Seattle Fishing Charters
Puget Sound puts Chinook and Coho salmon, lingcod and Dungeness crab within a short boat ride of downtown. For halibut and deeper ocean bottomfish, Seattle anglers typically drive out to Westport. Here's what's actually operating in both places.
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Puget Sound: salmon & lingcod
Most Seattle-area charters run out of Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard, with more out of the Port of Edmonds. Trips target Chinook and Coho salmon in-season, with lingcod, flounder and Dungeness crab as year-round or seasonal add-ons.
Cut Plug Charters
Shilshole Bay Marina, Dock V, Seattle
$275–$1,350 per trip (length, private vs. shared)
373 reviews, 4.8/5
Wind Knot Salmon Guides
Shilshole Marina, Ballard
5-hr private trips (base price not published); +$250/extra angler
196 reviews — One-day WA fishing license (~$13.73) sold onboard; $10/person credit card surcharge.
Best Seattle Fishing Charters
Shilshole Bay Marina
$250/person (4-hr afternoon), $325/person (6-hr morning)
Ridge to River Outdoors
Shilshole Bay Marina, North Seattle
$300/person (shared trip)
Twin J Charters
Downtown Seattle
Trips up to 5 hrs; license included.
Ruby D Charters
Port of Edmonds Marina, Q dock (also Shilshole/Kingston pickup)
Sasquatch Sport Fishing
Edmonds, WA
All Star Fishing Charters
Seattle, Edmonds & Everett
Shared $320/person + $50 deposit; private 4–6 hr $1,200–$1,800
License extra (~$13.50). Rates effective May 1, 2026.
Westport: halibut & ocean trips
Westport, about a 2.5-hour drive southwest of Seattle, is Washington's main halibut and offshore bottomfishing port. It's a worthwhile day trip for species Puget Sound just doesn't have.
Tornado Charters
Westport, WA
Halibut $400/person; bottomfish lingcod $230/person; deepwater lingcod $320/person
Prices include bait, tax, gear and derby ticket.
Westport Charters
Westport, WA
Halibut $450/person; bottomfishing $375/person
Operating since 1955. Prices include bait, tax, gear and derby ticket.
Mutineer Charters
Westport, WA
Halibut $575 (6-man boat) / $420 (big boat); spring lingcod from $217
Sea Breeze Charters
Westport, WA
$350/person + tax
Fishes aboard the Bluefin.
Season quick reference
Washington salmon, halibut and crab seasons reset every year and can change in-season as quotas are met. Always check WDFW for current regulations before you book or fish — the dates below are 2026 planning figures, not a guarantee.
| Species | Area | 2026 window |
|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound Salmon (Chinook / Coho) | Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) & Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) | 2026 tentative: MA 9 opener July 16–18; MA 10 opener July 23–25 |
| Halibut | Puget Sound & Strait of Juan de Fuca | 2026: April 2 – June 30 (7 days/week, until quota met) |
| Dungeness Crab (recreational) | Puget Sound Marine Areas 4, 5, 6, 8-1, 8-2, 9 | Summer 2026: July 2 – September 1 |
Full detail, license fees and razor clam dates on our seasonal calendar. Source and always-current regulations: wdfw.wa.gov.
No boat? Fish from a pier
Washington operates several free public fishing piers around Puget Sound — no boat or captain needed, just a license.
Seacrest Park Pier
West Seattle (Elliott Bay)
Chinook, Coho, Pink salmon (summer); squid jigging at night in winter
Parking, ADA access, restrooms, fish-cleaning station.
Edmonds Pier
Edmonds waterfront
Chinook, Coho, Pink, Chum (2-salmon bag limit off the pier); lingcod, rockfish, flounder, perch, cabezon
One of the best public piers on Puget Sound, with year-round salmon opportunity.
Des Moines Marina Pier
Des Moines, WA
Chinook, Coho, Pink salmon; crab; squid (Nov–Jan, 10 lb limit)
Redondo Pier
Federal Way / Des Moines area
Bottomfish, salmon; winter market squid (Nov–Jan, 10 lb limit)
Point Defiance Pier
Tacoma, WA
Salmon (pink season notable); pile perch, flounder