Mid-September to mid-October is peak season for salmon runs. The fall salmon runs begin in late August when Chinook salmon begin returning to spawn, with Chinook arriving first and Coho a little later.
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Where can I find pink salmon in Puget Sound?
Puget Sound’s beaches are the epicenter of pink salmon fishing. Seattle’s Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW; seattle.gov/parks) is hugely popular; cast your line at Williams Point.
Are pink salmon in Puget Sound yet?
Pink Salmon fishing can be hot and heavy at the entrance to the Strait at Neah Bay and Sekiu in July, but the big push into Puget Sound occurs in August. We do catch Pink Salmon near Everett and Seattle in July, but the primetime fishery occurs from about the second week in August to the first week in September.
How do you catch pink salmon on a fly?

What size fly rod for pink salmon?
A 7 or 8 wt. rod is perfect for targeting pink salmon.
How many pink salmon can you keep in Washington?
The 2021-22 season also includes the return of pink salmon to Puget Sound; pink salmon will be part of the two-salmon daily limit in all marine areas, and many river systems have bonus daily limits of pinks depending on the expected return.
Is pink salmon fishing open in Washington?
The area remains open from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30 for a fishery directed at hatchery coho and pinks. In central Puget Sound (10), the highly popular early resident coho season opens June 16 to July 15 (last year it opened on June 1, and later start time in 2021 is to save on Skagit River wild coho impacts).
Where are the pink salmon now?
Hatcheries are piling onto that bounty. Since the 1970s, industrial production of pink salmon has exploded, and today, hatcheries in the United States, Canada, Russia, and Japan pump about 1.3 billion pink salmon fry into the Pacific each year, leading to the production of roughly 82 million adults.
Where can I fish for pink salmon in Washington?
- Lincoln Park in West Seattle (best is starting in mid-August)
- Browns Point Lighthouse Park in Tacoma (mid-to-late August)
- Dash Point Pier (mid-to-late August)
- Picnic Point in Edmonds (early August to September)
- Deception Pass shoreline (now through September)
What flies for pink salmon?
Fly selection is all about size and visibility with these fish. Keep in mind, they typically run during the freshet (runoff), so the water generally isn’t very clear for their run. And since they like to run in softer water, I prefer smaller bead-head flies in bright pink or chartreuse with ample amounts of flash.
What lures do pink salmon like?
- Gibbs Kodiak Spoon โ 1/4oz, 3/8oz 1/4oz.
- Pink Gibbs Croc Spoon โ 3/16 oz, 1/4 oz 3/8 oz.
- Pink Buzz Bomb โ 1.5″, 2″, 2.5″ / Zzinger .5oz, 1.5oz.
- Pink/Silver Vibrax Blue Fox Spinner โ #2, #3, #4.
- Pink Curly Tail Twitching Jig โ 1/8oz #4, #6, #2.
How do you catch salmon in Puget Sound?

What is the best weight fly rod for salmon?
An ideal fly rod for salmon is a 9′ 9-weight fast action rod. Also, a lifetime or 25-year warranty is ideal as well. A 9 weight provides the backbone to turn a +25 pound salmon, but still has the flexibility to cast large streamers and heavily weighted flies.
Is an 8wt fly rod good for salmon?
They’re definitely strong, just a bit different than Silvers. People often use the same fly rod to target Silver Salmon and Chum Salmon. There’s nothing wrong with using an 8wt single-handed rod for both species.
What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?
10wt fly rods are pretty good for casting heavier and larger dry flies. Plus, they’re great at for casting over longer distances against the wind. In addition, 10wts are a good choice when it comes to fishing from different positions such as standing on the boat or from the shoreline.
What salmon are running in the Puget Sound right now?
Salmon fishing in Puget Sound. Many inland marine salmon fisheries are happening right now for either Chinook or coho. Some are dependent on catch quotas or guidelines so anglers should consult the regulation pamphlet or WDFW website for updates.
Where is the best salmon fishing in Washington State?
The best chum salmon fishing in Washington is typically in Hood Canal, and in particular around the hatchery at Hoodsport. Another hot spot closer to home for many is near the fish hatchery at Minter Creek, located near the end of Carr Inlet less than 20 minutes from Gig Harbor.
What is the best month for salmon fishing?
Arguably, peak salmon season is from June to August in which pretty much every popular type of wild salmon is being caught and is available for sale. That said, due to the way this fish is prepared, the best time to buy salmon starts in early summer and goes through till the end of the calendar year.
Is salmon season open in Puget Sound?
July 1 โ Aug. 15 Open, except closure Daily limit 2, release Chum, wild Chinook, and wild Coho. Season may close earlier if Chinook guideline is attained.
How do you catch Pink Salmon from shore?
Anyway, first thing is, while Pink Salmon can be caught on any lure, pink colored lures really seem to be best. Stick to hot pink/ neon pink lures 2″ and smaller. Buzz Bombs, Rotators, and Lead head jigs with squid skirts/hoochies are all great. Those can be cast off the beach or vertical jigged from your boat.
How big does a salmon have to be to keep in Washington state?
(b) In these waters the minimum size for salmon is 12 inches, except no minimum size for Atlantic salmon. (2) In Area 2-1 from the opening date of adjacent ocean waters through July 31, and in Area 2-2 west of the Buoy 13 line, the size limits specified for Marine Area 2 in WAC 220-313-075 apply.
What areas of Puget Sound are open for salmon fishing?
Southern Puget Sound’s Marine Area 13 is open year-round for salmon. Look for hatchery Chinook in June and July at Point Fosdick and off Fox Island’s east side at Gibson Point, Toy Point and Fox Point.
Can you fish salmon in Puget Sound?
Some of Puget Sound’s marine areas open for salmon fishing in early summer, usually in June or July. From opening day and onward, we catch these resident fish with pretty good regularity. They are 2-4 pounds at the beginning of the season and grow to 6-8 pounds by the end of the season.
What salmon fishing is open in Washington state?
Ocean fisheries LaPush (Marine Area 3) and Neah Bay (Marine Area 4) will open for salmon retention beginning June 18, followed by Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) on June 25 and Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2) on July 2. All areas are scheduled to remain open until Sept.
Which is better sockeye or pink salmon?
A Matter of Taste Whereas pink salmon is light and mild, sockeye salmon is a flavourful and rich. It has a relatively high fat content, loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. The sockeye from Copper River in Alaska is considered amongst the best tasting salmon in the world.