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Experience Seattle's Diverse Fishing Opportunities
Cut Plug Charters is your local area expert on all things fishing in Seattle, WA. Want to know what type of fish you can catch? When the fishing seasons are? We are here to help. We provide a diverse range of fishing trips in Seattle to suit each season throughout the year. Our operations run continuously, focusing on capturing the abundant species of fish found in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you're inclined towards saltwater escapades or prefer freshwater excursions, from salmon fishing to lingcod fishing, we cater to all preferences. With the breathtaking beauty of Puget Sound and the unique culture of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is a one-of-a-kind fishing destination in the United States. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!
2025 Seattle Fishing Calendar
We are excited to announce the dates for Seattle fishing charters in 2025!
Salmon Fishing Trips
- January - April 30th Tacoma departure
- March 16th - April 30th Seattle departure
- June 1st - November 15th Seattle departure
- November 15th - December 2025 Tacoma departure
Lingcod Fishing Trips
- Summer Lingcod Fishing
- Dates: May 1st-June 15th, 2025
- Location: Seattle Departures (Shilshole Bay Marina)
Fishing Seasons in Seattle
Lingcod: May-June 15th
Chinook (King) Salmon: June-August
Coho (Silver) Salmon: June, September-November
Chum (Keta) Salmon: October-November
Winter Chinook Salmon (Blackmouth): November-April
All Seasons subject to change; dependent on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife season setting. Call to confirm current fishing season dates.
January-March Fishing in Seattle
We kick off the annual fishing season in Seattle chasing Blackmouth, also called Winter King Salmon. Temperatures are cold during this first quarter of the year, but fishing can be very exciting and typically involves the use of a variety of fishing techniques since the Blackmouth are more spread out from January through March.
Read more about Blackmouth fishing in January on our blog.
April Fishing in Seattle
In April, we are still chasing the tail end of the Winter Chinook/Blackmouth season, but also enter into the Early Spring Chinook fishing season. Essentially, April salmon fishing in Seattle offers anglers the opportunity to target two separate "hatches" of Chinook salmon during the short period of time when they are congregated in the same areas. The winter chinook are young, non-migratory resident fish, and the spring chinook are early migratory fish that are generally quite a bit bigger.
This action-packed fishing and the improving weather make April one of our favorite months for fishing in Seattle.
May Fishing in Seattle
May is an excellent month to come and chase lingcod with us as it is the first chance to target these fish since mid June of the previous year. We mainly live bait fish for the lingcod but use a variety of techniques some days to entice a bite. This fishery is great for all ages as action is generally pretty good with lingcod or other bottom fish that might need to be released if they’re out of season. Kids and first timers have just as much fun as a seasoned angler! Whether you’re looking to brush up on your Puget Sound lingcod fishing skills or looking for a fun activity to do with family and friends while visiting Seattle lingcod fishing should be at the top of your list for May in Seattle! Learn more about Seattle fishing in May.
June Fishing in Seattle
Our June fishing charters out of Seattle consist of both lingcod and salmon depending on the day. The first half of June poses a unique opportunity where we can chase both lingcod and salmon in the same day! If conditions allow, we will be posting some limited dates for these trips. If it’s of any interest, please sign up for our email list to be the first to be updated on seasons and availability.
The last half of June is full swing salmon fishing as we get the opportunity to chase king and coho salmon during this time it’s a great time to come join us for a Seattle fishing experience. We focus on light tackle fishing where you will feel the fish bite and fight the fish with top-quality tackle! These early season salmon are great eating fish as they aren’t ready to go spawn anytime soon. They are full of fat reserves and Omega-3’s so not only are you going to have an awesome time on the water fishing but you have the chance to bring home some of the best-eating salmon of the year!
July/August Fishing in Seattle
July/August rolls around and the one thing that comes to mind is chinook season! During these two months. We try to target king salmon as much as humanly possible as we have limited harvest seasons on chinook. Generally, these months make for some of the biggest catches of the year because the salmon are migrating through the Puget Sound to head upstream to spawn. A lot of guests can’t wait to join for this month! Book them while you can because once the availability is gone you probably won’t see a date open up as these are very popular amongst the guests who have fished with us in the past.
September Fishing in Seattle
September ocean coho fishing is some of the best Seattle fishing charters you can hop on. September has been a rock-solid month for the past few seasons, with limits of coho salmon being caught regularly with a good average size. These coho are great biting fish as that’s all they want to do before switching to migratory mode and wanting to just head upstream. September the coho come flooding in from the Pacific Ocean and we get a chance to chase them before they hit the freshwater. You don’t want to miss these dates as they go fast, with the action being great most days. Morning charters are definitely preferred this time of year, but the afternoons can fish well depending on the tides.
