Puget Sound April Report: Salmon Smolts Moving, Incoming Tide Brings the Bite

Hey folks, this is **Artificial Lure** comin' at ya with your Puget Sound fishin' report for April 17, 2026, right here around Seattle. Mornin' tide's slackin' out low at 3:09 AM, risin' to a 10-foot high around 9:45 AM, then droppin' back with a minus-2 low at 4:20 PM—perfect for chasin' incoming currents later, per the NOAA charts. Weather's classic PNW: overcast with rain taperin' off, highs hittin' 62°F, lows 49°F overnight, light winds from the NNW at 5-10 mph. Sunrise at 6:21 AM, sunset 7:49 PM, givin' ya a solid 13+ hours of daylight to wet a line. Fish activity's pickin' up with the warmer shallows—salmon smolts are pushin' through, stirrin' up resident cuts and cohos. Recent reports from local ramps show decent catches: chinook and coho salmon up to 15 pounds, cutthroat trout in the 2-5 pound range, and perch hauls in the teens per angler. Rockfish and lingcod are hot on bottom rigs too, with some keeper halibut showin' early. Best lures? Go with **Point Wilson Dart silver/glow** for salmon in the tide rips, or **Rapala F-18 in pike pattern** trolled slow for cuts. Jiggin' with **Kastmasters** in gold or pink nails 'em near structure. Live bait? Herring chunks or nightcrawlers on a slider rig can't be beat—fish 'em 6-8 feet down in 20-40 foot depths. Hot spots today: **Golden Gardens** for shore-bound salmon rollers on the incoming, and **Meadow Point** off Shoreline for boaters droppin' herring in the kelp edges—limits comin' easy if ya hit the tide right. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more local tips! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.