Wild salmon is one of the most delicious and nutritious fish you can eat. Its rich, fatty flesh has an unbeatable flavor when fresh and in season. But when exactly is wild salmon available at its peak freshness?
The salmon season varies a bit by region and species, but here is a comprehensive guide to when and where you can get freshly-caught wild salmon.
Wild Salmon Seasons in the U.S.
The salmon fishing and availability seasons across the U.S. break down as follows:
Alaska
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May – September All five species of wild Pacific salmon (Chinook, sockeye, coho, pink, and chum) are in season and freshly caught during these months
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June – July: Peak season for sockeye and king salmon.
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July – September: Peak season for coho and pink salmon.
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, California)
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From March to October, you can buy fresh Chinook salmon. The best fishing is from May to August.
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June – October: Peak season for coho salmon.
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August – October: Peak season for chum salmon.
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Odd-numbered years: Peak seasons for pink salmon. They run every other year.
Great Lakes (Michigan, Wisconsin, New York)
- April – September: Prime fishing season for Chinook, coho, and pink salmon.
Why Wild Salmon Seasonality Matters
Why is it important to pay attention to wild salmon seasons and buy it fresh in season? Here are some of the main reasons:
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Best Flavor – Wild salmon has the richest flavor when the fish is caught fresh. Handling and freezing diminishes its delicate flavor.
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Peak Nutrition – Salmon has higher fat content in season when the fish are actively feeding and migrating. More beneficial omega-3s!
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Supports Fisheries – Buying in season means you support sustainable salmon fisheries at the peak of their managed seasons.
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Local Sourcing – Seasonal salmon is locally caught rather than imported from halfway around the world.
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Eco-Friendly – Less energy is used in quickly bringing fresh caught salmon to market vs. long frozen transport.
In short, seasonal salmon has a superiority of flavor and nutrition compared to out-of-season fish. It also offers ethical and eco benefits by supporting local fishermen.
How Salmon Seasons Are Determined
Salmon season dates are carefully set by natural resource agencies in each region based on:
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Run Timing – Scientist monitor when different salmon species begin their seasonal migrations back to spawning grounds.
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Stock Assessments – Fish population surveys assess whether stocks can support harvests.
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Escapement Goals – Managers determine how many fish need to return to spawn.
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Allocation – Seasons balance opportunities for commercial, recreational, and tribal fishers.
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Habitat Impacts – Environmental factors like droughts can lead to earlier or shorter seasons.
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Regulations – Seasons abide by local, state, federal, and international fisheries laws.
By considering all these factors, fishery managers try to provide the maximum sustainable fishing opportunities while protecting wild salmon runs.
Finding Fresh Wild Salmon at Its Peak
Trying to find fresh wild salmon at the peak of its season? Here are some tips:
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Buy Locally Caught – Check labels for Alaska, Pacific Northwest, or Great Lakes salmon to get fish caught closest to you.
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Ask Questions at Fish Markets – Inquire if the salmon was frozen or when and where it was caught.
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Check Farmed vs. Wild – Wild salmon will be specified as such while farmed salmon is more common out of season.
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Look for Safer Farming – If buying farmed, look for ASC or BAP certification indicating better practices.
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Frozen Can Still Be Good – Flash frozen wild salmon retains more flavor and nutrition than previously frozen fish.
Simple Ways to Enjoy Wild Salmon When Fresh
The rich flavor and fatty texture of fresh wild salmon makes it perfect for quick, simple recipes. Here are some easy ways to enjoy seasonal salmon:
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Bake, broil, or grill fillets with just salt, pepper, and lemon or savory herbs.
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Make poke bowls with raw salmon cubed over rice and veggies.
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Heat up canned wild salmon and add to pasta, salads, or sandwiches.
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Smoke salmon fillets or hot smoke canned salmon for brilliant flavor.
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Sear salmon skin-side down first for crispy skins to top salads or pasta.
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Cure raw salmon into gravlax by marinating in salt, sugar, and dill.
How Salmon Seasons are Set
The commercial and recreational fishing seasons for salmon and other species are set by fisheries regulators every year. They do this by listening to scientists, fishermen, industry groups, tribal representatives, and other interested parties. Forecasted ocean abundance and escapement goals are the main things that determine the season (opportunity). “Escapement” refers to the number of salmon that go back to fresh water to spawn and finish their life cycle. After a long and sometimes heated process, the proposed seasons and any other management measures are sent to federal regulators to be approved for good.
The dates that salmon season starts are set so that fishermen can catch the fish and so that enough fish can make it upstream to spawn and restore fish stocks. One way that regulators keep an eye on how much fish is caught is by limiting the season to certain weeks in the summer. This is why some weeks are on and some weeks are off.
Photo courtesy of H&H Fresh Fish
While it’s available at some stores year-round as a frozen product, wild, fresh King salmon is only available in California during the summer months, during certain weeks.
The most sought-after salmon in California is wild-caught Chinook (King) Salmon. This is because it is the largest commercially caught salmon species and the tastiest. You can also only get it fresh during certain summer weeks. Here’s a quick look at how salmon seasons work and how that affects when you can buy it at fish markets, restaurants, and grocery stores. Read more to learn when to find the freshest, wild King Salmon in the Monterey Bay area!.
The Salmon’s Life Mission | Destination WILD
FAQ
Can you buy wild salmon all year round?
Why not to eat wild caught salmon?
Is Wild king salmon in season now?
How can you tell if salmon is farmed or wild?
When does salmon season start?
Salmon fishing begins in May and goes thru the end of September. Each species of salmon will have different peak times to fish them, but you will be able to fish for one of these during this time. The main species of Salmon include: King Salmon, Silver Salmon, Red Salmon and Pink Salmon.
When does salmon season open?
The council made a final decision on salmon seasons at its meeting held April 6-9 and 12-15. Per the adopted measures, the recreational salmon season will run from June 28 through July 31 in the area between the Oregon/California border and Southern Klamath Management Zone Boundary with a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length for Chinook.
What should wild salmon smell like?
while you are at it. Fresh salmon has almost no smell at all except a salty clean ocean smell. Although a whole salmon might be slimy *on the skin* , the flesh should not be at all slimy, and certainly not mushy. Good luck to you, I hope he sees sense.