About Puget Sound, WA

Puget Sound is a large sea positioned on the northwestern coast of Washington. This sound is an arm of the Pacific Ocean and part of the Salish Sea. Using a system of interconnected basins and waterways, Puget Sound consists of one or two minor connections to the open Pacific Ocean. As the third-largest estuary in the United States, the sound’s complexity can be observed with the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Admiralty Inlet) as the lead connection and Swinomish Channel and Deception pass as the minor channels.

George Vancouver named the waters located south of the Tacoma Narrows as “Puget’s Sound” in 1792. The sound was named after Peter Puget, a lieutenant who accompanied Vancouver in his expedition. Another term used by some Native Americans to refer to this location is Whulge or Whulj, meaning “sea, saltwater, ocean, or sound.” Puget Sound does not only cover the body water. It is also a term that can also be used to refer to the Puget Sound region, which is the center of the sound. Puget Sound encompasses major cities like Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Olympia. 

All About Fishing in Puget Sound, WA

Anglers can cast a line in Puget Sound to catch some fish species in the spot such as the surf smelt, pacific herring, pacific cod, pacific sand lace, north pacific hake, spiny dogfish, and walleye pollock. Besides these common forage fish, other species that are present in the area are the chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon, steelhead, sea-run coastal cutthroat trout, sea-run bull trout, and Dolly Varden trout. 

A notable spot to consider would be Central Puget Sound since this is the most populated stretch, marine-wise. Mooching, which is a popular salmon fishing method up and down the West Coast, originated from this area. Other than mooching, some other known techniques used by anglers for salmon off-shore would be trolling and casting. Fly-fishing can also be done in Central Puget Sound. Bottom fishing is also possible but best done in specific months. 

Fishing Seasonality 

Fishing in Puget Sound hands anglers good opportunities for a catch at nearly any time of the year. For anglers who wish to plan their catches, coho season lasts from January up until March. For flounder species, they can be seen in the area in April. Coho and king salmon species usually come around in the summer, from June through July 16. As for pink salmon species, they tend to return to the sound in years ending in odd numbers such as 2021. For those who prefer to practice bottom fishing, the species present in the spot would be lingcod and cabezon during May through June 15 and flounder species that are most active in the spring and summer seasons. Although it may seem enticing for anglers to go fishing at Puget Sound any day, it would be best to keep in mind that the weather updates should be checked for those who plan to schedule their next fishing trip to avoid any inconvenience. 

Fishing Seasonality 

Fishing in Puget Sound hands anglers good opportunities for a catch at nearly any time of the year. For anglers who wish to plan their catches, coho season lasts from January up until March. For flounder species, they can be seen in the area in April. Coho and king salmon species usually come around in the summer, from June through July 16. As for pink salmon species, they tend to return to the sound in years ending in odd numbers such as 2021. For those who prefer to practice bottom fishing, the species present in the spot would be lingcod and cabezon during May through June 15 and flounder species that are most active in the spring and summer seasons. Although it may seem enticing for anglers to go fishing at Puget Sound any day, it would be best to keep in mind that the weather updates should be checked for those who plan to schedule their next fishing trip to avoid any inconvenience. 

All About Fishing in Puget Sound, WA

Anglers can cast a line in Puget Sound to catch some fish species in the spot such as the surf smelt, pacific herring, pacific cod, pacific sand lace, north pacific hake, spiny dogfish, and walleye pollock. Besides these common forage fish, other species that are present in the area are the chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, chum salmon, steelhead, sea-run coastal cutthroat trout, sea-run bull trout, and Dolly Varden trout. 

A notable spot to consider would be Central Puget Sound since this is the most populated stretch, marine-wise. Mooching, which is a popular salmon fishing method up and down the West Coast, originated from this area. Other than mooching, some other known techniques used by anglers for salmon off-shore would be trolling and casting. Fly-fishing can also be done in Central Puget Sound. Bottom fishing is also possible but best done in specific months.