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Wednesday Fishing Report: Halibut, Salmon, and Freshwater Bites in Puget Sound
Hey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for this fine Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025.
The sun peeked over the horizon at about 5:45 AM today and will be setting around 8:15 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. Weather's looking decent today - a bit overcast with temperatures in the mid-50s, which is pretty typical spring weather for us locals.
Tide-wise, we've got a moderate incoming tide through mid-morning, with high tide around noon, followed by an outgoing tide through the afternoon. That morning push should get those fish active, especially around structure and dropoffs.
The big news is halibut season is in full swing! The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca halibut fishery opened on April 3rd and runs through June 30th, seven days a week. Folks have been having good success, particularly launching from Cornet Bay and Ediz Hook in Port Angeles. Recent creel reports show anglers at Cornet Bay landing 12 halibut in Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait) and 8 more in Area 7 (San Juan Islands). Ediz Hook anglers managed 14 halibut in Area 6 as well.
Salmon fishing is a bit trickier right now. The winter Chinook season in Area 10 opened April 1st and runs through today (April 30th), but it's only been open Wednesday through Saturday. The catch guidelines show a total encounter limit of 4,787 fish, but I haven't seen many reports of success lately.
For those looking to target something other than halibut or salmon, the freshwater scene is starting to heat up. Got a report from a fella who hit a small lake near Bellingham recently, and he mentioned the fish are finally waking up after our long winter. He landed 5 and had numerous other bites. Another angler reported a nice 7.4-pound largemouth bass from a Thurston County lake.
As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying Cornet Bay if you're after halibut - the reports have been consistent there. For salmon, the eastern portion of Area 4 might be worth a shot, though catches have been spotty. If you're looking for some steady action, those smaller lakes around Bellingham are starting to produce.
Lure-wise (and yes, I'm partial to artificials, hence the name), herring-pattern jigs are working well for halibut, while salmon anglers are having better luck with spoons and plugs in chrome/blue combinations. There was even talk at the recent fishery management meeting about potentially introducing some "plug-only" fishing days in Marine Areas 10 and 11 to extend fishing opportunities while reducing impacts.
Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure signing off - see you on the water!
The sun peeked over the horizon at about 5:45 AM today and will be setting around 8:15 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. Weather's looking decent today - a bit overcast with temperatures in the mid-50s, which is pretty typical spring weather for us locals.
Tide-wise, we've got a moderate incoming tide through mid-morning, with high tide around noon, followed by an outgoing tide through the afternoon. That morning push should get those fish active, especially around structure and dropoffs.
The big news is halibut season is in full swing! The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca halibut fishery opened on April 3rd and runs through June 30th, seven days a week. Folks have been having good success, particularly launching from Cornet Bay and Ediz Hook in Port Angeles. Recent creel reports show anglers at Cornet Bay landing 12 halibut in Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait) and 8 more in Area 7 (San Juan Islands). Ediz Hook anglers managed 14 halibut in Area 6 as well.
Salmon fishing is a bit trickier right now. The winter Chinook season in Area 10 opened April 1st and runs through today (April 30th), but it's only been open Wednesday through Saturday. The catch guidelines show a total encounter limit of 4,787 fish, but I haven't seen many reports of success lately.
For those looking to target something other than halibut or salmon, the freshwater scene is starting to heat up. Got a report from a fella who hit a small lake near Bellingham recently, and he mentioned the fish are finally waking up after our long winter. He landed 5 and had numerous other bites. Another angler reported a nice 7.4-pound largemouth bass from a Thurston County lake.
As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying Cornet Bay if you're after halibut - the reports have been consistent there. For salmon, the eastern portion of Area 4 might be worth a shot, though catches have been spotty. If you're looking for some steady action, those smaller lakes around Bellingham are starting to produce.
Lure-wise (and yes, I'm partial to artificials, hence the name), herring-pattern jigs are working well for halibut, while salmon anglers are having better luck with spoons and plugs in chrome/blue combinations. There was even talk at the recent fishery management meeting about potentially introducing some "plug-only" fishing days in Marine Areas 10 and 11 to extend fishing opportunities while reducing impacts.
Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure signing off - see you on the water!
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By Quiet. PleaseHey there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for this fine Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025.
The sun peeked over the horizon at about 5:45 AM today and will be setting around 8:15 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. Weather's looking decent today - a bit overcast with temperatures in the mid-50s, which is pretty typical spring weather for us locals.
Tide-wise, we've got a moderate incoming tide through mid-morning, with high tide around noon, followed by an outgoing tide through the afternoon. That morning push should get those fish active, especially around structure and dropoffs.
The big news is halibut season is in full swing! The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca halibut fishery opened on April 3rd and runs through June 30th, seven days a week. Folks have been having good success, particularly launching from Cornet Bay and Ediz Hook in Port Angeles. Recent creel reports show anglers at Cornet Bay landing 12 halibut in Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait) and 8 more in Area 7 (San Juan Islands). Ediz Hook anglers managed 14 halibut in Area 6 as well.
Salmon fishing is a bit trickier right now. The winter Chinook season in Area 10 opened April 1st and runs through today (April 30th), but it's only been open Wednesday through Saturday. The catch guidelines show a total encounter limit of 4,787 fish, but I haven't seen many reports of success lately.
For those looking to target something other than halibut or salmon, the freshwater scene is starting to heat up. Got a report from a fella who hit a small lake near Bellingham recently, and he mentioned the fish are finally waking up after our long winter. He landed 5 and had numerous other bites. Another angler reported a nice 7.4-pound largemouth bass from a Thurston County lake.
As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying Cornet Bay if you're after halibut - the reports have been consistent there. For salmon, the eastern portion of Area 4 might be worth a shot, though catches have been spotty. If you're looking for some steady action, those smaller lakes around Bellingham are starting to produce.
Lure-wise (and yes, I'm partial to artificials, hence the name), herring-pattern jigs are working well for halibut, while salmon anglers are having better luck with spoons and plugs in chrome/blue combinations. There was even talk at the recent fishery management meeting about potentially introducing some "plug-only" fishing days in Marine Areas 10 and 11 to extend fishing opportunities while reducing impacts.
Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure signing off - see you on the water!
The sun peeked over the horizon at about 5:45 AM today and will be setting around 8:15 PM, giving us plenty of daylight hours to get those lines wet. Weather's looking decent today - a bit overcast with temperatures in the mid-50s, which is pretty typical spring weather for us locals.
Tide-wise, we've got a moderate incoming tide through mid-morning, with high tide around noon, followed by an outgoing tide through the afternoon. That morning push should get those fish active, especially around structure and dropoffs.
The big news is halibut season is in full swing! The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca halibut fishery opened on April 3rd and runs through June 30th, seven days a week. Folks have been having good success, particularly launching from Cornet Bay and Ediz Hook in Port Angeles. Recent creel reports show anglers at Cornet Bay landing 12 halibut in Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait) and 8 more in Area 7 (San Juan Islands). Ediz Hook anglers managed 14 halibut in Area 6 as well.
Salmon fishing is a bit trickier right now. The winter Chinook season in Area 10 opened April 1st and runs through today (April 30th), but it's only been open Wednesday through Saturday. The catch guidelines show a total encounter limit of 4,787 fish, but I haven't seen many reports of success lately.
For those looking to target something other than halibut or salmon, the freshwater scene is starting to heat up. Got a report from a fella who hit a small lake near Bellingham recently, and he mentioned the fish are finally waking up after our long winter. He landed 5 and had numerous other bites. Another angler reported a nice 7.4-pound largemouth bass from a Thurston County lake.
As for hot spots, I'd recommend trying Cornet Bay if you're after halibut - the reports have been consistent there. For salmon, the eastern portion of Area 4 might be worth a shot, though catches have been spotty. If you're looking for some steady action, those smaller lakes around Bellingham are starting to produce.
Lure-wise (and yes, I'm partial to artificials, hence the name), herring-pattern jigs are working well for halibut, while salmon anglers are having better luck with spoons and plugs in chrome/blue combinations. There was even talk at the recent fishery management meeting about potentially introducing some "plug-only" fishing days in Marine Areas 10 and 11 to extend fishing opportunities while reducing impacts.
Tight lines, everyone! This is Artificial Lure signing off - see you on the water!