Top 5 Fishing Spots Near Seattle

After 15+ years of guiding in the Pacific Northwest, I've fished just about every body of water within a couple hours of Seattle. Some spots live up to the hype. Others are hidden gems that most visitors never discover. Here are my top five fishing destinations near Seattle - and what makes each one special.

1. Puget Sound - The Crown Jewel

If you only fish one place near Seattle, make it Puget Sound. This inland sea offers world-class salmon fishing with the Seattle skyline on one side and the Olympic Mountains on the other. It's the experience that keeps my clients coming back year after year.

What you'll catch:

• Chinook (King) Salmon - The big prize, averaging 15-25 pounds with fish over 30 pounds possible
• Coho (Silver) Salmon - Aggressive fighters and excellent table fare
• Pink Salmon - Available in odd-numbered years, great for beginners
• Lingcod & Rockfish - Year-round bottom fishing action

Best time: July through October for salmon, but there's genuinely good fishing twelve months a year.

Why it's #1: No other fishery near a major city offers this combination of big fish, stunning scenery, and wildlife. You might spot orca whales, bald eagles, and harbor seals on any given trip.

2. Westport & the Washington Coast

Westport is Washington's premier ocean fishing port, and for good reason. The Pacific Ocean fishery here is on a different level - bigger fish, stronger currents, and the raw power of open-water fishing.

What you'll catch:

• Halibut - The barn doors of the Pacific, with fish regularly exceeding 40 pounds
• Chinook Salmon - Ocean-run kings that are bigger and stronger than their Puget Sound counterparts
• Lingcod - Aggressive predators that put up an incredible fight
• Albacore Tuna - Late summer offshore runs (weather permitting)

Best time: March through September, depending on species and WDFW seasons.

Pro tip: Westport trips are worth the drive from Seattle (about 2.5 hours). Plan for a full-day charter to make the most of it.

3. Snoqualmie River

The Snoqualmie River is one of the closest quality river fisheries to Seattle - about 30 minutes east of the city. It's an outstanding steelhead and salmon river that flows through beautiful Cascade foothills.

What you'll catch:

• Winter Steelhead - December through March, with fish averaging 8-12 pounds
• Fall Chinook Salmon - September through November
• Coho Salmon - October through November
• Trout - Resident rainbow and cutthroat year-round

Best time: Winter steelhead season (December-March) is the main draw, but fall salmon runs are excellent.

Why anglers love it: It's close to Seattle, wadeable in many sections, and the winter steelhead fishing can be absolutely lights-out on the right day.

4. Skagit River

About 90 minutes north of Seattle, the Skagit is one of the most legendary steelhead rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Fly fishermen travel from around the world to fish this river, but conventional anglers do extremely well here too.

What you'll catch:

• Winter Steelhead - Wild fish averaging 8-15 pounds, with occasional 20-pounders
• Summer Steelhead - Smaller windows but quality fish
• Bull Trout - Catch-and-release only, but a bucket-list species
• Pink Salmon - Massive odd-year runs (millions of fish)

Best time: December through April for steelhead. Pink salmon runs in odd-numbered years (August-September) are staggering.

What makes it special: The Skagit has some of the healthiest wild steelhead runs left in the lower 48. Fishing here feels like stepping back in time to what PNW rivers used to be.

5. Lake Washington & Ship Canal

This one surprises people. Lake Washington, right in the middle of Seattle, actually offers surprisingly good fishing. The lake and its connected Ship Canal provide unique urban fishing opportunities.

What you'll catch:

• Sockeye Salmon - The Ship Canal sockeye run is a Seattle tradition (July)
• Smallmouth Bass - Excellent population, fun on light tackle
• Rainbow Trout - Stocked regularly, great for families
• Perch & Panfish - Easy fishing for kids and beginners

Best time: July for sockeye salmon, spring and summer for bass and trout.

Urban fishing at its finest: There's something special about catching salmon with the Seattle skyline behind you. It's a great option for visitors with limited time.

Planning Your Fishing Trip

If you have one day: Puget Sound salmon fishing. No question. It's the quintessential Seattle fishing experience.

If you have a weekend: Day 1 on Puget Sound for salmon, Day 2 on a river for steelhead (seasonal).

If you have a week: Hit all five spots and experience the incredible diversity of Pacific Northwest fishing.

The Bottom Line

What makes the Seattle area special for anglers is the variety. Saltwater, rivers, lakes, and the open ocean - all within a short drive. You can chase different species in completely different environments without ever leaving western Washington.

Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, I'd love to help you experience the best fishing the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Every spot on this list is one I've fished hundreds of times, and I never get tired of any of them.