Commercial gillnet fishermen in Washington’s Willapa Bay landed nearly 143,000 chum salmon this fall, marking the fishery’s strongest harvest in at least five years despite an early closure prompted by concerns over coho salmon returns.
According to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) figures reported by the Chinook Observer, commercial fishermen harvested 142,951 chum salmon during the 2026 season, up from 88,212 in 2025 and 65,057 in 2024. The total marks the third consecutive year of increasing commercial chum landings in Willapa Bay.
Most of this year's harvest came during a two-week stretch in October. Between Oct. 11 and Oct. 24, fishermen landed 128,195 chum, accounting for nearly 90 percent of the season's total catch.
The strong landings represent a significant improvement over the early 2020s, when commercial chum harvests remained relatively low. From 2020 through 2023, fishermen landed a combined 34,043 chum salmon.
Despite the productive season, commercial fishermen expressed frustration after WDFW closed salmon fishing in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor on Oct. 24 because of lower-than-expected coho returns.
The restrictions were intended to protect coho populations and meet conservation objectives, but they also affected commercial gillnetters targeting chum during the peak of their season.
"It was a completely different season with no rain," commercial fisherman Ross Kary told the Chinook Observer. Kary said processor prices were satisfactory but expressed disappointment over the lost fishing opportunity.
"It was good fishing, but we really could have used that last week," he said.
Unusually dry fall conditions also affected salmon migration throughout the region. Chum typically move into coastal tributaries during October and November, with autumn rainfall increasing streamflows and helping fish reach spawning grounds. This year's delayed rainfall left some waterways with lower-than-normal flows during the migration period.
While the increase in commercial landings is encouraging for Willapa Bay fishermen, harvest totals do not necessarily reflect overall run abundance. Fishing opportunities, regulations, market conditions, and the number of salmon returning to spawn can all influence annual landings.
With the salmon season concluded, many commercial gillnetters are shifting their attention to Washington's winter Dungeness crab fishery, tentatively scheduled to open Dec. 1, pending potential delays.
