Puget Sound Bottom Fishing Charters

Puget Sound Bottom Fishing Charters

Best Bottom Fishing Charters in Puget Sound

Bottom Fishing in Puget Sound

Anglers spend their time in Puget Sound bottom fishing for some of the finest delicacies in the Pacific Northwest. Measuring close to 930 feet deep, the protected waters of the sound are abundant with Flounder, Lingcod, Cabezon, and more. Anglers fish the sound all year, usually seeing what they can pull up from the bottom in between Salmon seasons. Of course, there’s plenty of reasons to keep bottom fishing no matter the time of year: The fish taste fantastic and catching them can be a blast for the whole family!

What to Catch

The most common catch in these waters is Flounder, a relative of Halibut also known locally as “Sand Dabs.” This flatfish lives on the seafloor in water 40-120 feet deep and anglers hook into as many as 50-100 of them in a single trip. Fishing for Flounder is a great way to introduce children to the sport, since this fish is small and easy to catch.

The season for Lingcod runs from May to mid-June. While this may not be the prettiest fish you reel in from the bottom of the sound, it is one of the tastiest. Lings can grow to over 40 lbs, but anglers are only allowed to keep smaller fish (8-17 lbs).

You can add Dungeness Crab to your cooler as a little something extra if you’re fishing between July and early September (usually until Labor Day). In some years, the season re-opens in October and November.

How to Fish

While bottom fishing in Puget Sound, you’re likely to spend a lot of time drift fishing. This simple but effective technique produces Lingcod, Flounder, and other fish along the seafloor. Common baits include Spots, Croakers, Mullet, Pinfish, and Shrimp. You can even bounce jig heads along the bottom to entice a bite, but this is not nearly as effective as fishing with bait.

Size and bag limits apply to many species and you may not always be able to keep your catch. Be sure to ask your captain about local regulation ahead of time, or check for updates online before your trip.

Puget Sound
Excellent
4.5 / 5
Based on 28,443 reviews by FishingBooker anglers

What anglers said about Bottom Fishing in Puget Sound

Listen to the guy whoโ€™s been doing it for ages. Donโ€™t assume you know everything. Be willing to learn new techniques. Youโ€™ll catch them.
Very good
4.0 / 5
Listen to the guy whoโ€™s been doing it for ages. Donโ€™t assume you know everything. Be willing to learn new techniques. Youโ€™ll catch them.
Wind Knot
Wind Knot Oreland, PA
It was warm but not until around 10. Otherwise the sites were beautiful and the fish were biting a lot!! A few dog fish but we caught way more salmon than dog.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It was warm but not until around 10. Otherwise the sites were beautiful and the fish were biting a lot!! A few dog fish but we caught way more salmon than dog.
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Just get out on the water where you will find great adventure and make lifelong memories!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Just get out on the water where you will find great adventure and make lifelong memories!
Fish PNW Guide Service
Fish PNW Guide Service Bellevue, Washington
Keep in touch with your alloted captain and charter company, ask what weather and fishing conditions have been like and recommended changes prior to your arrival.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Keep in touch with your alloted captain and charter company, ask what weather and fishing conditions have been like and recommended changes prior to your arrival.
Best Seattle Fishing Charter
Best Seattle Fishing Charter Albuquerque, NM
Be prepared for different weather conditions. It can be very chilly in the morning out on the water, but can get quite warm in the afternoon.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Be prepared for different weather conditions. It can be very chilly in the morning out on the water, but can get quite warm in the afternoon.
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing Everett, WA
Check regulations on limits. Two fish is the limit. Assess whether a shorter trip than six hours is appropriate: we booked six hours, however only fished three because we had reached our limit, and the Guide was hesitant to continue catching and releasing, even though the hooks were barbless. as a guide myself, I totally understand this stance. Overall great trip.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Check regulations on limits. Two fish is the limit. Assess whether a shorter trip than six hours is appropriate: we booked six hours, however only fished three because we had reached our limit, and the Guide was hesitant to continue catching and releasing, even though the hooks were barbless. as a guide myself, I totally understand this stance. Overall great trip.
Best Seattle Fishing Charter
Best Seattle Fishing Charter Hicks, LA
Sunscreen and wearing layers. The morning was cool, but it warmed up significantly as the sun came out.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Sunscreen and wearing layers. The morning was cool, but it warmed up significantly as the sun came out.
Seeking Limits Guide Service
Seeking Limits Guide Service
Bring drinks and snacks as most of the time youโ€™ll just be waiting for the fish to bite the line.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Bring drinks and snacks as most of the time youโ€™ll just be waiting for the fish to bite the line.
Big King Salmon Charters
Big King Salmon Charters Everett, Washington
The salmon moved around and so did we. The captain put us on top of bait balls. We caught our limit of coho within 1.5 hours. We did 1 more hour of C n R. We went on to fishing for flounder. The action was continuous.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
The salmon moved around and so did we. The captain put us on top of bait balls. We caught our limit of coho within 1.5 hours. We did 1 more hour of C n R. We went on to fishing for flounder. The action was continuous.
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Book a guide for lake or River fishing to get a better idea on where to go & what to throw .
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Book a guide for lake or River fishing to get a better idea on where to go & what to throw .
Wind Knot
Wind Knot Fayetteville, TX
Try to go on a day without a lot of wind - the day we went it was extremely windy and we had a lot of chop.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Try to go on a day without a lot of wind - the day we went it was extremely windy and we had a lot of chop.
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing Knoxville, TN
Could just be the season but there was a ton of bait fish but also almost an infestation of dog sharks who would grab your bait before most salmon had a chance.
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Could just be the season but there was a ton of bait fish but also almost an infestation of dog sharks who would grab your bait before most salmon had a chance.
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing
Cut Plug Charters- Seattle Fishing Seattle, Washington
This is very convenient for those living in the Seattle-area, especially during the Coho run. Not even 10 minutes of sailing and you are on the fish. Very much worth it.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
This is very convenient for those living in the Seattle-area, especially during the Coho run. Not even 10 minutes of sailing and you are on the fish. Very much worth it.
Big King Salmon Charters
Big King Salmon Charters Tacoma, WA
Go out early and during crab season when it is open. Get a load of crab and fish for salmon while waiting for the pots to fill up!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Go out early and during crab season when it is open. Get a load of crab and fish for salmon while waiting for the pots to fill up!
No Worries Fishing Charters
No Worries Fishing Charters Port Orchard, Washington

Top Targeted Bottom Fishing Species in Puget Sound