Puget Sound Fishing Report: Late Fall Bites, Tides, and Tactics for Salmon, Bottomfish, and Crab

Artificial Lure here with your Puget Sound daily fishing report for Thursday, October 30th, 2025. We're rolling into late fall, and while mornings start crisp, the fish and local scene are still showing plenty of life. First, your **tidal report**: Today we saw a **morning low tide around 5:34 a.m.**, with the next **high tide peaking at 1:22 p.m.** before dropping off to another low at 8:08 p.m. Tidal coefficients are sitting low, meaning only mild current, so fish might be holding deeper or tighter to structure—expect subtle shifts rather than dramatic runs of action according to Tides4Fishing. We’re in those typical short days; **sunrise was at 7:51 a.m. and sunset clocks in tonight at 5:53 p.m.**, so plan your outings accordingly. **Weather-wise**, expect typical late-October vibes. According to NOAA, it's a cool start in the 40s, climbing to the mid-50s, with patchy clouds and a slight east wind. Should be dry today, so you'll have comfortable conditions for casting. On to **fish activity**: Salmon season is winding down, but the late run of **chum ("dog") salmon** is creating a commotion in estuaries and river mouths, and local anglers are still pulling a few hard-fighting coho in open Sound. Reports from recent days suggest **chum are thick around the Nisqually delta**, and folks are still picking up some **coho in the shipping lanes** off Edmonds and Shilshole—mostly early or late in the day. The big October push of pinks is long gone; the last holdovers are now way upriver or spawned out. If it’s bottomfish you’re after, the **lingcod bite remains respectable within the 120-foot contour,** especially near rocky reefs off West Seattle and Southworth. **Pier anglers** at Seacrest and Des Moines are still landing **flounder and an occasional cabezon.** For the crabbers, Dungeness have been moving, and pots set near Alki or Possession Bar on an incoming tide are worth checking. **Recent catches**: According to Puget Sound Fishing Report, yesterday saw a couple of limits of coho salmon come off the boats trolling near Edmonds. Beach fishers reported a handful of decent chum near Lincoln Park in West Seattle, mainly turning up at dawn. Lingcod and flounder continue to bend rods along the city piers, with squid jiggers on the Elliott Bay waterfront also doing well at night. **Best lures and bait** this week: - For salmon, try a **purple/chartreuse hoochie behind a green flasher** or a **cut-plug herring**, especially if the water’s a bit murky from recent rain—tips endorsed by Gone Fishing Northwest. - Chum salmon respond well to **pink yarn flies or jigs tipped with scent** near river mouths. - Lingcod are hammering **white swimbaits and large herring** on a dropper rig. - For flounder and general bottomfish, a **simple chunk of squid or sandworm** on a Carolina rig is a go-to. - Squid jigs in natural or pink patterns have found success lately for the nocturnal pier crowd. For **hot spots**, I'd set my sights on: - **Edmonds Marina bre This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.