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Puget Sound Fishing Report: Winter Kings, Resident Coho, and Blackmouth on the Bite
Published 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure with your Puget Sound fishing report.
We woke up to a classic winter pattern on the Sound: low gray ceiling, light showers drifting through, and a lingering south breeze that’s finally backing off after last night’s small craft advisory, according to the National Weather Service marine forecast. Winds are easing into the 10–15 knot range today with 1–3 foot chop, so it’s fishable but still bumpy in the open stretches.
NOAA’s Seattle tide station shows a strong set of winter king tides rolling through: an early morning high over 12 feet, a mid‑day low around 8 feet, then another push toward a big afternoon high. Those big swings mean heavy current on the points and rips—perfect for baitfish getting pinned and for predators to stack up.
Sunrise comes just after 7 a.m. and sunset a little before 4:30 p.m., so your prime windows are short. The best bite has been on the first light flood and again on the last hour of the afternoon ebb when that current softens and bait climbs into the upper 40 feet.
Recent reports from local charters running out of Edmonds and Everett, like Northwest Fishing Charters mentioned in World Atlas, say resident coho and blackmouth have both been in the mix, with most keepers in the 4–8 pound class and plenty of shakers to keep rods bouncing. Anglers are also scratching up some nice late crab where seasons remain open, consistent with the winter Dungeness focus highlighted by Gone Fishing Northwest.
Best producers this week have been **small spoons and hoochies** behind 11‑inch flashers—think green glow, Irish cream, and Cop Car patterns, fished 80–140 feet down depending on light. On the bait side, **salted herring and anchovy strip** in a tight helmet roll are outfishing hardware on the slower tides. For shore folks, 1/2–3/4 oz **metal jigs and buzz bombs** in pink, chartreuse, or herring colors have been taking resident coho and the odd blackmouth off local piers.
A couple of hot spots to put on your list:
- **Possession Bar**: The edges and drop‑offs toward the southeast corner are holding blackmouth on the turn of the tide. Work the 120–160 foot contour with spoons and keep your gear close to bottom; most of the better fish have come within 10 feet of the deck.
- **Point No Point and Pilot Point**: Classic winter spots for resident coho with a shot at a legal blackmouth. Troll with the current, 60–100 feet down over 120–180 feet, and watch for bird piles—when the murres and gulls are working, the fish are right under them.
Closer to town, the Elliott Bay oil docks and West Point have given up some nice resident coho to patient trollers running smaller gear and lighter leaders. In the South Sound, anglers working the rips off Fox Island and Point Gibson are finding smaller but aggressive blackmouth on 3–4 inch spoons and glow hoochies.
Overall fish activity is good for this time of year: cooler water has bait schooled tight, and those strong tides concentrate everything on the structure. Just remember: winter fish are deeper and more current‑oriented—slow your troll, stay near bottom, and don’t be afraid to run smaller, subtler gear.
That’s it from Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.
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
We woke up to a classic winter pattern on the Sound: low gray ceiling, light showers drifting through, and a lingering south breeze that’s finally backing off after last night’s small craft advisory, according to the National Weather Service marine forecast. Winds are easing into the 10–15 knot range today with 1–3 foot chop, so it’s fishable but still bumpy in the open stretches.
NOAA’s Seattle tide station shows a strong set of winter king tides rolling through: an early morning high over 12 feet, a mid‑day low around 8 feet, then another push toward a big afternoon high. Those big swings mean heavy current on the points and rips—perfect for baitfish getting pinned and for predators to stack up.
Sunrise comes just after 7 a.m. and sunset a little before 4:30 p.m., so your prime windows are short. The best bite has been on the first light flood and again on the last hour of the afternoon ebb when that current softens and bait climbs into the upper 40 feet.
Recent reports from local charters running out of Edmonds and Everett, like Northwest Fishing Charters mentioned in World Atlas, say resident coho and blackmouth have both been in the mix, with most keepers in the 4–8 pound class and plenty of shakers to keep rods bouncing. Anglers are also scratching up some nice late crab where seasons remain open, consistent with the winter Dungeness focus highlighted by Gone Fishing Northwest.
Best producers this week have been **small spoons and hoochies** behind 11‑inch flashers—think green glow, Irish cream, and Cop Car patterns, fished 80–140 feet down depending on light. On the bait side, **salted herring and anchovy strip** in a tight helmet roll are outfishing hardware on the slower tides. For shore folks, 1/2–3/4 oz **metal jigs and buzz bombs** in pink, chartreuse, or herring colors have been taking resident coho and the odd blackmouth off local piers.
A couple of hot spots to put on your list:
- **Possession Bar**: The edges and drop‑offs toward the southeast corner are holding blackmouth on the turn of the tide. Work the 120–160 foot contour with spoons and keep your gear close to bottom; most of the better fish have come within 10 feet of the deck.
- **Point No Point and Pilot Point**: Classic winter spots for resident coho with a shot at a legal blackmouth. Troll with the current, 60–100 feet down over 120–180 feet, and watch for bird piles—when the murres and gulls are working, the fish are right under them.
Closer to town, the Elliott Bay oil docks and West Point have given up some nice resident coho to patient trollers running smaller gear and lighter leaders. In the South Sound, anglers working the rips off Fox Island and Point Gibson are finding smaller but aggressive blackmouth on 3–4 inch spoons and glow hoochies.
Overall fish activity is good for this time of year: cooler water has bait schooled tight, and those strong tides concentrate everything on the structure. Just remember: winter fish are deeper and more current‑oriented—slow your troll, stay near bottom, and don’t be afraid to run smaller, subtler gear.
That’s it from Artificial Lure—thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.
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