in the new WDFW regulations pamphlet for area 10, am I reading it right that wild coho retention is allowed? i don't see anything that says Wild coho release. Section 9 of area 10 (Sinclair Inlet) has Wild coho release. no where else . whats the interpretation on coho??

Non selective on MA 10 coho.
SF

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/2018/2018_puget_sound_rec_chinook_coho_seasons.pdf

thanks stonefish.

July 16-Aug. 30 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON species - no min. size. Daily limit 2. Only 1 hatchery CHINOOK may be retained. Release CHUM and wild CHINOOK. See Harbor
Island (Duwamish Waterways) Special Rules, Shilshole Bay Closure, Elliott Bay
Closure, and Sinclair Inlet Fishery on previous page. Season may close earlier if CHINOOK quota is attained.

The resident coho are pretty small to keep right now, although I did keep one the other day about 18". Poached it whole in a white wine court bouillon, and it was delicious. Saw a few boats targeting hatch coho in 8-2. Might be couple ocean sized ones around but it's white hot for kings right now in 10, so not sure why anyone would target coho yet?

There are actually some decent size resident coho around.
Have seen some up to 24".
Kind of makes keeping a 22" quota killing blackmouth not look like such a great idea.
SF

22”? We must be fishing different parts of 10 cause we’ve been catching adults to 20lbs since 9 closed.....

Not sure why people are targeting the silvers either. King fishing has been good to great. We bonked 2 silvers the other day in the mix with 3 really nice Kings as bycatch!

My point is If you don’t think that small blackmouth aren’t helping fill the MA 9 & 10 quotas, you are fooling yourself.

Not everyone has the equipment, boats ect to target kings so they target coho.
There was a lot of coho effort in 10 in June prior to the July opener.
Since it is a two fish limit, lots of folks like to take a coho home as well with their chinook.

There was quite an effort in 8-2 yesterday and since it is closed to chinook, they were targeting coho and the nets were flying.
Fish what you enjoy.
SF

We got a nice sized resident today.

I've had a good year so far and have got my king everytime out since July 16th. Nothing real big yet - just typical cookies.

We've had a few larger ones but for the most part 8-10 lbs has been the prevailing majority for the nooks.

Few migratory coho in he mix, should be picking up here after next weekend.

It's strange to me that 8-2 is non-selective for coho but 9 is selective. You would think intercept of stilly fish would be highest in 8-2/1.

Totally agree.
It makes no sense that 8-1 & 8-2 are non selective with all the angst about the Stilly's chinook and coho in recent years.

Based on past years, usually around August 11th or so I start to see more ocean coho show up.
SF

Yeah we would usually start chasing them in earnest after Aug 15th. Been a few years since we've really put much effort into it.

Hopefully there's a nice run this season, I do love a good silver bite!