinook salmon have recruited into the hatchery. Of these, 238 NOR Chinook salmon were planted upstream above the hatchery. A total of 572 Chinook mortalities have been reported, and there are approximately 1,279 fish on-hand in the facility.

There have been 870 female Chinook spawned, and 2,610,000 Chinook eggs collected at the facility to-date. The hatchery still needs approximately 340 females (and males) to meet Chinook broodstock this year.

Forks Creek Hatchery

To-date, no Chinook salmon have recruited into Forks Creek Hatchery at this point.

Commercial Fishery
The commercial fishery has been open in all commercial fishing areas since Sept 14, 2025, with each commercial area having a different number of days scheduled for each week.

There has been a total of 4,384 hatchery Chinook salmon (67.1% of total hatchery preseason estimates), 28,899 coho (72.8 % of preseason estimates), and 27 Chum (<1% of preseason estimates) landed to-date. In total, the fleet has accrued a total of 281 local, NOR Chinook impacts to-date for the season.

This week, there has been gale force winds and rough seas predicted so effort has been low. The Department actively monitors the commercial fishery and analyzes data as it comes in.


As always, in-season data is preliminary and subject to change.
All data provided through these weekly email updates for the months of August and September will be posted to the Willapa Bay Marine Area 2.1 Recreational Creel Monitoring page of our website listed below.

If you have any comments or questions specific to the information provided in these emails, please submit your comments to WillapaBay@dfw.wa.gov.

Additionally, if you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving these in-season update emails or any other information staff send out regarding Willapa Bay, please forward this email and have them reply to WillapaBay@dfw.wa.gov stating they would like to be added to our email distribution list.

Thank you and Fish On! ><((((*>
Barbara McClellan



The Latest:

Online reference links you may be interested in:

Willapa Bay Marine Area 2.1 Recreational Creel Monitoring:

Willapa Bay Recreational Salmon Reports | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor (non-treaty) Commercial Salmon Fisheries (Regulations and landed catch):
Commercial Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor Gillnet Salmon Fishery | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Ocean Sampling Program for Ocean Areas 1- 4: Ocean sport salmon quota report | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife