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Puget Sound Fishing Report: Chinook Surge, Ratfish Abound, Ideal Tides for Salmon Bite
Published 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound fishing report for Friday, September 5th, 2025.
We woke up to **sunrise at 6:33 AM, and sunset coming at 7:40 PM**, giving anglers a full, classic end-of-summer day to chase fish. Today’s weather in the Sound started calm, a light north wind around 5 knots and hazy morning skies, with waves about two feet or less—great conditions for both boat and shoreline casting, according to the National Weather Service.
**Tidal movement is shaping today’s bite:** We had a high tide early at 2:47 AM (9.19 ft), dropping to a low at 9:56 AM (-0.41 ft). The next big high rolls in at 5:16 PM (11.27 ft), with an evening low around 10:49 PM (5.78 ft). These big swings tend to wake up the salmon and attract baitfish into the shallows. If you’re timing your cast, hit just after the morning low and before the evening high for best activity.
Let’s talk fish. The buzz this week is all about **Chinook salmon**, with Whatcom Creek expecting a historic run—over 7,000 hatchery Chinook making their return, thanks to coordinated hatchery efforts, reports SeafoodNews.com. That’s promising news for the greater Sound, as these runs spill into connecting creeks and boost efforts for Southern Resident orca prey and tribal fisheries.
Don’t sleep on the other regulars: **Spotted ratfish have been everywhere, especially around Friday Harbor Labs and the shallows**. Not the hottest table fare, but they sure add variety to any haul—plus, they’re a quirky catch with their telltale forehead structure, says University of Washington researchers.
For lures, the Chinook are smashing **chartreuse flashers paired with herring strips or anchovy rigs on a mooching setup**. Coho and pinks—still nipping in the mix—have favored **white hoochies, pink buzz bombs, and green spoons**. For ratfish and the smaller bottom dwellers, try a basic lead jig or chunk of squid.
If bait is your game, go with **fresh herring, candlefish, or sand shrimp**. These have kept boats busy from Edmonds to Tacoma, especially where tidal currents run strong and bait is thick.
Recent catches: Chinook salmon counts have upticked in the north Sound, with anglers reporting steady limits near Point No Point. Coho action is moderate but picking up in Elliott Bay, often mixed with a few lingering pinks. Ratfish have been almost too abundant around Vashon Island shoals—with some reports of dozens per outing, which is an odd but fun distraction before the winter bite sets in.
For hot spots today:
- **Shilshole Bay**: Great for resident and migrating salmon, best right after slack tide.
- **Point Defiance (Tacoma)**: Always a September staple, especially for Chinook hitting cut-plug herring or anchovy off Owen Beach.
- **Edmonds Pier**: A shore-casting favorite for coho and pinks, particularly from late afternoon through dusk.
A reminder: The Stillaguamish Tribal fishing boundaries have been limited to river access, not open Sound areas, after a recent federal ruling (reported by Courthouse News on 9/3/25). Wherever you fish, please respect posted boundaries and tribal fishing rights.
That’s the scene this morning—the runs are healthy, the tides are dramatic, and the weather’s playing nice. Whether by kayak, pier, or skiff, it’s shaping up to be a stellar early September day on Puget Sound.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for all your Puget Sound fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
We woke up to **sunrise at 6:33 AM, and sunset coming at 7:40 PM**, giving anglers a full, classic end-of-summer day to chase fish. Today’s weather in the Sound started calm, a light north wind around 5 knots and hazy morning skies, with waves about two feet or less—great conditions for both boat and shoreline casting, according to the National Weather Service.
**Tidal movement is shaping today’s bite:** We had a high tide early at 2:47 AM (9.19 ft), dropping to a low at 9:56 AM (-0.41 ft). The next big high rolls in at 5:16 PM (11.27 ft), with an evening low around 10:49 PM (5.78 ft). These big swings tend to wake up the salmon and attract baitfish into the shallows. If you’re timing your cast, hit just after the morning low and before the evening high for best activity.
Let’s talk fish. The buzz this week is all about **Chinook salmon**, with Whatcom Creek expecting a historic run—over 7,000 hatchery Chinook making their return, thanks to coordinated hatchery efforts, reports SeafoodNews.com. That’s promising news for the greater Sound, as these runs spill into connecting creeks and boost efforts for Southern Resident orca prey and tribal fisheries.
Don’t sleep on the other regulars: **Spotted ratfish have been everywhere, especially around Friday Harbor Labs and the shallows**. Not the hottest table fare, but they sure add variety to any haul—plus, they’re a quirky catch with their telltale forehead structure, says University of Washington researchers.
For lures, the Chinook are smashing **chartreuse flashers paired with herring strips or anchovy rigs on a mooching setup**. Coho and pinks—still nipping in the mix—have favored **white hoochies, pink buzz bombs, and green spoons**. For ratfish and the smaller bottom dwellers, try a basic lead jig or chunk of squid.
If bait is your game, go with **fresh herring, candlefish, or sand shrimp**. These have kept boats busy from Edmonds to Tacoma, especially where tidal currents run strong and bait is thick.
Recent catches: Chinook salmon counts have upticked in the north Sound, with anglers reporting steady limits near Point No Point. Coho action is moderate but picking up in Elliott Bay, often mixed with a few lingering pinks. Ratfish have been almost too abundant around Vashon Island shoals—with some reports of dozens per outing, which is an odd but fun distraction before the winter bite sets in.
For hot spots today:
- **Shilshole Bay**: Great for resident and migrating salmon, best right after slack tide.
- **Point Defiance (Tacoma)**: Always a September staple, especially for Chinook hitting cut-plug herring or anchovy off Owen Beach.
- **Edmonds Pier**: A shore-casting favorite for coho and pinks, particularly from late afternoon through dusk.
A reminder: The Stillaguamish Tribal fishing boundaries have been limited to river access, not open Sound areas, after a recent federal ruling (reported by Courthouse News on 9/3/25). Wherever you fish, please respect posted boundaries and tribal fishing rights.
That’s the scene this morning—the runs are healthy, the tides are dramatic, and the weather’s playing nice. Whether by kayak, pier, or skiff, it’s shaping up to be a stellar early September day on Puget Sound.
Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe for all your Puget Sound fishing updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.