Chilly Puget Sound Fishing: Squid, Steelhead, and Hotspots for a December Adventure

For December 6, 2024, fishing in the Puget Sound around Seattle is looking promising despite the chilly and wet weather. Here’s what you need to know: **Weather and Tides:** Today, you can expect temperatures around 44°F with significant rainfall, which is typical for this time of year in Seattle. The tide times for Olympia, Budd Inlet, are as follows: High tide at 3:45 AM with 12.91 ft, Low tide at 8:41 AM with 7.27 ft, High tide at 2:02 PM with 16.01 ft, and Low tide at 9:30 PM with -1.9 ft[2]. **Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise is at 7:49 AM, and sunset is at 4:22 PM. **Fish Activity:** December is a great time for squid fishing in Puget Sound, with peak activity usually occurring at night during or right at the flood tide change. You can catch squid using a trout-style rod and spinning reel with weighted pink, chartreuse, red, green, orange, or glow-in-the-dark jigs[1][4]. For steelhead, early-returning hatchery steelhead are starting to show up in Puget Sound rivers like the Snoqualmie and Skykomish. The lower parts of these rivers and coastal tributaries are good spots to try your luck. Side-drifting and trolling with flat-lined plugs can be effective[1][4]. **Hot Spots:** One of the best places to fish in the Puget Sound is Possession Point on the southern tip of Whidbey Island. This area offers fantastic fishing year-round due to its strategic location at the intersection of Admiralty Inlet, Possession Sound, and Central Puget Sound. It's a hotspot for salmon and other species, though be prepared for a rough boat ride[5]. Another good spot is the northern Puget Sound, particularly around Mutiny Bay and Admiralty Bay, which are known for their lingcod and other bottom fish. **Best Lures and Bait:** For squid, use the aforementioned weighted jigs in various colors. For steelhead, side-drifting with bait like eggs or using flat-lined plugs can be very effective. For salmon, try using lures that mimic their natural prey such as herring or small fish patterns. Overall, it's a good day to bundle up, check the tide times, and head out to catch some of the Puget Sound's winter fish offerings. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.