Best Time to Fish in Seattle

Washington · Friday, September 11

🌅

6:42 AM

Sunrise

🌇

7:32 PM

Sunset

🌙

0%

Moon

The next 7 days in Seattle

DayDawn windowDusk windowMoon
Today6:12 AM7:42 AM6:02 PM8:02 PM🌑 New Moon · 0%
Sat, Sep 126:14 AM7:44 AM6:00 PM8:00 PM🌑 New Moon · 1%
Sun, Sep 136:15 AM7:45 AM5:58 PM7:58 PM🌒 Waxing Crescent · 5%
Mon, Sep 146:16 AM7:46 AM5:55 PM7:55 PM🌒 Waxing Crescent · 10%
Tue, Sep 156:18 AM7:48 AM5:53 PM7:53 PM🌒 Waxing Crescent · 17%
Wed, Sep 166:19 AM7:49 AM5:51 PM7:51 PM🌒 Waxing Crescent · 26%
Thu, Sep 176:20 AM7:50 AM5:49 PM7:49 PM🌓 First Quarter · 36%

Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Seattle; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.

Today's best windows in Seattle

🌅 Dawn — 6:12 AM to 7:42 AM

The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.

🌇 Dusk — 6:02 PM to 8:02 PM

The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.

🌙 Moon — New Moon (0% lit)

Solunar feeding activity peaks around the new and full moons. Overlap a solunar period with dawn or dusk and you have the best window of the day.

Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Seattle (Washington); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.

Today's tides in Seattle

TideTimeHeight
High5:19 AM10.4 ft
Low11:34 AM0.5 ft
High6:04 PM11.6 ft

Predictions from NOAA station 9447130 (SEATTLE (Madison St.), Elliott Bay), about 0 mi from Seattle. Times in local time, heights relative to MLLW.

Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot

Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Seattle spot.

See the AI Trip Planner →

Best season to fish Seattle

Puget Sound salmon fishing runs in seasons set by 'Marine Area' and species: winter and early spring for resident blackmouth Chinook, summer for migratory kings and the start of coho, and late summer into fall for coho and — in odd-numbered years — enormous runs of pink salmon. Lingcod season typically opens in spring. Sea-run cutthroat fish the estuaries year-round. The rivers (the Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Green, and Skagit) have salmon runs in summer and fall and winter steelhead. Because openers change constantly and vary by area, checking current WDFW regulations is essential.

Chinook SalmonCoho SalmonPink Salmon (odd years)LingcodSea-run CutthroatSteelhead

Best time to fish in Seattle — FAQ

What is the best time of day to fish in Seattle?

The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Seattle, sunrise is about 6:42 AM and sunset about 7:32 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.

Does the moon affect fishing in Seattle?

Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a New Moon (0% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.

What is the best season to fish in Seattle?

Puget Sound salmon fishing runs in seasons set by 'Marine Area' and species: winter and early spring for resident blackmouth Chinook, summer for migratory kings and the start of coho, and late summer into fall for coho and — in odd-numbered years — enormous runs of pink salmon. Lingcod season typically opens in spring. Sea-run cutthroat fish the estuaries year-round. The rivers (the Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Green, and Skagit) have salmon runs in summer and fall and winter steelhead. Because openers change constantly and vary by area, checking current WDFW regulations is essential.

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Seattle?

Yes — most adult anglers need a Washington fishing license. See the Washington fishing license guide for 2026 resident and non-resident prices, who's exempt, and where to buy.

What tide is best for fishing in Seattle?

Moving water usually beats slack tide — fish the hour or so around a tide change, when current is strongest and sweeps bait past structure. See today's tide times for Seattle above to plan around the next high or low.

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