Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod Prime Time, Pink Salmon Forecasts, and Ideal Conditions

Hey anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Friday, May 30th Puget Sound fishing report, coming to you straight from Seattle.

The calendar says late May, but on the Sound it’s prime time for lingcod. The season opened May 1st and runs through June 15th, and right now the bite is strong from South Sound up toward Shilshole and Edmonds. Anglers are bringing in solid numbers of keeper lingcod between 26" and 36". According to Seattle’s Cut Plug Charters, the best way to get into these sea dragons is with live bait—sanddabs and small flounder are top choices if you can jig them up first thing in the morning. If you’re short on bait, a white swimbait, large curly-tail grub, or classic leadhead jig tipped with squid will turn heads, especially bounced off rocky structure or steep shelves near shore.

Pink salmon are the buzz this year, with forecasts calling for 7.76 million pinks running up the Sound—one of the biggest returns in decades. While most marine salmon areas remain closed in May for conservation, you can expect that frenzy to kick into gear later in the summer. Keep your tackle box ready with pink hoochies, buzz bombs, or small spoons for when the season opens up, and be sure to check the latest regulations at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife site.

On the weather front, we’re starting the day under light clouds, with highs in the low 60s. Winds are out of the southwest around 5-10 knots—nice and manageable for small boats and kayaks. Sunrise was at 5:16 a.m., with sunset at 8:53 p.m., so you’ve got a nice long window for an after-work cast.

Tide swings are moderate, with a low tide early morning swinging back to a strong flood by mid-afternoon. Lingcod tend to bite best during the start of that incoming tide, especially around boulder piles, reef edges, and the shadowy drop-offs near Alki and Possession Bar.

If you’re looking for hot spots today, try the following:
- Alki Reef: Consistent structure and easy access from shore or boat, with good reports of keeper lings caught on jigs and live flounder.
- Shilshole Bay Breakwater: Productive for both lingcod and the occasional large rockfish. Fish the edges where the rocks meet sand.

A few reminders: Lingcod retention is limited to one per day, 26-36” only, and you need a descending device on board for rockfish conservation. Always check the emergency rules before you launch.

That wraps up your Puget Sound report for Friday, May 30th. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your next local update. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.