Good morning, folks—Artificial Lure here, reporting live from the salty edges of Puget Sound on Sunday, August 17, 2025. As we dust off another classic Northwest morning, let’s dive into what’s biting, where, and how to make the most of it.

Sunrise graced us at about 5:59 AM and you’ll see golden hour fading out past 8:39 PM, so you’ve got 14-plus hours of daylight to make each cast count. Today’s tidal coefficient is running average, starting around 59 and ramping up to 70 by day’s end according to Tides4Fishing. This means notable tidal swings, especially late afternoon, when currents will be strongest and bait will move—a prime window for predatory action.

Weather’s downright comfortable for August. Marine Weather Service reports gentle SW winds around 5 knots, with waves at most 2 feet—a rarity in late summer. There’s a slight chance of rain lingering early, but most of the day will be dry and fishable, especially on lee shores. If you’re on the water tonight, expect the breeze to flip S after midnight, so keep an ear out for any sudden chop.

Let’s get right to the fish. Salmon fever is shaking the beaches—pink salmon runs have been excellent the past week, with plenty of humpies reported from the beaches at Browns Point, Lincoln Park, and the classic Edmonds fishing pier. According to Gone Fishing Northwest, pinks are in thick and hitting well. Anglers chucking small pink Buzz Bombs, hoochies, or epoxy jigs from shore are scoring, but if trolling, a pink mini squid on a short leader behind a 4-oz cannonball is still the gold standard.

Coho have started showing up in MA 9 and 10, according to The Outdoor Line. Silver catch rates are climbing for boat anglers working the rips off Possession Bar, just north of Edmonds. Hot lure here: Silver Horde Ace High flies and purple haze hoochies rigged 36 inches behind a green flasher. Tip: add a chunk of herring strip for scent—Ray’s Bait herring is the local’s choice.

Those working structure in shallow water are still finding decent numbers of smallmouth bass and the ever-abundant baitfish, especially near dropped pilings and rocky outcrops. Instagram’s @Pugetensis notes that roughback sculpin and generic baitfish are thick around Meadow Point and the Duwamish Waterway—perfect for kids soaking worm-tipped bobbers, or for those live-lining for lingcod.

On the shellfish front, crabbing remains hot, though limits are tightening up. Dungeness are crawling up the sand flats off Camano, Saratoga Passage, and inside Quartermaster Harbor. Chicken legs, turkey necks, or commercial crab bait work well—if you’re serious, cycle those pots every 90 minutes around slack tide.

Let’s talk hot spots:
- Possession Bar: lights-out for coho, especially dawn and dusk with incoming tide.
- Browns Point: pink salmon stacked and biting.
- Edmonds Pier: steady humpy bite, plus the occasional migratory chinook.

Tackle tip of the day: St. Croix Onchor rods are ruling the salmon game for boaters and long casters alike, while shore anglers on the Mojo Bass series have hammered out quick limits of bass and perch—worth the local investment if you want versatile gear.

Safety reminder—watch for boating hazards, especially floating logs and traffic around the ferry lanes. Coast Guard had a busy week responding to skiffs taking on water, so stay alert, wear your PFD, and make all VHF calls count.

That’s it for today’s Puget Sound roundup. Many thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s fishing update. Don’t forget to subscribe and keep those lines tight. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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