Guided Salmon Fishing in Seattle, WA
If there is one thing that Cut Plug Charters is known for, it is salmon fishing. For 11 months out of the year, our team lives, eats, and breathes Seattle salmon fishing. The diverse array of salmon species in the Puget Sound offers year-round fishing action for anglers of all skill levels. On top of having some of the best saltwater salmon fishing in North America, Seattle is an incredible vacation destination that everyone should visit at least once in their lives!
It's time to start planning your guided salmon fishing trip in Seattle's beautiful Puget Sound.
Private Salmon Fishing Charters in Seattle
Fish Puget Sound with your own private boat and an experienced local captain. Cut Plug Charters specializes in hands-on Seattle salmon fishing, with every angler getting their own rod and the chance to target Chinook, Coho, Chum and other seasonal salmon.
Our private salmon fishing charters run 11 months a year, except May, with daily morning and afternoon departures.
Private Charter Pricing
- Morning Charter (6 hours) - $1,350 per boat
- Afternoon Charter (4 hours) - $1,100 per boat
- Additional Passengers - $200 per person
Private Charter Details
- Morning = 6 hours
- Afternoon = 4 hours
- 2-4 passengers included in price (2-person minimum)
- Additional 5th and 6th passengers can be added for $200 per person
- Multiple boats available for larger groups
- Opportunity to catch multiple species of salmon
- All fishing gear included
- Offered daily for 11 months of the year (all months besides May)
Shared Salmon Fishing Charters
Looking to fish Seattle without booking an entire boat? Join Cut Plug Charters on a shared salmon fishing trip and enjoy a hands-on day of fishing Puget Sound alongside other anglers. Shared charters are a great option for solo anglers, couples, and smaller groups. You'll fish with up to six total passengers aboard the boat while our experienced captain provides the gear, instruction, and guidance you need for a memorable day on the water.
Our shared salmon fishing charters are available 11 months of the year, except May, with daily departures exclusively in the mornings.
Shared Charter Pricing
- Morning Charter (6 hours) - $295 per person
Shared Charter Details
- Morning charters only (6 hours)
- If the trip only has 2 passengers, it may be turned into a 4 hour trip at the captain’s discretion
- 2-6 passengers per boat (2-person minimum)
- Opportunity to catch multiple species of salmon
- All fishing gear included
Coho Salmon Fishing in Seattle
with Cut Plug Charters
Fishing Techniques for Catching Salmon in Seattle's Puget Sound
Mooching for Salmon
We do salmon fishing differently from most fishing charters in Seattle. Instead of tolling, we try to utilize hands-on fishing techniques to target salmon in a much more exciting way. The main technique we use is called “Mooching”, which consists of a weight to a 6 foot leader with tandem hooks to a Cut Plug herring. The technique is an active style of fishing where everyone gets their own rod and you will be continuously “working” your bait throughout the water column. This fishing style creates great fun for all skill levels! There is no better joy than enticing the bite, hooking the fish, fighting and landing your salmon all on your own!
Vertical Jigging for Salmon
Another technique we utilize when conditions arise is vertical jigging for salmon. This is also another hands on active style of fishing. We suspend baitfish pattern jigs in the water column and lift and lower the tip of the rod to create an erratic movement on the jig to resemble a wounded baitfish, AKA an easy meal for a salmon!
Trolling for Salmon
When salmon are spread out and covering a vast span of water is a must, we will utilize trolling methods to target salmon. This is a common practice in the fall months for coho salmon. Most other months, we are either mooching or jigging for salmon. However, when you make a reservation, if you prefer one method over the other please specify and we can make note and accommodate your needs!
Salmon Species in Seattle
The Pacific Northwest is home to 5 different salmon species:
- Chinook (King) salmon
- Coho (Silver) salmon
- Chum (Keta) salmon
- Sockeye (Red) salmon
- Pink (Humpy) salmon
All of these salmon species travel through the Puget Sound, passing our fishing grounds outside of Seattle. The main species we target throughout a typical year are King, Coho, and Chum salmon. Every odd year we get a chance to target Pink salmon, which only come through on odd years. All species are unique in their own ways and offer a great fishing experience.
King Salmon Fishing
King Salmon, or Chinook Salmon, are targeted for the better part of the year as we target them in the summer months as returning fish from the months of June through August. The summer kings make up the better part of our summer fishery. These fish are also targeted in the early winter to early spring months as winter kings or also known locally as Blackmouth. The cold doesn’t stop us from getting out on the water with a chance at catching these tasty fish! Targeting these fish creates some great memories when fishing with light tackle!
Silver Salmon Fishing
Silver Salmon, or Coho Salmon, are targeted in early summer and then again in the months of September through November! Silver salmon are fun fish to target as they are the most inquisitive of the salmon species many times following baits to the surface, biting right at the surface; top 50 feet of water. These aggressive fish create for some great days on the Puget Sound just minutes from Downtown Seattle.
Chum Salmon Fishing
Chum Salmon is one of the other species of salmon targeted in a typical year for us here in Seattle. These fish can generally be targeted in the months of October and November. These fish have some of the most unique coloration of all the species, as they often have vertical purple bars/stripes, whereas most other species tend to get coloration laterally.
