Puget Sound Fishing Report: Salmon, Lingcod, and Halibut Bites Heating Up for Summer

Here’s your Puget Sound fishing report for June 21, 2025. We’re right in the heart of prime saltwater fishing season, with the Solstice just behind us and Seattle putting on some picture-perfect conditions. Sunrise came early at 5:10 a.m. and sunset’s stretching all the way to 9:10 p.m., so anglers have a generous window today to chase fish at both dawn and dusk.

Weather-wise, we’re seeing classic June gloom in the morning with temps in the mid-50s, clearing out and warming up into the low 70s by mid-afternoon. Light westerly winds are in the forecast, meaning most areas should stay fishable and comfortable through the day. Checking the tide chart, there’s a strong morning high right around 7:45 a.m., which should trigger a flurry of activity on the outgoing tide and again as the tide swings back later in the afternoon.

Recent catches have shown Puget Sound is really heating up. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife creel reports show strong catches of resident Coho with the occasional early Chinook turning up, especially from Area 10 (Seattle-Bremerton zone) down through Area 13. If you’re looking for variety, the Lingcod bite is tapering off as the season winds down, but there are still quality fish hanging on structure, particularly around Possession Bar and the Tacoma Narrows. Halibut catches are on the decline as quota fills, yet a few solid fish are still reported north in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and local banks.

For gear, salmon anglers are doing best running smaller spoons and hoochies, with green and chartreuse patterns taking plenty of hits. If you’re mooching or drifting herring, try plug-cut or whole to match the local forage. Trolling flasher-and-squid combos remains a top tactic with shorter leaders in choppier water. Fly anglers should size up their baitfish patterns—think size 4-10 with distinct markings to mimic the maturing local forage, and don’t sleep on topwater flies for energetic cutthroat and coho.

If you’re after hot spots, Possession Point at the southern tip of Whidbey Island stands out with its intersection of migration routes and deep, reefy structure—a classic for both salmon and Lingcod. Elliott Bay is also producing, especially early and late, with a shot at bigger Chinook as summer runs build steam. Down south, the Tacoma Narrows is prime for both salmon and Lingcod, thanks to its strong currents and schools of bait pinned tight to structure.

Looking ahead, late summer promises a massive Pink Salmon return, so keep an eye on north-end beaches like Point No Point and Kayak Point for that run.

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