Question 1

What is the best tide for fishing in Puget Sound?

Accepted Answer

Tide changes — the hour before and after high or low tide — concentrate baitfish and trigger salmon and bottomfish feeding. Strong exchanges are best for salmon trolling, while slack tide is preferred for crabbing and shrimping so pots stay put.

Question 2

How does barometric pressure affect the fish bite?

Accepted Answer

Falling pressure before a front triggers active feeding — often the best bite of the week. Rising pressure after a front passes typically shuts the bite down as fish move deeper. Stable low pressure fishes well; stable high pressure is slower.

Question 3

Which Washington tide stations does this tool cover?

Accepted Answer

13 NOAA stations: Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Anacortes, Bellingham, Friday Harbor, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Sekiu, Neah Bay, La Push, Westport, and Aberdeen — covering Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, and the coast.

Question 4

Which tide station should I use for my Marine Area?

Accepted Answer

Marine Area 2 (Westport/Grays Harbor) uses Westport or Aberdeen; Marine Area 3 uses La Push; Marine Area 4 uses Neah Bay; Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) uses Sekiu; Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) uses Port Angeles; Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) uses Friday Harbor or Bellingham; Marine Area 8-1 (Deception Pass) uses Anacortes; Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) uses Port Townsend; Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Elliott Bay) uses Seattle; Marine Area 11 (Tacoma/Vashon) uses Tacoma; and Marine Area 13 (South Sound) uses Olympia.

Question 5

What Marine Area is Seattle in?

Accepted Answer

Seattle and Elliott Bay are in Marine Area 10. Tacoma and Vashon Island are Marine Area 11, Admiralty Inlet and Port Townsend are Marine Area 9, and the South Sound below the Narrows is Marine Area 13. Salmon and crab seasons are set separately for each area, so always check the rules for the specific area you are fishing.

Question 6

Why does tidal current matter more in some Marine Areas?

Accepted Answer

Areas with narrow passages move enormous volumes of water on each exchange. Deception Pass in Marine Area 8-1, Admiralty Inlet in Marine Area 9, and the Tacoma Narrows in Marine Area 11 all run hard on a big exchange. Strong current concentrates baitfish and triggers feeding, but it also makes crab and shrimp pots drift — use a bigger tide for trolling and a smaller exchange or slack water for setting pots.

Marine Area	Tide Station	Known For
Marine Area 2 — Westport / Grays Harbor	Westport, Aberdeen	Coastal salmon, razor clams, Dungeness crab
Marine Area 3 — La Push	La Push	Ocean salmon, halibut, lingcod
Marine Area 4 — Neah Bay	Neah Bay	Halibut, lingcod, ocean salmon
Marine Area 5 — Sekiu / Strait East	Sekiu	Summer Chinook, coho, halibut
Marine Area 6 — Port Angeles / Discovery Bay	Port Angeles	Chinook, halibut, Dungeness crab
Marine Area 7 — San Juan Islands	Friday Harbor, Bellingham	Blackmouth, crab, spot shrimp
Marine Area 8-1 — Deception Pass	Anacortes	Crab, blackmouth — strong tidal current
Marine Area 9 — Admiralty Inlet	Port Townsend	Chinook, coho, Dungeness crab
Marine Area 10 — Seattle / Elliott Bay	Seattle	Blackmouth, coho, crab, squid
Marine Area 11 — Tacoma / Vashon	Tacoma	Year-round Chinook, coho, crab
Marine Area 13 — South Sound	Olympia	Resident coho, crab, oysters and clams

🌊 Puget Sound & Washington Tide Charts

Tide Predictions

High & Low Tides

Tide Chart

Wind, Weather & Fishing Conditions

Bite Forecast

Which Tide Station for Your Marine Area