Salmon in Washington in November

Yes, November is one of the best months to see salmon in Washington. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 1,078 of the 5,870 sightings logged across the year (18.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Peak month for salmon in Washington

18.4%

of yearly sightings

1,078

records in November

#1

busiest month of 12

5,870

verified records a year

October 17.1%, November 18.4%, December 3.9%. Busiest month is November at 18.4%.

Best months: November, October, September

5,870 verified observations of salmon in Washington, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When salmon are recorded in Washington

Peak month

November

1,078 records (18.4% of the year)

Quietest month

February

108 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1252.1%
February1081.8%
March1652.8%
April3095.3%
May3986.8%
June4427.5%
July5779.8%
August62610.7%
Septemberpeak80913.8%
Octoberpeak1,00217.1%
Novemberpeak1,07818.4%
December2313.9%

Salmon you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Coho Salmon1,054
Chum Salmon842
Chinook Salmon750
Rainbow Trout682
Coastal Cutthroat Trout451
Sockeye Salmon371
Pink Salmon369
Westslope Cutthroat Trout169

In Washington, November carries 18.4% of the year's salmon sightings, about 10.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from October (17.1%) into November, and it heads toward December (3.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so November is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The salmon most often recorded in Washington are Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon and Chinook Salmon. Those counts are annual totals rather than a November split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in November itself.

Which salmon you are most likely to see

  • Coho Salmon1,054 records
  • Chum Salmon842 records
  • Chinook Salmon750 records
  • Rainbow Trout682 records
  • Coastal Cutthroat Trout451 records
  • Sockeye Salmon371 records
Plan your tripEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve

Plan your salmon trip in Washington

Start with live tours near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see salmon in Washington in November?+

Yes. November accounts for 1,078 of the 5,870 verified salmon sightings logged in Washington across the year, which is 18.4% of the annual total.

Is November a good time to see salmon in Washington?+

November is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of November, October and September.

What month is best for salmon in Washington?+

November is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through November, October and September, based on 5,870 verified observations.

Which salmon are you most likely to see in Washington?+

The most-recorded species in Washington are Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon and Chinook Salmon, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.