5 Hour PM Salmon Trip - Edmonds Marina
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
5hour afternoon salmon charter targeting Chinook and Coho speciesExpert captain provides guidance for all experience levels aboard stable boatAll fishing gear included with departure from Edmonds Marina
Picture yourself casting lines into Puget Sound's productive waters as the afternoon sun starts to mellow, giving you the perfect lighting and feeding conditions that salmon love. Captain Dan's 5-hour afternoon salmon charter from Edmonds Marina puts you right where the action is, targeting prime Chinook and Coho runs without the early morning rush. This top-rated inshore trip gives you plenty of time to work the water while keeping things relaxed and enjoyable for everyone on board.
You'll meet Captain Dan at Edmonds Marina, where his 30-foot Duckworth is waiting and rigged for salmon. This boat was built for Puget Sound conditions – stable enough to handle afternoon breezes but nimble enough to chase schools when the fish are moving. The afternoon departure works in your favor because salmon often get more active as the day progresses, especially when bait starts moving with changing tides. Captain Dan knows these waters like the back of his hand, reading everything from current breaks to bird activity to put you on fish. Whether you're a weekend warrior or just getting into salmon fishing, he'll adjust the approach to match your skill level. The boat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers, so you're not fighting for elbow room or good spots along the rail. All your gear is provided – rods, reels, tackle, and bait – so you can focus on fishing instead of worrying about what to bring.
Captain Dan runs a mix of trolling setups depending on what the salmon are hitting. You'll likely see downriggers working the deeper zones where Chinook like to cruise, plus some surface lines for aggressive Coho that come up to chase bait. The gear setup changes based on conditions – sometimes you're pulling flashers and spoons in bright chrome or brass, other days it's all about herring behind dodgers. Captain Dan reads the water and adjusts accordingly, whether that means dropping deeper for kings holding near bottom structure or speeding up the troll when Coho are chasing fast-moving bait. The boat's electronics help locate bait balls and fish, but it's the captain's local knowledge that really makes the difference. He knows which spots produce during different tide phases and how wind direction affects salmon behavior in these waters. You'll get hands-on coaching throughout the trip, learning how to feel strikes, work fish to the boat, and handle everything from screaming Coho runs to the bulldogging fights that big Chinook are famous for.
Chinook Salmon are the main attraction here – these are the kings of Puget Sound, often running 15-30 pounds with some real giants pushing even bigger. Chinook have this deliberate, powerful fighting style that's completely different from other salmon. They'll sound deep and use their weight against you, making long methodical runs that test your drag settings and patience. The best Chinook fishing typically happens during their peak runs from late spring through early fall, when mature fish are staging before heading to their spawning rivers. What makes Chinook so special is their size and the challenge they present – landing a 20-pound king on trolling gear is something you'll remember for years. These fish prefer deeper water and structured areas where baitfish congregate, which is exactly where Captain Dan focuses his efforts during the trip.
Coho Salmon bring a completely different energy to the boat – these silver bullets are pure adrenaline once they feel the hook. Running typically 8-15 pounds, Coho make up for their smaller size with acrobatic fights that include jumping, tail-walking, and lightning-fast directional changes that keep you on your toes. They're more aggressive feeders than Chinook, often hitting lures hard and fast when they're in the mood. Coho runs peak during late summer and early fall, when schools move through Puget Sound in impressive numbers. What anglers love about Coho is their willingness to bite and their spectacular aerial shows – there's nothing quite like watching a bright silver salmon clear the water multiple times during a fight. They also tend to school up more than Chinook, so when you find active Coho, you can often catch several before they move on.
This afternoon salmon charter hits the sweet spot for serious fishing without the dawn patrol start times. Captain Dan's local expertise and quality boat make this a customer favorite for good reason – you're getting proven techniques, productive waters, and the kind of personalized attention that leads to fish in the cooler. The 5-hour timeframe gives you plenty of opportunities to work different areas and techniques while keeping the pace enjoyable for everyone aboard. With all gear provided and space for up to 4 anglers, this trip delivers everything you need for a world-class salmon fishing experience on Puget Sound. Don't wait too long to secure your spot – the best fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak salmon season.
Captain Dan's 30-foot Duckworth delivers serious fishing performance on Puget Sound with twin Yamaha 350HP engines that cut through Pacific Northwest waters like butter. This aluminum-hulled beauty handles the swells and currents around Edmonds with rock-solid stability, giving you and up to 3 other anglers plenty of room to work the lines without crowding each other. The boat comes loaded with everything you need for productive salmon fishing - GPS and radar keep you on course even when the marine layer rolls in, while the fish finder helps locate those salmon schools hiding in the depths. The wireless trolling motor lets Captain Dan position the boat silently over productive spots without spooking the fish. Your catch stays fresh in the onboard icebox, and there's a refrigerator stocked for the 5-hour afternoon run. Whether you're targeting feisty Coho or trophy Chinook, this Duckworth gives you the platform to fish Puget Sound's salmon runs properly. No gear needed - just show up ready to get your lines wet and let Captain Dan's local knowledge put you on the fish.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKings are the heavyweights of Puget Sound - we regularly see fish pushing 15-30 pounds, with some monsters going even bigger. These silver-sided bruisers have distinctive black gums and spots covering their backs and fins. They prefer deeper water, usually 60-150 feet down, which is why we use downriggers and weighted setups. Chinooks are light-sensitive, so they hug the bottom during bright days but will come up to feed during overcast conditions or low-light periods. What makes them special is that powerful, steady pull - no jumping around like cohos, just pure muscle working against your drag. The meat is rich and buttery, perfect for the grill. My local tip: when we're marking bait balls on the sounder, drop your gear about 10 feet below them - that's where the big kings are usually waiting to ambush.
Oncorhynchus KisutchSilver salmon are the acrobats of our local waters, averaging 8-12 pounds and putting on aerial shows that'll get your heart pumping. These chrome-bright fighters prefer the upper water column, typically found 20-80 feet down near baitfish schools. Cohos love structure - underwater ledges, kelp beds, and tide rips where currents meet. They're aggressive feeders, especially during morning and evening bite windows. What guests love most is their explosive fight - these fish can jump 6 feet out of the water and make screaming runs that'll test your drag. The orange-red meat is outstanding table fare, milder than chinook but just as flavorful. Here's a trick I've learned over the years: when you hook a coho and it starts jumping, bow to the fish by lowering your rod tip - it prevents them from throwing the hook on those wild head shakes.
Edmonds, WA