UTERPink (humpy) salmon fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, pink (humpy) salmon peak August and are around July–September, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Odd years: the Sound fills with millions of humpies, peaking mid-August — pink mini-hoochies and pink buzz bombs off every point and beach.
Not in Washington Coast and Puget Sound this month.
Pink (humpy) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArrivingODD YEARS ONLY (2025, 2027 …) — Puget Sound pinks show at Sekiu and Neah Bay late in the month. In even years like 2026 there's almost no run.
- AugustPeakOdd years: the Sound fills with millions of humpies, peaking mid-August — pink mini-hoochies and pink buzz bombs off every point and beach.
- SeptemberLeavingOdd years: South Sound and river mouths (Snohomish, Puyallup) early September, then they're in the rivers.
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish pink (humpy) salmon near Ilwaco, Westport, La Push
An exposed outer coast (Westport, La Push, Neah Bay), the Columbia mouth and Willapa Bay at the south end, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound and Hood Canal — deep, cold fjords with points, kelp and steep shelves.
What to use for pink (humpy) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Leader20–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#1–4/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–62°F water, best at 50–58°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch pink (humpy) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is August. Pink (humpy) salmon are in Washington Coast and Puget Sound July–September. August: Odd years: the Sound fills with millions of humpies, peaking mid-August — pink mini-hoochies and pink buzz bombs off every point and beach.
Where do pink (humpy) salmon hold in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Look on beach / surf, pass / inlet, fishing pier, channel edge, river — around Ilwaco, Westport, La Push, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Seattle.
What is the best bait for pink (humpy) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Live bait: herring. Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 20–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook #1–4/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for pink (humpy) salmon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing.
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All about pink (humpy) salmon · Washington Coast & Puget Sound, the whole year