About Penn Cove, WA

Situated in Whidbey Island and found two hours away from the northern region of Seattle, Washington, Penn Cove holds strong ecological and economic importance for those living on the island. This is because the sheltered inlet has served as the headquarters for Penn Cove Shellfish, the biggest commercial shellfish and mussel farm.

Although originally inhabited by the Lower Skagit Tribe, Penn Cove became a settlement for farmers and sea captains later in the 1850s leading to the commercialization of the area.

While many people have been benefiting from the commercialization of Penn Cove and the rise of the shellfish and mussel farm industry, the marine life in Penn Cove may be experiencing the opposite, especially as the industry has posed a threat to it due to the poor farming practices being conducted in the area. Along with that, scientists have also listed septic tanks, stormwater runoffs, and limited circulation of the inlet due to its shallow characteristic as other possible reasons for its poor water quality when they officially announced to the public that Penn Cove was polluted in 2005.

After such an announcement though, action for a solution was not done right away. In fact, Penn Cove would continue to be exposed to such threats for the next couple of years. One such threat was the oil spill and vessel fire that occurred in 2012. These events had thoroughly endangered the marine life in the sheltered inlet which then led local authorities, the commercialized farms, and people to finally take action.

Today, with the water body’s improvement, Penn Cove has also become a well-known recreational boating and fishing ground.

All About Fishing in Penn Cove, WA

Commercialized shellfish and mussel farms have been working hard to conduct sustainable and healthy farming practices that would not endanger the marine life in Penn Cove. Local authorities have also designated certain areas specifically for either commercialized or recreational fishing only. One such designated fishing ground is Grasser’s Lagoon which can be found in the inlet’s northern region. Anglers practice trolling, crabbing, bottom fishing, and fly fishing in this area.

While Penn Cove is most notable for the oysters, mussels, and clams, the water body is also known to have fish such as chum salmon, surfperch, coho salmon, smooth alligator fish, shiner perch, butter sole, and starry flounder which may all be recreationally fished on the condition that anglers return the fish in the same area they had caught them.

Fishing Seasonality

When it comes to certain types of marine species such as salmon or flounder, anglers may try to fish during their general fishing season in Washington which usually begins in May and ends in October.

 Fishing is not just limited to that specific season. Fishing in Penn Cove may be done all year round. Anglers may just observe and take note of signs of good fishing conditions such as the weather, time, and moon phases.

Fishing Seasonality

When it comes to certain types of marine species such as salmon or flounder, anglers may try to fish during their general fishing season in Washington which usually begins in May and ends in October.

 Fishing is not just limited to that specific season. Fishing in Penn Cove may be done all year round. Anglers may just observe and take note of signs of good fishing conditions such as the weather, time, and moon phases.

All About Fishing in Penn Cove, WA

Commercialized shellfish and mussel farms have been working hard to conduct sustainable and healthy farming practices that would not endanger the marine life in Penn Cove. Local authorities have also designated certain areas specifically for either commercialized or recreational fishing only. One such designated fishing ground is Grasser’s Lagoon which can be found in the inlet’s northern region. Anglers practice trolling, crabbing, bottom fishing, and fly fishing in this area.

While Penn Cove is most notable for the oysters, mussels, and clams, the water body is also known to have fish such as chum salmon, surfperch, coho salmon, smooth alligator fish, shiner perch, butter sole, and starry flounder which may all be recreationally fished on the condition that anglers return the fish in the same area they had caught them.