NOAA Tweaks West Coast Salmon Fishing Seasons and Limits
Published Date: 12/22/2025
Rule
Summary
Hey West Coast salmon fishers! The government just updated the 2025 commercial salmon fishing rules from the U.S.-Canada border down to Cape Falcon, Oregon. These five quick changes tweak fishing seasons and catch limits to keep the fishery healthy while giving you smart chances to catch more. The new rules kicked in during 2025 and will stay until new updates come along—so keep your nets ready and your calendars marked!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
June 18: Spring season closed north of Cape Falcon
Effective 11:59 p.m. on June 18, 2025, the spring commercial salmon troll season north of Cape Falcon (NOF) was closed and remained closed until the start of the summer season unless superseded. The closure was taken to avoid exceeding the Chinook quota.
May 16: Early-season limits lowered
Starting 2:00 p.m. on May 16, 2025, the commercial ocean salmon troll fishery north of Cape Falcon had an overall landing and possession limit of 60 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday–Wednesday) through 11:59 p.m. on May 22, 2025. Subarea limits were also set or reduced through 11:59 p.m. on June 29, 2025: U.S./Canada border to Queets River 50 Chinook/week (was 100), Queets River to Leadbetter Point 50 Chinook/week, and Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon 60 Chinook/week (was 80).
May 22: Short uptick to 70 Chinook
Effective May 22, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., the north-of-Cape-Falcon (NOF) commercial troll fishery landing and possession limit was raised from 60 to 70 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday–Wednesday). This higher 70-fish limit remained in effect until superseded on June 5, 2025.
June 5: Large week-limit increases
Effective June 5, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., NOF weekly landing and possession limits were increased through June 29, 2025 to 125 Chinook per vessel per landing week for the entire NOF. Subarea limits were set to border–Queets 100/week, Queets–Leadbetter 125/week, and Leadbetter–Cape Falcon 100/week (all Thursday–Wednesday weeks).
June 12: Limits cut back to 70 Chinook
Effective June 12, 2025 at 12:01 a.m., the NOF Chinook landing and possession limit was reduced from 125 to 70 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday–Wednesday). This reduction remained in effect until superseded on June 18, 2025.
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