Episodios

  • Pink Pandemonium: Puget Sound's Massive 2025 Pink Salmon Run

    Pink Pandemonium: Puget Sound's Massive 2025 Pink Salmon Run
    May 21 2025
    This is Artificial Lure with your Puget Sound fishing report for Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

    Let’s start with the conditions. The weather in the Seattle area today is classic late spring, with mostly cloudy skies and mild temps hovering around the upper 50s to low 60s. Winds are variable but manageable for small watercraft and shoreline casting. Sunrise hit at 5:22 AM and sunset will be around 8:46 PM, giving us more than enough daylight for morning and evening action.

    The tides are favorable today, with an early morning outgoing that should spark some good bite windows, especially at dawn and again around mid-afternoon as the water moves.

    Here’s the big headline—chinook and coho are closed in the inner Sound, but all eyes are on the pink salmon. The forecast is for a massive pink run this year, with almost 7.8 million pinks expected, nearly double the usual numbers. Early signs are promising, with pinks starting to be seen by those drifting jigs or casting from shorelines near river mouths and estuaries. Catches of resident coho and the odd sea-run cutthroat have also been solid, especially for fly anglers working the beaches with small baitfish patterns[3].

    The best lures right now are pink buzz bombs, small darting jigs, and welded ring spoons for the pinks. For trout and cutthroat, try small spinners in silver or green, or a classic olive-over-white Clouser minnow on the fly. Bait anglers are doing best with sand shrimp and herring strips, especially near bottom structure.

    Saltwater crabbing is still closed, but today marks the spot shrimp opener in some parts of the Sound. Note that Elliott Bay and Marine Areas 10, 11, and 13 remain closed for shrimp, but other spots north of Seattle have a short window—be sure to check WDFW emergency updates before you launch[2].

    Hot spots to try: Point No Point is a classic early pink salmon magnet, and the beaches near Lincoln Park in West Seattle have been giving up some nice sea-run cutthroat. The Edmonds pier is busy with anglers chasing the first push of pinks and resident coho.

    In sum, it’s shaping up as a stellar start to pink salmon season in the Sound, with solid action expected to build through June. Watch those tide swings for best results, match your offerings to the bait, and don’t overlook the local fly-friendly beaches for some underrated trout and cutthroat fun.

    Tight lines and see you on the water!
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    3 m
  • Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod, Halibut, and Early Blackmouth Action

    Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod, Halibut, and Early Blackmouth Action
    May 19 2025
    Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with your Puget Sound fishing report for Monday, May 19th, 2025.

    First light hit Seattle at 5:27 AM and sunset will be around 8:44 PM. Early risers had light cloud cover and a fresh breeze out of the southwest. Daytime highs should reach the low 60s, making for a comfortable day on the water.

    Tides are moderate today, with an early morning flood just after sunrise and a midday ebb. These changing tides should help fire up the bite, especially around structure and points.

    The bite in Puget Sound has been lively this week. Lingcod season opened on May 1st and runs through June 15th. Anglers have been bringing in solid numbers around rocky reefs and artificial structures from Marine Areas 5 through 13—just remember, no fishing in waters deeper than 120 feet and the daily limit is one lingcod in the 26 to 36 inch slot. Barbless hooks are required for all bottomfish[2].

    Halibut has also been solid, with recent creel reports hinting at steady, if not spectacular, catches in North Sound spots like Possession Bar and Mutiny Bay. The quota for Puget Sound this year is just under 80,000 pounds, so there’s still plenty of fish to go around[5].

    Salmon return forecasts are excellent for 2025, with over 6 million fish expected back to the Sound. While most summer salmon seasons are a few weeks off, some early blackmouth (resident Chinook) are being hooked in the mornings on deep troll gear and spoons. Check WDFW updates for any area-specific closures or openings[4].

    For best results today, go with soft plastic swimbaits and large curly-tail grubs for lingcod, bounced near bottom structure. Herring or squid strips on a mooching rig work well for both lingcod and halibut. For blackmouth, try 3- to 4-inch spoons in green or chartreuse, trolled 80 to 120 feet deep.

    Hot spots today:

    - Possession Bar: Productive for both halibut and lingcod, especially on the outgoing tide.
    - Edmonds Oil Docks: Consistent for lingcod and the occasional blackmouth.
    - West Point, just north of Shilshole: A favorite for early summer chinook action and bottomfish.

    Overall, angler interviews around Puget Sound are showing good catch rates for lingcod and still reliable bottomfish action at shallow reefs and jetties. Expect more salmon activity as water temps climb into June[1][2].

    That’s the local scoop from Artificial Lure. Tight lines out there and don’t forget to check your regs and give each other plenty of room on the water.
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    3 m
  • Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod Opener, Sea-Run Cutthroat, and Early Pinks

    Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod Opener, Sea-Run Cutthroat, and Early Pinks
    May 18 2025
    This is Artificial Lure with your Sunday fishing report for May 18, 2025, around Puget Sound and the greater Seattle area.

    Today’s fishing kicked off with sunrise at 5:39 AM and the sun will set at 8:32 PM, giving us plenty of daylight for a full day on the water. Weather started classic Puget Sound gray this morning but is expected to clear up as the day goes on, with highs in the low 60s. Winds are forecast to stay light and variable, making for smooth boating and comfortable casting from shore. Central Sound tides are in a moderate cycle: we saw a low tide near 6:30 AM, heads up to a midday high just before 1 PM, and then falls again late afternoon. Fish often get more active around those tide swings, so plan to target the hour before and after the tide peaks for best luck[5].

    The headline right now is the lingcod opener. Anglers have been hitting Marine Areas 5 through 13, all open for lingcod except Hood Canal. Remember, you can keep one lingcod per day, between 26 and 36 inches in length, and only in waters shallower than 120 feet. Reports from the past week show solid catches, especially in rocky structure and reef areas from Edmonds down to Tacoma. Top producers have been lead-head jigs with white or chartreuse curly-tail plastics, as well as live herring if you can get it. Don’t forget, barbless hooks are mandatory for all species in Puget Sound, including lingcod[2].

    Along the beaches, sea-run cutthroat are feeding well—look for them around creek mouths and along current seams. Anglers have been scoring with olive and white Clouser minnows, small metal spoons like the Kastmaster, and sand lance-pattern flies[4]. Resident coho are showing up more frequently for those trolling smaller hoochies or casting spoons from the piers.

    For bait, nothing beats fresh herring for the lingcod and salmon, while sand shrimp and pile worms have been productive for pier anglers targeting perch and flounder. Artificial lures like curly tail jigs, metal spoons, and soft plastics in natural bait colors have all been catching fish[2].

    Hot spots to try today include the Edmonds Oil Docks for lingcod and greenling, and Lincoln Park shoreline for sea-run cutthroat and the odd coho. The Shilshole Bay breakwater is always worth a shot for mixed species, especially around tide changes.

    With a big pink salmon forecast for this summer, keep your light gear ready—early scouts say a few are already being spotted in the Sound[5].

    That wraps up today’s report. Tight lines and happy fishing from your local angling expert, Artificial Lure.
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    3 m
  • Puget Sound Fishing Report: Tides and Temps Set Up Ideal Conditions for Salmon, Lingcod, and Trout

    Puget Sound Fishing Report: Tides and Temps Set Up Ideal Conditions for Salmon, Lingcod, and Trout
    May 17 2025
    Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for Saturday, May 17, 2025. The day is off to a mild start after a stretch of classic spring weather—expect partly cloudy skies and comfortable temps hovering in the mid-50s to low 60s. Sunrise came at 5:24 a.m. and sunset will be around 8:44 p.m., giving us plenty of daylight to hit the water.

    Tides are especially key right now. There’s a mid-morning incoming tide peaking just before noon, which should set up ideal conditions for shore and boat anglers alike. Look for fish to be actively feeding during these moving water periods, particularly at the top of the incoming and the start of outgoing.

    Fish activity in the Sound is heating up. Early reports out of the creel checks indicate chinook salmon are scarce in the central Sound due to tight regulations, but coho are trickling through and a few resident blackmouth have been landed by dedicated trollers. Most success has come from trolling three-inch spoons or hoochies behind a flasher at 80 to 120 feet over deeper channels. The best colors lately have been green/glow and blue/silver.

    Lingcod and rockfish are seeing steady action along rocky reefs and jetties. Fresh herring or scented soft plastics fished off bottom are working well. Try white or root beer colored swimbaits for lingcod. A few legal lings have come in from the Marine Area 10 and 11 reefs, with reports of solid numbers near Shilshole and Elliott Bay.

    In the local rivers, cutthroat trout are responding to minnow imitations and small poppers, especially during the morning hours. For fly anglers in the estuaries and lower rivers, chum fry patterns and olive clousers continue to draw strikes.

    If you’re just getting out, my top lure picks are a green/glow 3-inch Coho Killer or a chartreuse needlefish hoochie for salmon, and white curly-tail jigs or six-inch swimbaits for bottomfish. Natural baits like fresh herring or sand shrimp are prime for lingcod.

    For hotspots, point your boat to the waters off Point No Point and Edmonds in the morning for a shot at coho and blackmouth. On the south end, try the Tacoma Narrows tide rips for lingcod and various bottom dwellers.

    Overall, fishing is picking up as water temps rise and tides push fresh baitfish into the Sound. The bite is best during tidal swings, especially on the incoming tide mid-morning today. Good luck, keep those lines tight, and I’ll see you on the water.
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    3 m
  • Puget Sound Fishing Explodes with Pink Salmon Bonanza

    Puget Sound Fishing Explodes with Pink Salmon Bonanza
    May 16 2025
    Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for this beautiful Friday morning, May 16th, 2025.

    The sun's just coming up over the Sound this morning, and we're looking at what should be a fantastic day to hit the water! Today marks the opening of a new fishing season that runs through June 30th, so timing couldn't be better.

    The big news around Puget Sound continues to be the phenomenal pink salmon returns we're seeing this year. The 2025 forecast is sitting at 7.76 million pinks - that's up 70% from the 10-year average and on track to be the third largest return on record. The Green and Nisqually rivers are showing particularly strong numbers, so keep those in mind if you're targeting pinks.

    Based on recent creel reports from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, anglers have been having good success at Point Defiance Public Ramp in Area 11 around Tacoma-Vashon Island. Another hot spot has been up north at the Bellingham Ramp at Squalicum Harbor - they've been seeing consistent action there over the past few days.

    For you fly fishing enthusiasts, conditions are prime right now. The Cedar River is at ideal wading levels between 150-600 cfs, and the Snoqualmie is perfect for both wading and floating. If you're willing to venture a bit further out, the Skagit is fishing well too.

    For tackle recommendations, I've been hearing silver spoons and pink hoochies have been working magic for the salmon. If you're bait fishing, herring has been the consistent producer, especially around the Point Defiance area. Don't forget to tip your jigs with a bit of cured shrimp - that's been the local secret weapon lately.

    For today's hot spots, I'd recommend trying the north end of Vashon Island during the morning incoming tide, then shifting to the Edmonds waterfront as the afternoon progresses. The structure around the Kingston ferry terminal has also been holding some nice fish.

    Tidal movement today should give us a nice push of fresh fish, with the tide changes creating those perfect feeding windows. The weather is cooperating too - just enough cloud cover to keep the fish from getting too skittish.

    Remember, with the strong pink forecast, we're seeing more anglers on the water than usual, so get to your spots early. The Nisqually reach has been less crowded if you're looking to avoid the masses.

    That's your Friday report, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see you on the water!
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    3 m
  • Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod Hot, Salmon Picking Up, and Cutthroat Swarm the Beaches

    Puget Sound Fishing Report: Lingcod Hot, Salmon Picking Up, and Cutthroat Swarm the Beaches
    May 14 2025
    Good morning, anglers. This is Artificial Lure checking in with your May 14, 2025, Puget Sound fishing report straight from the docks and the beaches around Seattle.

    Today’s sunrise came at 5:33 am, with sunset expected around 8:39 pm. We’re looking at classic late spring weather in Seattle: mostly overcast skies, highs in the upper 50s, and a hint of drizzle in the forecast. The barometer’s holding steady, a bit of an onshore breeze out of the southwest, and mild conditions overall. Tidal swings are solid today, with a large morning ebb pushing bait into the shallows—ideal for those early risers casting from shore or launching small crafts.

    Lingcod is the big story right now. The season opened May 1st and the bite has been hot across Marine Areas 5 through 13 (excluding Hood Canal). Remember, the daily limit is one lingcod per angler with size restrictions—check those regs before you fish. Reports coming out of Point Defiance and the Tacoma Narrows show decent catches, especially at first light around slack tide. Anglers are finding success with large soft plastic swimbaits in white or root beer, as well as classic purple and black jigs fished close to rocky structure. For bait, nothing beats a fresh herring or squid strip threaded onto a leadhead jig[2][4].

    Salmon activity is picking up in the north sound—there are whispers of resident silvers being picked up around the Edmonds Marina and along the Mukilteo shoreline, mostly on small spoons and hoochies trolled just off the bottom. Down south, sea-run cutthroat fishing has remained solid, with anglers hooking decent numbers on chum fry patterns, small sand lance imitations, and olive over white Clouser minnows[5]. If you’re beach casting, keep an eye out for surface action—chum fry and sand lance are everywhere and the cutthroat are hot on their tails.

    Last week’s creel counts show a steady flow of chinook being checked in the mid and southern sound, though numbers are still modest as we wait for the summer push[1][3]. The top catches for the week included several lingcod over the slot minimum and a handful of fat sea-run cutthroat from the estuaries and beaches.

    Hot spots for today: Point Defiance Park (near the public ramp) is putting out good lingcod at dawn, and the shoreline around Lincoln Park in West Seattle is a tried-and-true spot for cutthroat on the fly or light spinning gear. If you’re looking for solitude, the Jetty Island shoreline near Everett is a sleeper for both cutthroat and resident coho.

    Tight lines and fair tides. See you out there.
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    3 m
  • Fishing Forecast for Puget Sound: Promising Pink Salmon Season Awaits Anglers

    Fishing Forecast for Puget Sound: Promising Pink Salmon Season Awaits Anglers
    May 12 2025
    Good morning, folks. I'm Artificial Lure, your local fishing expert. As we step into May 12, 2025, Puget Sound is buzzing with excitement, especially with the pink salmon forecast looking incredibly promising. Today's sunrise is at about 5:15 AM, and sunset will roll in around 8:32 PM, providing ample daylight for a full day of fishing.

    Weather-wise, Seattle is likely to be drizzly with a high of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Tides will be moderately strong, which should bring in some action around the usual hotspots. Dawn and dusk are typically the best times to cast your line.

    In recent days, catch reports have been steady, particularly around areas like the San Juan Islands and East Juan de Fuca Strait. Pink salmon are on everyone's radar this season, with the 2025 forecast predicting a return of 7.76 million fish, which is 70% above the 10-year average. While other species like Chinook might be less abundant this year, the general enthusiasm around pink salmon keeps spirits high.

    When it comes to tackle, I recommend using spoons or lures that mimic small fish, like the classic Krocodile spoon. If you're bait fishing, fresh shrimp or brine-scented lures are always effective for targeting halibut or bottom fish.

    Cornet Bay Public Ramp in Deception Pass remains one of the top spots for launching and catching a variety of species, including salmon making their way through the area. Another hotspot is Squalicum Harbor near Bellingham, which has seen consistent activity throughout the spring.

    As always, make sure to check the current fishing regulations before you head out. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife provides regular updates on fishery guidelines and quotas. With some luck and the right gear, you should have a productive day on the water.

    Safe fishing, and I hope to see you on the waters of Puget Sound.
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    2 m
  • Puget Sound Spring Fishing Forecast: Cutthroat, Lingcod, and Early Pinks Heating Up

    Puget Sound Spring Fishing Forecast: Cutthroat, Lingcod, and Early Pinks Heating Up
    May 11 2025
    Artificial Lure reporting in from Seattle, and with the sun breaking over the Sound at 5:37 this morning and setting tonight at 8:27, today’s shaping up for some classic spring angling action in Puget Sound. Weather’s cool and marine-layered early, with light winds and highs expected in the low 60s. That’s ideal—keeps the surface calm but stirs up just enough chop for easy bait movement.

    Tidal swing today is pronounced, with a big morning outgoing tide till about 11 a.m. and a strong afternoon incoming. These tides are pushing loads of bait into the shallows and igniting the bite, especially for sea-run cutthroat and the odd resident coho in South Sound. Recent days have seen good catches in the South Sound beaches—cutts are feeding heavy on lingering chum fry, along with plenty of herring and sand lance[5].

    Lingcod seasons opened up this month in most marine areas around Seattle, and they’re active right now. Anglers are reporting solid catches near rocky structure from Elliott Bay out toward Point Jefferson. Reports from the WDFW creel show steady lingcod action, although remember the daily limit is one fish between 26 and 36 inches, and you must use barbless hooks[2].

    The biggest buzz is about pink salmon—WDFW is projecting one of the largest runs in memory this summer, with over 7.7 million humpies expected to flood the Sound[3][4]. While the run is still warming up, early arrivals sometimes show during these big tide swings, so keep your eyes peeled.

    As for what’s working: for cutthroat and coho from shore, toss small chum fry patterns, olive-over-white Clousers, or minnow spinners. If you’re targeting lingcod, large white or chartreuse swimbaits and 6-inch curly-tail plastics on 2-ounce jigheads have been producing. For bait, live herring or sand dab fished near bottom structure is classic and still unbeatable.

    Hot spots today to consider:
    1. Lincoln Park beach—always reliable this time of year for cutthroat, especially on the outgoing tide.
    2. West Point near Discovery Park—good structure for both lingcod and the odd early salmon.

    Overall, with a big tide, plenty of baitfish, and solid early-summer action, now’s the time to hit the water. Don’t forget your license and barbless hooks. Good luck out there—tight lines!
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    3 m
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