Find a Fishing Buddy in Seattle
Washington
Seattle sits on Puget Sound, a vast inland sea that brings salmon fishing right to the city. All five Pacific salmon species pass through the Sound — Chinook (king), coho (silver), pink, chum, and sockeye — along with resident 'blackmouth' Chinook that are catchable through the winter. Add lingcod and rockfish on the bottom, sea-run cutthroat in the estuaries, and steelhead and salmon in the rivers draining the Cascades, and there is year-round fishing minutes from downtown. MyFishingBuds connects Seattle-area anglers so you can share a boat on the Sound, split a river trip, or find a partner who tracks the ever-changing salmon openers.
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When 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.
→ Today's best fishing times in Seattle (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Chinook Salmon
- 🎣 Coho Salmon
- 🎣 Pink Salmon (odd years)
- 🎣 Lingcod
- 🎣 Sea-run Cutthroat
- 🎣 Steelhead
Where to fish
- 📍 Puget Sound
- 📍 Elliott Bay
- 📍 the Cascade rivers (Skykomish, Snoqualmie)
- 📍 Lake Washington
- 📍 Sinclair Inlet
Local tips for Seattle
Puget Sound salmon regulations are genuinely complicated — the Sound is divided into Marine Areas that open and close independently by species and date, so a buddy who follows the WDFW openers is a real asset. Public ramps and charters run out of Shilshole Bay, Elliott Bay, and around the Sound. Shore anglers fish the piers and beaches (Seacrest, the Edmonds pier) for salmon during the runs and for sea-run cutthroat. In odd-numbered years, the pink salmon run is so large it is one of the best times for a newcomer to get on fish from shore.
🪪 Washington fishing license
Anglers fishing in Seattle need a valid Washington fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Washington license prices →Seattle fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license to fish Puget Sound in Seattle?▾
Yes. Washington requires a fishing license for anglers 15 and older, plus a catch record card for salmon and steelhead. Combination and shellfish/seaweed licenses are also available. See our Washington license guide for current resident and non-resident prices.
When can I fish for salmon in Seattle?▾
Different seasons for different species: winter and early spring for resident blackmouth Chinook, summer for migratory kings and early coho, and late summer/fall for coho and (in odd-numbered years) pink salmon. Seasons are set by Marine Area and change often, so always check the current WDFW rules.
What is a pink salmon year in Seattle?▾
Pink salmon return to Puget Sound in enormous numbers in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, and so on). The run is so big and the fish so willing that it is one of the best times for a beginner to catch salmon — often right from shore and piers around the city.
Can I fish from shore in Seattle?▾
Yes. Public piers and beaches — Seacrest Park, the Edmonds fishing pier, and various Sound beaches — produce salmon during the runs, plus sea-run cutthroat and bottomfish. Lake Washington in the city also offers bass, perch, and (seasonally) sockeye when a fishery is opened.
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