Here in Washington State, you can’t find enough time to hit all of the great fishing opportunities we have in August. For a saltwater fishing enthusiast, like myself, there is plenty to do. But if you want to spend time on your favorite river or lake, the opportunities are also plentiful.
Salmon fishing in most marine areas is in peak mode right now!
Puget Sound’s Marine Area 9 and 10 bring a lot of excitement during the summer. This year, Chinook fishing hasn’t been an easy proposition but most of the fish caught have been very good quality. I went fishing at Mid Channel a week ago and the three fish we brought to the boat were 16, 17 and 18 pounds. Truly high grade fish this year! Marine Area 11 has just started to pick up. On top of a chance at a trophy Chinook, Coho fishing in all Puget Sound marine areas has been pretty solid. We should see all Puget Sound Chinook fisheries last a while through August, and the runs are just starting to flood in. See all the Puget Sound areas mapped: Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Fishing Hot Spots.
Chinook Salmon fishing in the San Juan Islands has been good. According to the WDFW Fisheries Guidelines, it looks like we might be near our quota for a closure any day, but Coho Salmon are still an option.
Marine Area 5 at Sekiu just closed to Chinook retention, however you can still fish there for Coho. Marine Area 4 at Neah Bay will remain open for a little bit longer until the contraining Coho Salmon quota is reached. My recent Sekiu and Neah Bay Trip Report.
Westport continues to kick out high grade Chinook and good action on Coho. Also keep an eye on the emergency rules because it usually closes for salmon sometime in August.
Sockeye Salmon fishing has been really good! Baker Lake just met it’s escapement and closed, but a special opener for Lake Wenatchee is really causing some excitement. Brewster Pool is another Eastern Washington spot where folks have been finding success.
Salmon Beach Fishing is now a very good option. Point No Point, Deception Pass and all the beaches on the west side of Whidbey Island are just now starting to see healthy numbers of Coho Salmon. Bring your favorite metal jigs and hit the beach a couple hours on either side of the high tide.
Halibut
Halibut fishing opens in Neah Bay and La Push August 6. Although both those ports are closed to Covid, so you will have to launch at Westport or Sekiu. Westport and Ilwaco open ups as well! We should see Halibut fishing as good as our typical May openers!
Lingcod and Rockfish
You can always cruise out to the Washington Coast for some great fishing for Lingcod and Rockfish. Catches have been great for both the charter fleet and us recreational guys. Hit the North Columbia or Westport Jetties if you are shorebound.
Crabbing
Crabbing in Puget Sound opened up at the beginning of July and we there are still really good crab being hauled in. I’ve dropped pots a few times on our way out salmon fishing as a bonus. Nothing tastes like a Seattle summer like freshly boiled Dungeness. Check out How to Cook Dungeness Crab for an easy method.
Albacore Tuna
Pacific Coastal ports of Ilwaco and Westport are just heating up for Albacore Tuna. Hop on your favorite charter for a once in a lifetime experience. They are finding them 30-50 miles from port.
Largemouth Bass
Our local lakes have finally warmed up to swimming temperature. To cash in on some great bass fishing, head out early in the morning or right at dusk for Largemouth Bass. I prefer to fish at sunset and pitch topwater frogs until dark.
Trout Fishing
All of the lowland lakes in the Seattle area have cooled down a little on the trout front. But for the adventurous, head to the mountains for a hike. All of the lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness are seeing the peak of summer high-country trout fishing. Small spinners and Kastmaster spoons work very well this time of year. If you fly fish, hunt down that perfect bank spot with plenty of back casting room and retrieve a small nymph, or still-fish a chironomid pattern. Check out Hiking for Mountain Trout in the Pacific Northwest.
Yellowtail Rockfish – Pelagic and Prolific in the Pacific
