Where to View Salmon Spawning in Kitsap County This Autumn

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Kitsap Salmon Viewing

During the fall in the Pacific Northwest, salmon return from the ocean up the rivers to spawn. Salmon are an anadromous species, which means they begin their life in freshwater, and then swim to saltwater, where they mature. Some salmon can stay in the ocean for up to seven years.

After that, the salmon will swim back to its home stream, lay eggs, and die. A useful resource for reading more about the salmon’s life cycle is here. In Autumn, you can see spawning salmon around the area at local rivers, creeks, and fish ladders.

In Kitsap County, Washington State University Kitsap Extension sponsors Kitsap Salmon Tours every fall, usually in early November. It’s a great event for kids who enjoy seeing the salmon swimming in the creeks. At the end of this post are the locations and date for this year’s salmon tour events…but you can go on other days as well to catch a glimpse of the fish.

During November, in Kitsap streams, you’re most likely to find chum and coho salmon spawning.

Some Considerations When Viewing the Salmon

  • Bringing polarized sunglasses will cut the glare and give you a better view of the fish.

  • Check pet restrictions for the area you’re visiting. You may need to leave Fido at home, but at least have him on a leash and keep him quiet.

  • Kids can get excited about the fish, but remember to keep them from disturbing/trying to touch the fish.

  • Remember to prepare for the possibility of wet weather around here in November. Even if it doesn’t look like it might rain, you might be surprised. And, even if not, you may encounter some boggy, slippery ground near streams.

Kitsap Salmon Viewing Places and Salmon Tours Times

We used to list every location as a separate event on our calendar. However, that’s cumbersome. You can view the event and its locations on our calendar here. For 2022, the date is November 5.

You can find a map on the WSU Salmon Tours website.

Written by: Cheryl at PNW & Beyond Posted: September 19,2022

https://www.pnwbeyond.com/autumn-kitsap-salmon-viewing-salmon-spawning/

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