Puget Sound anglers, Artificial Lure here with your August 20, 2025, fishing report. The morning began with sunrise at 6:11 AM, and we’re looking at a full 14 hours to chase fish before sunset at 8:12 PM. Tides are moderate today with a tidal coefficient starting at 58 and climbing to 69 by evening, meaning decent movement and feeding conditions. First high tide hit just after midnight, and the next major one is set for 4:38 PM, so you’ll want to target those changeover windows for active fish. The first low tide was at 8:19 AM with another tonight at 9:42 PM—plan accordingly for beach and jetty access.

Weather’s mild, with winds out of the north at 5 knots—barely ruffling the water, and waves hovering at two feet or less. That means calm conditions across much of the Sound, perfect for small boats, kayaks, and shore casting. No dramatic fronts, just steady late-summer air: great for a full day on the salt.

Now, let’s talk fish. The 2025 salmon run has officially kicked off, and it’s shaping up to be the year to remember—with Puget Sound forecasted to see over 8 million salmon moving through, a whopping 70% increase compared to normal. Most action right now is coho-centric, with consistent catches reported from Possession Point to the Tacoma Narrows. Recent outings show the coho are schooled up and active, especially around tide changes. Pink salmon are showing up steadily, but numbers on the Stillaguamish are lower than years past, so check those regulatory updates if you’re heading north. Chinook activity has slowed but don’t rule out a troll through deeper water off Point No Point or Kingston for a bruiser.

Best baits and tactics? This week, Buzz Bombs are king from the beach—every Sound angler seems to be slinging them with good success on coho and pinks from Glendale Beach down to Lincoln Park. Chartreuse and pink have been the hot colors. For boaters, trolling cut-plug herring behind a green or white flasher continues to produce, especially early mornings when the bait balls are tight to the surface. Mooching and jigging are also pulling coho; don’t hesitate to switch to twitching jigs if fish get picky. If you’re working the shoreline, try small spoons and hoochies popped erratically.

Other species? Resident sea-run cutthroat are lurking close to shore and in estuaries; use small spinners and sand shrimp under a float if you want quantity. Bottom fish reports are light, but flounder are there if you’re patient with bait rigs off deeper piers.

Hot spots this week:
- Possession Point: coho and pink bite all morning; be ready for midday flurries as tides swing.
- Glendale Beach (Whidbey Island): some of the best shore fishing for coho and pinks using Buzz Bombs, especially the hour around incoming tide.
- Point Defiance Boathouse: anglers trolling off the waterfront have been rewarded with mixed bags of coho and the odd big Chinook.

A quick gear word—fluorocarbon leaders (15-20lb) are keeping hookups high, and if you’re trolling, 80-120 feet of wire out is right in the sweet spot.

Remember, check current regs before heading out, as pink restrictions are in force in some northern rivers due to lower forecasts there.

That’s the scoop for Puget Sound today. Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on all things fishing, tackle picks, and local water wisdom. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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