Salmon limits by state
Check before you keep a fish. These are statewide rules. Lakes, rivers and coastal zones often have their own limits, and rules can change during the year. Each state below has a link to its official rules.
- Free
- Official sources first
- Checked monthly
- Independent, not a state website
| State | Where | Size | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska King salmon |
Set each year: check here. King salmon seasons and limits are set by area and often changed or closed by emergency order (for example, Susitna drainage king fishing was closed in 2026). King salmon stamp needed. Check ADF&G emergency orders before fishing. | |||
| Alaska King salmon (salt water) |
Set each year: check here. Saltwater king salmon limits differ by area and are frequently changed by emergency order. King salmon stamp needed. Check ADF&G emergency orders before fishing. | |||
| Alaska Coho, sockeye, chum and pink salmon |
Set each year: check here. Limits differ by area and are often changed by emergency order (in the Susitna drainage the default is 3 a day of coho, sockeye and chum 16" or longer, plus 6 pink salmon). Check ADF&G emergency orders and your area's regulations. | |||
| California Ocean salmon |
Set each year: check here. Seasons are set each year and often closed or cut short. Check CDFW before fishing. | |||
| Colorado older data Kokanee salmon |
Statewide | – | 10 (10 in possession) | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Colorado's regulations, the newest we could check. Some may have changed since. Secondary source: Colorado fishing regulations (eRegulations) CPW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Connecticut Kokanee |
Lakes and ponds | – | 5 | – |
| Catch and release only during the trout catch-and-release period. A Trout and Salmon Stamp may be needed. Official source CT DEEP official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Connecticut Atlantic salmon |
Naugatuck, Shetucket and Housatonic rivers and stocked lakes and ponds only | – | 1 | – |
| Taking Atlantic salmon is banned everywhere else. Trout and Salmon Stamp needed. Official source CT DEEP official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Idaho Kokanee |
Southwest, Magic Valley, Southeast | – | 6 | All year |
| Idaho | Panhandle, Upper Snake | – | 15 | All year |
| Idaho | Clearwater, Salmon | – | 25 | All year |
| Official source234567 IDFG official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Idaho Chinook and coho salmon (ocean-run) |
Set each year: check here. Closed unless IDFG opens a season for that water; seasons and limits are set each year. A salmon/steelhead permit is needed. Check before you go. | |||
| Illinois Trout and salmon |
Statewide | – | 5 in total | – |
| Inland trout stamp or Lake Michigan salmon stamp needed. Inland trout seasons open on set dates in spring and autumn. Official source IDNR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Indiana Lake Michigan trout and salmon |
Lake Michigan | Atlantic salmon 14 in | 5 in total; no more than 3 lake trout | All year |
| Trout/salmon stamp needed. Check the full guide for species-by-species sizes. Secondary source: Indiana Fishing Guide (eRegulations edition) Indiana DNR official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| Maine Landlocked salmon |
Lakes and ponds | 14" minimum | 2 | – |
| Maine | Rivers and streams | 14" to 25" | 2 | – |
| Sea-run Atlantic salmon: no fishing permitted. Official source MDIFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Massachusetts Landlocked salmon |
Quabbin and Wachusett reservoirs, their tributaries, and the Swift River below Quabbin | 15" minimum | 2 | – |
| May only be kept in these waters. Official source MassWildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Montana older data Kokanee salmon |
Western District | – | 20 (40 in possession) | – |
| Montana | Central District | – | 10 (with chinook) | – |
| Montana | Eastern District | – | 5 (10 in possession, with chinook) | – |
| Note on this data: These limits come from a 2023 copy of Montana's regulations, the newest we could check, and FWP has proposed changes. Some limits may now be different. Secondary source: Montana fishing regulations (eRegulations) FWP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Hampshire Landlocked salmon |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 2 | April 1 to Sept 30 |
| Salmon may not be taken through the ice in rivers. Secondary source: New Hampshire Fishing Digest 2026 (eRegulations) NH Fish and Game official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Trout and kokanee (brown, brook, rainbow, Gila, kokanee) |
Statewide (regular trout waters) | No minimum | 5 combined (10 in possession), including no more than 2 lake trout and 2 cutthroat | – |
| Special Trout Waters have their own lower limits and tackle rules; some waters (e.g. Tingley Beach) differ. A free Gila Trout Fishing Permit is needed on some waters. Official source2 NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New Mexico Kokanee (snagging season) |
Listed waters (Abiquiu, Rio Chama, Navajo, El Vado, Eagle Nest and others) | No minimum | 12 (24 in possession) | October 1 to December 31 (Heron Lake, Willow Creek and Navajo no-wake areas from November 13) |
| Kokanee are the only fish that may be snagged. Official source NMDOW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| New York Landlocked Atlantic salmon |
Statewide | 15" minimum | 3 | All year |
| Coho and Chinook salmon rules are in the Great Lakes and tributaries special regulations. Official source NYSDEC official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| North Dakota Salmon |
Statewide | No minimum | 5 (10 in possession) | – |
| Official source NDGF official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oregon Kokanee |
Willamette Zone | – | 10 | Open all year |
| Some lakes allow 25. Secondary source: Oregon sport fishing regulations (eRegulations) ODFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Oregon Salmon and steelhead |
Set each year: check here. Limits and seasons vary by zone and river and change in season. Ocean salmon seasons are set each April. Check ODFW before fishing. | |||
| Rhode Island Landlocked (domestic) Atlantic salmon |
Statewide | 11" minimum | 2 | Second Saturday in April to last day of February |
| Wild (migratory) Atlantic salmon: closed, no taking. Official source2 RIDEM official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| South Dakota Trout, salmon and splake |
Statewide | No minimum | 5 combined (possession 10) | – |
| Includes chinook salmon. Black Hills waters have special trout rules. Official source2 SD GFP official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Utah Trout, kokanee and Arctic grayling |
Statewide | No statewide minimum | 4 combined | – |
| No kokanee may be kept anywhere from September 10 to November 30. Many waters, including Flaming Gorge, Strawberry and Bear Lake, have their own trout rules. Secondary source: Utah Fishing Guidebook (eRegulations) Utah DWR official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon |
Statewide | Lake trout 18"; salmon 17" | 2 combined | Second Saturday in April to October 31 (lakes and ponds also January 1 to March 15) |
| Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Vermont Lake Champlain (Vermont waters) |
Walleye | 18" minimum | 3 | First Saturday in May to March 15 |
| Vermont | Black bass | 12" minimum | 5 combined | Second Saturday in June to November 30 |
| Vermont | Lake trout | 15" minimum | 3 | All year |
| Vermont | Landlocked salmon | 15" minimum | 2 | All year |
| Vermont | Northern pike | 20" minimum | 5 | All year |
| Vermont | Yellow perch | No minimum | No limit | All year |
| Secondary source: Vermont Fishing Regulations 2026-27 (eRegulations) Vermont Fish & Wildlife official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Washington Kokanee |
Statewide | No minimum | 10 | – |
| Secondary source: Washington Sport Fishing Rules 2026 (eRegulations edition) WDFW official rules Checked Nov 4, 2026 | ||||
| Washington Salmon (fresh and salt water) |
Set each year: check here. Salmon seasons and limits are set each year through the North of Falcon process and changed by emergency rule. Check WDFW emergency rules before fishing. A catch record card is needed. | |||
| Wisconsin Great Lakes salmon and trout |
Set each year: check here. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior limits and seasons differ by zone and can change. Check DNR before fishing. Great Lakes Salmon/Trout Stamp needed. | |||
| Wyoming Trout (brown, cutthroat, grayling, golden, rainbow, salmon, tiger trout and hybrids) |
Lakes | No statewide size limit | 6 | – |
| Wyoming | Streams | Only 1 over 16" | 3 | – |
| No more than 6 in total from streams and lakes combined. Many waters have exceptions; see the area rules. Secondary source: 2026 Wyoming Fishing Regulations (eRegulations edition) WGFD official rules Checked Nov 5, 2026 | ||||