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January 14, 2025 by Justin Wong - Cut Plug Charters
Are there any fishing opportunities in Seattle during the month of January?
Absolutely! Although the weather can be chilly, January is still a great month for salmon fishing in Seattle.
What fish species can you catch in Seattle in January?
As the holidays wind down and we turn over the leaf for a new year, fishing efforts in Seattle shift towards targeting blackmouth (Winter king salmon). Blackmouth are immature chinook salmon that stick around the Puget Sound to feed and pack the pounds before getting ready to return and spawn as an adult at some point. These fish are known for being voracious feeders as their main goal is to eat as much as possible to gain weight. These fish, although heavy feeders, can be tricky to catch at times because unlike the mature returning adult salmon, immature blackmouth salmon don’t have a specific migration pattern where you can find them. This is where a skilled Seattle fishing guide like Cut Plug Charters becomes crucial for an enjoyable charter.
Where to Catch Blackmouth/Winter King Salmon in January
Blackmouth salmon fishing is done by placing your bait presentations in the bottom half of the water column where most of the baitfish are hanging out in the winter months. When you can find the fish that want to bite (AKA willing participants), fishing can be fantastic with many chances at landing a blackmouth for the dinner table!
January Blackmouth Fishing Techniques
Mooching
Targeting blackmouth can be done with a variety of techniques; trolling, jigging, or mooching. Mooching is our favorite way to catch salmon in the Puget Sound as it is not only very effective at all times of the year, but it is also the most enjoyable way to catch a salmon in our opinion. The simplicity of the tackle with 2-6oz of weight to a 6ft leader and tandem hooks with a cut plug herring attached is as good as it gets! The light tackle and drifting of the boat create an experience that is great for anglers of all skill levels and ages.
Trolling
Trolling with downriggers is a technique that we will use situationally. We will troll with downriggers when conditions are either too windy for mooching, when the current is too heavy to keep baits near the bottom, or when the fish are very spread out and we need to cover lots of water to find the blackmouth.
Vertical Jigging
If the fish are not responsive to a mooched bait or a trolled presentation, we revert to vertical jigging. Vertical jigging involves bouncing the bottom/ocean floor with jigs (artificial baits) to entice a blackmouth salmon to bite. This technique is hands-on and interactive, but quite tiring from all the movement, so we only use the vertical jigging method when the conditions are perfect and other techniques have not worked.
Is it worth going fishing in Seattle during January?
We certainly think so. If you are looking for a great time on the water or want to hone-in your fishing techniques and learn new ones, this is the time of year to go salmon fishing in Seattle, as we tend to fish with a couple of different techniques during a charter.
Between the great table fare of the winter king salmon and the wide variety of techniques we have at our disposal, Cut Plug Charters creates a one-of-a-kind fishing experience in the winter months through early spring for Blackmouth salmon.
Start your year off right with a January fishing charter in Seattle!
Salmon fishing trips departing from Seattle and Tacoma, WA.
Posted In: Seattle Fishing Reports
