The following information can also be found by calling 360-902-2500, ext. 5. See our fishing hotlines webpage for additional information and regulations.Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-13) recreational salmon fishing reopened on May 19, 2021 under permanent rules as listed in the 2021-2022 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. Anglers should consult the 2021-2022 Washington Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet, Fish Washington mobile app, as well as the emergency rule changes webpage, before heading out.
Recreational fishery samplers with the Puget Sound Sampling Unit collect catch and effort information throughout the fishing season at selected fishing access sites throughout Puget Sound. These reports summarize the results from angler interviews which are conducted on a random sampling schedule. (Catch Area information was added to this webpage July 28, 2017 and is not included prior to that date.)
For updated Puget Sound salmon fishery guidelines and quotas, please visit this webpage. For yearly creel reports going back to 2013 visit the annual reports page.Trolling or jigging for that elusive Puget Sound Salmon is what “Life in Des Moines” is all about. Whether you are trying to catch that big 30 pound Wild King Salmon or that beautiful Bright Silver it is definitely a rush. We have many days of fishing, in the spring and summer there is the Chinook run and fall brings the Sockeye, Coho, Chums and Pinks. But wait the year is not over in the winter there is the Winter Blackmouth. But don’t get in trouble check below for the fishing regulations for the right times to drop your line.
Here are the “proposed seasons” for 2023 for Marine Area 11, more details and regulations for each area will be included in the 2023-24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, which outlines the regulations from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 and will be available in early summer 2023:
This graph tells a fairly accurate story of Marine Area 11 Chinook salmon fishing. That first week in June is often decent, followed by a lull and slowly building from late July into Mid August and peaking around about the 3rd week.For those of us in the South – Central Puget Sound, the annual chinook salmon fishing season is one of the absolute best times to be on the water! Usually nice weather and some really big fish can make for a great time.Nisqually or other deep south sound hatchery bound chinook will traverse all parts of Marine Area 11, but especially the Gig Harbor flats should be productive and places like Point Evans just north of the Narrows Bridge.That early season in June involves fish from all over actively feeding and pushing into the South Sound. Some will stay, but many will continue their migration. Even Columbia River chinook coded wire tags have been recovered there.
Many of this chinook salmon headed for the deep south sound hatchery on the Nisqually and near Olympia will cruise this path and can be intercepted here.
Being on the water just before daylight is what the serious chinook anglers do in MA11. Additionally, using larger profile terminal gear and moving slower can be key to getting a staging (as opposed to feeding) chinook salmon to bite.
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Typically, these chinook / kings are arriving closer to their spawning / staging times in late July to mid-August and beyond. Which means you will often mark on your sonar far more chinook than you will hook, but you never know when that bite will turn on.And that’s where this article comes in! I have researched the internet and checked every possible Puget Sound fishing report so that you can get all the vital information you need for your next Puget Sound fishing adventure!
The guide and charter businesses commonly also add their contact information to their posts, which means you can contact them for more tips or detailed information.
PRO TIP: Need to gear up for your next steelhead adventure? Then check out this quality equipment on Amazon. It’s very cost-effective, durable, and will get the job done every time!No matter if you’re after big chinooks, blackmouths, coho, pink, chum, or sockeye, or want to target lingcod and halibut, the Sound has something for every angler out there!
Strike and Catch is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Strike and Catch is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.And while they are often not very long or detailed, they give the reader a pretty good picture of what is currently being caught (and thereby possible to catch) in the Puget Sound area. And the best thing is that Puget Sound can practically be fished year-round, making it a super popular destination for salmon anglers when the rivers are closed. Regarding updating frequency and amount of caught fish in any given catch area, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is definitely the number one source for Puget Sound fishing reports!What’s so great and valuable about them is that they include detailed information about practically every catch area and major fishing spot of the Sound. It’s really something!
They also seem to have a vast network of local anglers, researchers, coast guards, and fishing charters adding even more detail and value to their excellent fishing reports.
To help anglers get a better picture of what’s going down in Puget Sound, they release a super detailed monthly fishing report for the entire state of Washington.So if you are reading one of the regular fishing reports and start to wonder about a specific catch area, you can check the Salmon University’s fantastic Puget Sound guide, and you’re good to go!
Hi, I’m Max. I have been an avid angler for over 20 years and I just could not imagine a life without this wonderful hobby! To me, fishing is a passion and a lifestyle. The joy of the catch, the bait, the tackle and the outdoors in general is what Strike and Catch is all about.
But to know where the fish are currently biting, how many are being caught, when the coho’s winter bite is on, at what depths the blackmouth chinooks are, or if the Mid Channel Bank is currently worth targeting, you need to consult reliable fishing reports.
\n\tBlackmouth Salmon and Cutthroat are available almost everywhere in the Sound at this time of year. At night, anglers line the piers in Seattle and Tacoma for winter Squid fishing.
\n\tSalmon fishing regulations are not the same in all areas of Puget Sound. The season closes in many zones for a brief period in spring, usually between March and June (except for the area described as “south Puget Sound”).\n\tMay is the prime time for bottom fishing in Puget Sound. Lingcod and Cabezon are finally open to harvest. In the northern reaches of the sound, you may catch a Halibut here and there.\n\tFishing opportunities are limited in December. The season for Salmon is closed in most parts of the sound, and Flounder are scarce. You can catch Cutthroat Trout on fly or fish for Squid from the piers in Seattle. \n\tSeptember is your last chance to experience the sheer variety Puget Sound has in store. You can still fish for many Salmon species, in addition to Flounder, Cabezon, and Crab early in the month. \n\tGreat bottom fishing continues, with Lingcod, Cabezon, and Flounder available in most parts of the Sound. In some places, Chinook are starting to appear.
\n\tTrolling is the most popular Salmon fishing technique. Depending on the target species and the season, anglers use different variations of this method. In winter, Puget Sound Salmon fishing is all about the small, ferocious “Blackmouths” feeding about 100 feet below the surface. Locals troll near the bottom to catch these fish, relying on a downrigger to hold the bait in place. Plastic squid, plugs, spoons, and Herring are all common bait choices.\n\tIn some areas, Salmon season closes in April. This is an excellent time to turn your attention toward bottom fishing. Flounder are abundant and easy to catch, which makes them perfect for a family fishing trip!
\n\tMore great fishing continues as the resident Blackmouth Salmon stay strong through winter. Depending on where you fish, dropping a line or two to the bottom will produce Flounder.
\n\tIf you’re in the market for Salmon, your chances are best in the southern waters of the Sound, where you can still catch plenty of fish and keep them. Otherwise, it’s all about bottom fishing!
\n\tNothing sums up fishing in the Pacific Northwest like the mighty Salmon, and there’s no place to catch this fish more iconic than Puget Sound. Here you can cast your line while indulging in calm, protected waters, breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains, and close encounters with Orcas.\n\tWith four different species to hook into, it’s no wonder why anglers are eager to get a taste of the Salmon fishing Puget Sound has in store. Chinook (King) Salmon are the ultimate prize in these waters, including a resident feeder Chinook population—known as “Blackmouth Salmon”—and migratory Chinook in late summer. Summer Kings are joined by the hard-fighting Coho (Silver) Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Pink Salmon on occasion.
\n\tCome July, anglers in Puget Sound are gearing up for Salmon season. Chinook are here in full swing, with Cohos right behind them. In odd years, they’re joined by Pink Salmon. The season for Dungeness Crab is open.
\n\tAnother technique you’ll see people using in Puget Sound is “mooching.” Instead of trolling, anglers drift their lines in the water, keeping the rods in their hands the entire time and constantly moving the bait up and down. Many prefer this hands-on and traditional method of Salmon fishing because it’s more personal and you can feel the Salmon striking the bait. Herring is a common bait choice for mooching.\n\tAugust is a great time to explore the Sound, with your choice of bottom fishing for Cabezon and Flounder or trolling for a variety of Salmon species. You can add Crab to your cooler on the way back.
\n\tDepending on which part of the Sound you fish, certain species may not be open to harvest, so be sure to keep an eye on local regulations before heading out. South Puget Sound, which includes the area south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, is the only place in Washington State where it is legal to fish for Salmon year-round. \n\tIn January, it’s all about Blackmouth Salmon! Anglers in Puget Sound go wild over this small, hard-fighting fish. Fly fishermen have a blast targeting sea-run Cutthroat Trout. \n\tYou can expect good fishing for Coho Salmon in October. In southern Puget Sound, you’ll find excellent fishing for Coho, Chum, and Cutthroat Trout. Flounder fishing is fair.
\n\tThere are few places where anglers can fish for Salmon 365 days a year, and Puget Sound is one of them. King and Coho Salmon are generally available from July through September. In years that end in odd numbers, Pink Salmon flood the Sound around the same time. In south Puget Sound, Chum Salmon make an appearance in fall. Even in the dead of winter, after all the visiting Salmon take their leave, the action stays strong with “Blackmouth” Salmon (feeder Chinook) biting vigorously through April.
This post may contain affiliate links for products that we find helpful to our readers. These links may provide this site with a small commission to us, that helps fund this website, to continue to provide awesome content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.June 7, 2023 – I’ve put together a list of what I think are the best Chinook Salmon lures for fishing in saltwater areas, hoping that it will help you land your next trophy View PostJune 1, 2023 – Salmon fishing around Tacoma and Vashon Island is back starting June 1, 2023 and anglers all over the South Puget Sound area are ready to get back out on the water! View Post
Washington’s saltwater and freshwater fishing areas have plenty to offer us. The Riptidefish.com mission is to offer you all the information and encouragement to get you excited about fishing around Seattle and Washington State. We are constantly posting fishing reports, how-to tutorials, and detailed reviews of Washington’s best fishing areas. Get out and explore fishing here!
June 10, 2023 – Lot’s to get excited about this month! June 2023 Halibut, Salmon, Shrimp and Crab fishing report for Seattle and Washington State. View PostMay 23, 2023 – Easy to use guide to Washington’s 2023 Saltwater Salmon Fishing Seasons. We break down each area’s fishing seasons and links to important WDFW information. View Post
I am making good progress on visualizing creel report data. Flask was pretty easy to install. I played with it in a Linux VM as well as locally. So far it is using HTTP, and I’ll want to upgrade to HTTPS after I deploy in AWS.
The web scraping code went through eight major iterations (I always seem to have an existential crises when deciding on version numbers). This one has some major functions:
