Today, April 2, 2025, fishing in Puget Sound, Washington, promises to be exciting with the official start of the spring Chinook (Blackmouth) salmon season in Marine Areas 10 and 11. This season is open from Wednesday through Saturday, with a daily limit of two salmon (only one clipped Chinook over 22"). Anglers must release all wild Chinook and chum salmon. With the opener timed to coincide with peak Chinook activity, opportunities for great catches are plentiful today.

The day begins with sunrise at 6:41 AM and wraps up with sunset at 7:40 PM. Current weather forecasts predict clear skies with mild temperatures peaking around 57°F, alongside light winds, making for comfortable and productive fishing conditions. In terms of tides, an ideal morning flood tide plays to the advantage of anglers working strategic spots such as Jeff Head, Point Defiance, and Dalco Point.

Local anglers have reported decent recent catches of Chinook salmon. These fish range in size from sublegal juveniles to larger keepers above the 22-inch limit. Notably, Marine Area 10 (from Edmonds to Bainbridge Island) and Marine Area 11 (encompassing Vashon Island to the Tacoma Narrows) are seeing strong activity. Jeff Head, President's Point, and the Kingston bowl are standout locations in Area 10, while Point Defiance and Dalco Point in Area 11 are excellent choices.

Successful anglers today are advised to focus on trolling close to the bottom in depths of 90 to 200 feet. Flashers paired with spoons like Silver Horde Kingfisher Spoons in “Cookies and Cream” or “Irish Cream” are among the top-performing options. Other proven lures include Tomic Plugs (#602 or #603), Ace Hi Flies, and Puget Pounder Jigs for vertical jigging. For bait users, herring and candlefish mimic the primary food sources of Chinook during this season, and pre-brined herring works well when rigged properly to spin enticingly in the water.

Two hot spots for today include Jeff Head (near Bainbridge Island) for early morning action and Point Defiance by Tacoma, which is often productive during a flood tide. Both locations feature underwater structures that funnel baitfish and attract feeding salmon.

Whether trolling, mooching, or jigging, anglers should be prepared for fast-paced action and keep a close eye on legal size and species limits to comply with WDFW regulations. The fishing conditions couldn’t be better—it’s a great time to hit the water and enjoy the unique experience of spring Blackmouth fishing in the Puget Sound.

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 31, 2025. Let me tell you, it's shaping up to be a beautiful day out on the water.

We're looking at partly cloudy skies with a high of 58°F and light winds from the northwest. Sunrise was at 6:47 AM and sunset will be at 7:38 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to land some beauties. Tide-wise, we've got a low tide at 11:23 AM and a high tide at 5:47 PM, so plan your trips accordingly.

Now, let's talk fish. The Chinook action has been heating up lately, with several anglers reporting nice catches in the 15-20 pound range. We're also seeing some early Coho starting to show up, though they're still on the smaller side. Don't forget, it's an odd year, so we've got Pink salmon on the way too!

For you bottomfish enthusiasts, the lingcod and rockfish season opened up earlier this month, and folks have been having a blast pulling in some chunky lings.

As for what's working, I've been hearing great things about the Silver Horde Kingfisher Lite spoons in the Cookies and Cream and Irish Cream patterns. Don't overlook the trusty Green Crush flasher paired with an Ace Hi fly either. If you're targeting those blackmouth, try slow-trolling a cut-plug herring behind a Gibbs Delta Guide Series flasher.

For you shore anglers, Buzz Bombs and Point Wilson Darts have been producing well from the piers and beaches. And if you're after some tasty bottomfish, try working a Kalin's grub on a jighead near rocky structure.

Hot spots this week include the north end of Vashon Island for blackmouth, the Tacoma Narrows for lingcod, and Possession Bar for a mixed bag of salmon species. If you're looking to stay closer to Seattle, don't sleep on the waters around Jefferson Head.

Remember, we're still on barbless hooks for salmon in most areas, so check those regs before you head out. And as always, tight lines and stay safe out there, folks! This is Artificial Lure, signing off until next time.

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for this beautiful Sunday, March 30, 2025.

First off, let's talk tides. We've got a high tide of 11.2 feet at 9:15 AM and a low tide of -1.3 feet at 3:42 PM. The sun's coming up at 6:47 AM and setting at 7:36 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with.

Weather-wise, it's looking decent out there. We're expecting partly cloudy skies with highs around 58°F and light winds from the northwest. Perfect conditions for a day on the water!

Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! Blackmouth season is in full swing, folks. We've been seeing some nice catches of resident Chinook in the 8-12 pound range, with a few lucky anglers landing some real bruisers pushing 20 pounds. The Coho aren't quite here yet, but we're starting to see a few early arrivals mixed in.

For you bottomfish enthusiasts, lingcod and rockfish season opened up earlier this month, and the action has been hot. Plenty of lings in the 10-15 pound class being caught, with some real monsters over 30 pounds reported.

As for baits and lures, you can't go wrong with a cut-plug herring behind a flasher for those blackmouth. The Green Crush and Blue Crush flashers from Luhr Jensen have been absolutely killing it. If you're more of an artificial guy like myself, try slow-trolling a 3.5" Kingfisher Lite spoon in Cookies and Cream or Irish Cream. For the bottomfish, nothing beats a white or green 10" Kalin's grub on a heavy jighead.

Hot spots this week? I'd recommend trying your luck around Point No Point or Possession Bar for salmon. If you're after lingcod, the rocky structure around Possession Point has been producing well.

Remember, folks, we're still on barbless hooks for salmon, and make sure you've got your 2025 license and catch record card.

That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and see you on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 29, 2025.

We've got some decent tides today, with a low of 1.0 feet at 11:56 AM and a high of 11.0 feet at 5:44 PM. The weather's looking pretty typical for late March - partly cloudy with highs around 55°F and light winds. Sunrise was at 6:24 AM and sunset will be at 6:08 PM, so we've got plenty of daylight to work with.

The big news is that the Chinook season in Marine Areas 10 and 11 opens up in a few days on April 2nd. Until then, we're still seeing some decent action on resident coho and blackmouth. Anglers have been averaging 1-2 fish per trip, with most blackmouth in the 5-8 pound range. A few lucky folks have landed some in the teens.

For lures, folks have been having luck trolling with Gibbs Skinny G spoons in Bon Chovy color, as well as Silver Horde Coho Killers. Don't forget your Tomic plugs either - the 602 and 603 patterns in 4" size are always solid choices this time of year. For those of you who prefer artificials like me, try working some Ace Hi Flies behind a flasher.

As for bait, herring is always a good bet. The orange label has been the hot ticket lately. If you're jigging for your own, even better - fresh is always best. Anchovies and squid strips are good backups.

Hot spots to check out this week: Jeff Head has been producing well on the outgoing tide. The north side of Point No Point is worth a look on the incoming. For you shore anglers, try casting from the Edmonds pier or Redondo Beach - I've heard good things about both lately.

Don't forget your crab pots - the Dungeness have been thick lately. Just remember we're in a Wednesday-Saturday only season right now.

For you trout enthusiasts, the cutthroat action in Lake Sammamish has been excellent. Small spoons and Woolly Bugger flies have been doing the trick. A few anglers reported catching and releasing some hefty 16-18 inch cutties near Idylwood Park.

Remember, the limit is two salmon daily, only one of which can be a Chinook. Make sure to check the regs before you head out.

That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for Friday, March 28, 2025. It's shaping up to be a decent day on the water, so let's dive right in.

First off, the weather's looking pretty typical for this time of year. We're expecting partly cloudy skies with a high of 55°F and a light breeze from the northwest. Sunrise is at 6:52 AM, and sunset will be at 7:34 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with.

Now, let's talk tides. We've got a low tide of 1.2 feet at 5:23 AM, followed by a high tide of 8.7 feet at 11:41 AM. The afternoon low tide hits 3.1 feet at 5:52 PM. Remember, folks, those tide changes can really get the fish moving, so plan accordingly.

As for the fishing action, it's been picking up lately. We're still in the thick of the winter blackmouth season, and anglers have been having some luck with resident Chinook. Reports from Marine Area 10 show decent catches, with most fish in the 5-10 pound range. A few lucky anglers have even landed some 15-pounders!

Don't forget, the halibut season just kicked off on April 3rd in some Puget Sound areas. It's still early, but there's been some decent action reported, especially around Sekiu and Pillar Point.

For you bottom fish enthusiasts, lingcod season opened up on March 8th, and folks have been pulling in some nice ones. The rockfish bite has been steady too, especially if you're willing to put in the time to find the right spots.

Now, let's talk gear. For blackmouth, you can't go wrong with a Green Crush flasher paired with a 3.5" Kingfisher Lite spoon in Cookies and Cream or Irish Cream. If you're more of a bait fisherman, try rigging up some brined herring in a helmet. For halibut, big white jigs tipped with salmon belly or octopus have been doing the trick.

As for hot spots, I've been hearing good things about the Kingston area for blackmouth. Try working the edges of the shipping lanes. For halibut and lingcod, Mutiny Bay and Admiralty Bay have been producing some nice fish.

Remember, folks, always check the regs before you head out. We've got some new rules this year, including that pesky barbless hook requirement in Marine Areas 5-13.

That's all for now, anglers. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines, and I'll see you on the water!

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 26, 2025. It's a beautiful spring day out on the water, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. Sunrise was at 6:54 AM, and we'll have daylight until sunset at 7:32 PM.

Tides are looking good today, with a low tide of 1.2 feet at 10:23 AM and a high tide of 8.7 feet at 4:45 PM. This swing should get the fish moving, especially around the tide changes.

Fishing activity has been picking up lately as we transition into spring. Blackmouth (resident Chinook) fishing has been decent, with anglers reporting catches in the 5-10 pound range. The Tacoma Narrows and Point No Point have been producing well. Don't forget, the Chinook season in Marine Areas 10 and 11 opens next week on April 2nd, so get ready for some more opportunities.

For you bottomfish enthusiasts, lingcod season opened earlier this month, and folks have been having good luck around rocky structure and artificial reefs. The jetties at Westport and Ocean Shores have been hot spots.

As for lures, I've been hearing great things about the Silver Horde Kingfisher spoons in the 3.5" size, especially in the Cookies and Cream and Irish Cream patterns. For those of you mooching with cut-plug herring, try adding a Mack's Lure Smile Blade in front of your bait for some extra flash.

Speaking of bait, herring has been the go-to for salmon, while squid strips have been working well for lingcod. If you're heading out for some shore fishing, sandworms or berkley gulp sandworms have been producing nicely for perch and flounder.

A couple of hot spots to check out: Possession Bar has been consistently good for blackmouth, and the north end of Vashon Island has been producing some nice-sized lingcod.

For you crabbers out there, the pots have been coming up full lately. Just remember to check those regulations and have your catch record card handy.

Lastly, don't forget that the big pink salmon run is coming up later this year. It's looking to be a banner year, so start getting that gear ready!

That's all for now, folks. Remember to stay safe out there, respect the resource, and tight lines to ya! This is Artificial Lure, signing off.

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 24, 2025. It's shaping up to be a decent day on the water, so let's dive right in.

First off, we're looking at a high tide of 11.2 feet at 9:23 AM and a low tide of 2.1 feet at 4:05 PM. The weather's cooperating with partly cloudy skies and a high of 58°F, with light winds from the southwest. Sunrise is at 6:58 AM and sunset at 7:29 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work with.

Now, onto the good stuff - the fish! We're seeing some solid action with blackmouth salmon in the central Sound. Folks have been having luck around Point No Point and Possession Bar. The winter chinook season's been pretty consistent, with anglers averaging about one fish per two rods. Most of these blackmouth are in the 5-8 pound range, but there have been reports of a few lunkers pushing 12-15 pounds.

For you coho enthusiasts, it's still a bit early, but we're starting to see some early signs of the summer run. A few anglers have reported hooking into some nice silvers in the 3-5 pound range near the Tacoma Narrows.

As for baits and lures, the Green Crush flasher paired with a 3.5" Kingfisher Lite spoon in Irish Cream or Cookies and Cream has been absolutely crushing it for blackmouth. If you're more of a cut-plug herring fan, those are working well too, especially in the deeper waters.

For those of you hitting the piers, berkley gulp sand worms in chartreuse have been producing some nice catches of flounder and the occasional lingcod.

Now, I've got to mention the invasive European green crab situation. The Department of Fish and Wildlife's been working hard to control these buggers, and they've removed over a million of them in the past year. While they're a menace to our native species, they make for some fantastic bait if you can get your hands on them legally.

Hot spots for this week? I'd say give Point Defiance a shot - it's been on fire lately. If you're up north, try your luck around Possession Bar. Just remember to keep an eye on those depth restrictions and make sure you're using barbless hooks.

Alright, folks, that's the scoop for today. Remember to check your regulations, respect our waters, and most importantly, have a blast out there. This is Artificial Lure, signing off and wishing you tight lines!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 23, 2025.

We've got some decent weather today, partly cloudy with highs around 54°F and light winds. Sunrise was at 7:05 AM and sunset will be at 7:25 PM, so we've got plenty of daylight to work with. Tides are looking good - we've got a low tide of 1.2 feet at 10:23 AM and a high tide of 11.8 feet at 4:47 PM.

The big news is that the Chinook season in Marine Areas 10 and 11 is still going strong. Anglers have been averaging 1-2 fish per trip, with most blackmouth in the 5-8 pound range. A few lucky folks have even landed some in the teens. Don't forget your crab pots - the Dungeness have been thick lately.

For you bank anglers, the resident Coho action has been picking up nicely. Folks casting Buzz Bombs and Rotators from the Edmonds Pier have been landing some nice silvers in the 3-5 pound range. If you're heading out that way, try to time it for the incoming tide.

Over on the Eastside, cutthroat fishing has been excellent in Lake Sammamish. Small spoons and Woolly Bugger flies have been doing the trick. A few anglers reported catching and releasing some hefty 16-18 inch cutties near Idylwood Park.

As for lures, Green Dot and Purple Haze Yamashita squids behind flashers have been hot producers. Don't forget your Tomic plugs either - the 602 and 603 patterns in 4" size are always solid choices this time of year. For bait, herring is always a good bet for salmon. The orange label has been the hot ticket lately. If you're after bottomfish, squid strips on a dropper loop rig is hard to beat.

Hot spots to check out this week: Point No Point for salmon trolling, try working the north side on the incoming tide. Jefferson Head and Possession Bar have also been producing well. For you shore anglers, give Redondo Beach Pier a shot - I've heard good things about the squid jigging at night there.

Remember, the limit is two salmon daily, only one of which can be a Chinook. Make sure to check the regs before you head out.

That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 22, 2025.

We've got some decent tides today - a low of 1.8 feet at 9:42 AM and a high of 10.5 feet at 3:56 PM. The weather's looking pretty typical for March - partly cloudy with a chance of showers and highs around 54°F. Sunrise was at 7:05 AM and sunset will be at 7:23 PM, so we've got plenty of daylight to work with.

The big news is that the Chinook season in Marine Areas 10 and 11 is heating up nicely. Anglers have been averaging 1-2 fish per trip, with most blackmouth in the 6-10 pound range. A few lucky folks have landed some in the mid-teens. Don't forget your crab pots - the Dungeness have been thick lately.

For you bank anglers, the resident Coho action has been picking up. Folks casting Buzz Bombs and Rotators from the Edmonds Pier have been landing some nice silvers in the 3-5 pound range. If you're heading out that way, try to time it for the incoming tide.

As for lures, Green Dot and Purple Haze Yamashita squids behind flashers have been hot producers. Don't forget your Tomic plugs either - the 602 and 603 patterns in 4" size are always solid choices this time of year. For bait, herring is still king. The orange label has been the hot ticket lately.

Over on the Eastside, cutthroat fishing has been excellent in Lake Sammamish. Small spoons and Woolly Bugger flies have been doing the trick. A few anglers reported catching and releasing some hefty 16-18 inch cutties near Idylwood Park.

Hot spots to check out this week: Jeff Head has been producing well on the outgoing tide. The north side of Point No Point is worth a look on the incoming. For you shore anglers, try casting from the Redondo Beach pier - I've heard good things lately.

Remember, the limit is two salmon daily, only one of which can be a Chinook. Make sure to check the regs before you head out.

That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!

Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for March 21, 2025.

We're looking at a decent day on the water today. Sunrise was at 6:11 AM and sunset will be at 6:21 PM, giving us plenty of daylight. Weather-wise, we're expecting partly cloudy skies with highs around 52°F and light winds from the southwest. Tides are favorable, with a low of 1.5 feet at 10:23 AM and a high of 10.8 feet at 4:12 PM.

The big news is that Chinook season is just around the corner, opening up in Marine Areas 10 and 11 on April 2nd. Until then, we're still seeing some good action on resident coho and blackmouth. Anglers have been averaging 1-2 fish per trip, with most blackmouth in the 6-9 pound range. A few lucky folks have landed some in the mid-teens.

For lures, Gibbs Skinny G spoons in Bon Chovy or Outfitters' Choice colors have been producing well. Silver Horde Coho Killers and Ace Hi Flies behind a flasher are also solid choices. If you prefer bait, herring has been the ticket. Try jigging for your own if you can - fresh is always best.

Cutthroat trout fishing has been heating up in the south Sound. Anglers working the shorelines with small spoons or flies have been finding success, especially on incoming tides.

As for hot spots, Jeff Head has been consistently producing on the outgoing tide. The north side of Point No Point is worth a look on the incoming. For you shore anglers, try casting from the Edmonds pier or Redondo Beach - both have been good lately.

Don't forget your crab pots - the Dungeness have been thick, especially around Possession Bar and Useless Bay.

Remember, the limit is two salmon daily, only one of which can be a Chinook. Make sure to check the regs before you head out.

That's all for now, folks. Tight lines and see you on the water!