Best Times & Seasons to Fish Near Seattle (Complete Guide)

Seattle is one of the best fishing destinations on the west coast known for tremendous salmon and trout fishing. Knowing when certain species of fish bite can make a huge difference in your success and enjoyment.

The best times to fish near Seattle is June through September for chinook salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon (during odd number years), flounder, and lingcod. Chum salmon fishing is best near Seattle October through December.

Fish Species	Best Times of Year to Fish Near Seattle, Washington
Chinook (King) Salmon	The peak of the king salmon run is June through August.
Coho (Silver) Salmon	July through October is the best time for silvers near Seattle.
Sockeye Salmon	June through August is the best fishing window for local sockeye runs.
Chum (Dog) Salmon	The run starts in July but peaks out with the best fishing October through December.
Pink Salmon	July to September is the prime time. Pink salmon run on odd years only (2021, 2023, etc.)
Lingcod	May through mid-June is the lingcod season. Very short season, but great action.
Flounder	Year-round availability; May through October is the best in Seattle-area waters.

While there are certainly many things to see and do in Seattle no trip would be complete without getting on the water and taking part in the world-class fishing that it has to offer.

The many lakes and rivers in and around Seattle feed directly into the Pacific Ocean and are the spawning grounds for many species of salmon that can be found in abundance there nearly year-round. This makes Seattle one of best places to fish for salmon in the United States.

Best Time to Fish Seattle

Seattle isn’t known for its amazing weather. The proximity to The Pacific Ocean and northern latitude tend to keep it relatively cool and misty most of the year. It can also be quite cold and snowy there in the winter months. With that being said, the fish love it.

The different species of salmon run at different times of the year so if you’re after a particular species that will dictate what time of year you should go.

Your best bet to have a shot at all species is going to be June, that’s when you have the highest activity levels of all species as a whole as well as some of the best weather.

With that being said certain species of salmon seasons usually open June 1 but not always. The opening of the season will be announced sometime in April and you should definitely verify that before booking a trip if you want to get the first crack at the best fish as soon as the season opens.

You’ll probably want to avoid going in May as all salmon fishing is closed at that time. You can still fish for other species like Lingcod and Flounder which are very active in May, so if you find yourself there at that time it’s definitely still possible to land some nice fish just not the prized salmon. 

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.

Seattle Fish Species: Best Times & Seasons

King Salmon – Seasons dates vary slightly from year to year. March-April are ok. June-August are the peak season. Closed May and October-February. Off-Shore.

Blackmouth – Season dates vary slightly from year to year. November- February are the best with the rest of the year being ok. Closed in May. Off-Shore.

Silver (Coho) Salmon – Season dates vary slightly from year to year. July- October are the best while June and November are ok. Closed December through May. Off-Shore.

Sockeye (Red) Salmon – Season dates vary slightly from year to year. June-August is the season. Closed the rest of the year. Off-Shore.

Pink (Humpie) Salmon – Season dates vary slightly from year to year. Pink salmon only run on odd years (2021, 2023, etc.). When they are running the season is July-September. Closed the rest of the year. Off-Shore. 

Chum (Dog and Keta) Salmon – Season dates vary slightly from year to year. The season runs from July-December with October-December being the best. Closed the rest of the year. Off-Shore. 

Lingcod – May, 1 – June, 15. Short but sweet, they are very active during this timeframe. Closed the rest of the year. Off-Shore.  

Flounder – Open year-round. Best May-October. Off-Shore. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Seattle

These Seattle-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Wind Knot Salmon Guides	Salmon, Bottom
Pugetsound Sportsfishing	Salmon, Bottom
Big King Salmon Charters	Salmon, Bottom
Cut Plug Charters	Salmon, Bottom
Messin’ Around Fishing Charter	Salmon, Bottom

Top Five Seattle Fishing Spots: Best Times

Puget Sound – This is the premier salmon fishing destination on the west coast of The United States. With access to all of the major species of Pacific salmon just minutes from downtown Seattle you really can’t go wrong as long as you go when the fish are in season. During the season the salmon fishing here cannot be beat. 

Green Lake – This is an urban lake on the northern side of Seattle. It is stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout and is a great place to go if you want to catch some fish but don’t want to book a charter.

There are also Bass and Catfish in abundance in Green Lake, so if freshwater is your thing than this is the place to be. 

Lake Washington – This lake is huge. At over 20 miles long it provides access to a ton of species of fish. You can find Cutthroat and Brown Trout here as well as Largemouth and Smallmouth bass. Many species of salmon also can be caught in Lake Washington, giving it a “best of both worlds” categorization.

The lake is not far from downtown Seattle and is a great place to take in the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Northwest and to catch some really great fish. 

Snoqualmie River – This is a beautiful destination to fish for Trout of all varieties. It’s less than an hour east of Seattle and is worth the drive to check it out.

The lower portion of the river is great for catching Steelhead while heading up river will put you onto many of the indigenous species that Washington state has to offer. There are some lovely waterfalls to check out as well. 

Belvoir Place – This waterfront park on Puget Sound has a 400-foot-long fishing pier and is a great place to access the fish of the Sound from the comfort of shore. You can catch Salmon, Flounder, and many other species found on a charter trip without having to charter the trip.

The fishing pier is a great way to get the Seattle fishing experience if you really just don’t want to have to get on to a boat. 

For a complete breakdown of the best spots to catch salmon in Oregon, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best water temperatures for salmon fishing, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish San Francisco, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Portland, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Tidal impacts

The size of the tides can increase the strength of currents and increase bite times in Seattle. You don’t have to worry too much about accessibility due to tidal fluctuations, they just might make the fish a little more or less easy to find and catch.

With that being said it’s always a good idea to work with your charter company and determine when is going to be the best time to get out on the water to avoid as many tidally driven issues as possible.  

Storms and Seattle fishing

Seattle is no stranger to rainfall. In fact, there’s a temperate rainforest just outside of the city! With that in mind you should probably plan on getting rained on at some point while fishing in Seattle. The storms aren’t generally severe, more of drizzle or a mist most of the time.

The Pacific Northwest can see some severe storms in the winter and those are more dangerous and should be avoided if possible.

Generally speaking, the weather isn’t too much of a detriment to fishing in and around Seattle. You’ll want to pack a rain jacket and be prepared to get a little wet, but it will definitely be worth your while once the salmon start biting! 

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish the Oregon Coast, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Winter fishing in Seattle

Just because most of the salmon fishing in Seattle is best in the summer doesn’t mean that ALL of the fishing is best in the summer. 

In fact, for Blackmouth the season is just starting to get hot in September and doesn’t really get going until November and then it runs through February.

If you would like to avoid the summertime crowds and peak season prices and don’t mind a little bit of cold weather then you can absolutely have an amazing time fishing in Seattle in the winter.

Depending on what species you’re after you may even have a better time fishing in the winter than in the summer. 

Night fishing in Seattle

Most of the best off-shore fishing is done in the early to mid-morning hours in Seattle. With that being said, many of the parks and piers are open late into the evening if not 24 hours.

Green Lake is an example of a really nice stocked fishing area that can be fished any time of the day or night year-round.

If you’re a night owl and want to try your hand a catching Trout, Bass, or Catfish, head to one of the lakes or piers around Seattle and give it shot.

Be sure to check online before you go because regulations and hours can change, but many areas are open and available late into the evening. 

Shore/Surf fishing in Seattle

Seattle is a city that loves fishing. There are dozens of piers and public fishing areas where you can go and fish Puget Sound at all hours of the day and night. Places like Edmond’s Pier, Seacrest Pier, and Redondo Pier are great places to fish for Chinook Salmon all year round.

There are also plenty of public beaches found on Puget Sound that are great for catching Pink Salmon (when they’re running, odd years only) and Coho Salmon. The Coho tend to be aggressive and swim closer to the shores of The Sound making them easier to target.

The key to catching salmon from shore is to get them early in the run when they’re still stocking up on food before they transition into spawning mode and head upriver. Metal jigs are the lure of choice when shore fishing for salmon of all species from shore.

The key to success with shore fishing in Seattle is getting the fish early in the run, taking advantage of the aggressive feeding habits, using a good heavy spinning lure, and getting out early in the day.

If you can just stick to those few simple keys to success, you should have no problem catching fish from shore in Seattle.

Booking Charters in Seattle

When it comes to fishing, the best thing about Seattle is the location. Since the salmon spawn in the nearby rivers that feed into the Pacific, there’s rarely a shortage of all different species right here in Puget Sound.

Booking a charter is a great way to get onto some fishing hotspots and the best part is you won’t have to go too far to do it!

Best Season to Go

The fishing seasons vary from species to species and they also can fluctuate from year to year. With that being said summertime is peak salmon season in Seattle. Any time after May (when all salmon species are closed to fishing) is going to see some great action and tight lines.

There is also a very active season from November to February for some species and while the temperatures may drop, you’ll also see the water being less crowded with still plenty of action to be had.

So don’t feel like you have to go in the Summer, you don’t there’s still plenty of fishing to be done later in the year, but you will have the most action from all species from June through September.

Best Time of Day

The best time of day for fishing in Seattle is undoubtedly the morning. In fact, many fishing charters will tell you that if you get out early it isn’t unusual for everyone on board to have caught their limit before lunchtime.

Getting out early with a good charter company will have you catching fish before you know it and back to shore in time for lunch. 

Morning vs. Afternoon

The ideal time for peak fishing activity in Seattle is without a doubt the morning. If you can’t make a morning trip happen there’s still activity in the afternoon but it’s not as prolific.

You’ll have to ride for longer and spend more time looking for fish than fishing. Do yourself a favor and get set up for success by getting out on the water nice and early and watching those coolers fill up fast!

Trip Length

If you pick the right time of year to go there’s really no need for an all-day trip in Seattle. The fish are so readily available and active in Puget Sound that if you get out early in the day, you’ll have caught your limit before lunch most days.

If you happen to go at a time when salmon are not in season, or when they aren’t as active and maybe you’re fishing for Lingcod or Flounder, you may want to look into a full-day charter just to give yourself the chance at as many fish as possible. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Vancouver, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Washington, please check out this helpful article I wrote.