Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound) encompasses all waters south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. These waters are protected from the weather, which allows for fishing access to small boats. There are also great opportunities to fish from shore and at various piers. Marine Area 13 is the only area in the state where you can fish for salmon year-round and use your two-pole endorsement.
During odd years, Pink Salmon are available from July to early September, which provides extra incentive to make the trip. Please note that during the 2021-22 season, there will be no bonus limit on Pinks due to conservation concerns on Puget Sound Coho stocks. Pink Salmon count as part of the daily limit.
Winter Chinook (blackmouth) fishing is a unique opportunity to catch salmon in the 'off-season' and typically runs from October through April.
Marine area 13 boasts some of the best Coastal Cutthroat Trout fishing throughout the Puget Sound region, both by boat or from shore.
*updated 7/7/2021
Legal description
All waters south of northernmost Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
Major fishing areas
Fish Trap
Jigging and trolling are common methods used to catch hatchery Chinook returning in the late summer/early fall. Blue fox spinners, cut-plug herring set-up or clousers work well to catch returning net pen Coho in October.
Accessible by Boat
Species: Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Cutthroat Trout
Clam, mussel, and oyster beaches
For bivalve season information, please see the Puget Sound clam, mussel, and oyster season guide or visit the shellfish beaches page. Current water quality information, beach locations and harvest seasons can be found on the Department of Health's shellfish safety interactive map.