UTERCabezon fishing in Washington Coast and Puget Sound
In Washington Coast and Puget Sound, cabezon peak April–September and December–February and are around year-round, spawning in December–February, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Coast rocks and Strait reefs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cabezon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound, month by month
- JanuarySpawning
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeak
- MayPeakCoast rocks and Strait reefs.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakPeak.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberAround
- DecemberSpawning
Where to fish cabezon 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 cabezon
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sand crabs (Pacific mole crabs)A soft-shell sand crab on a #4 to #2 hook, Carolina rig, cast just behind the first break — the corbina and barred surfperch bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 46–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cabezon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Peak season is April–September and December–February, with fish spawning in December–February (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cabezon are here year-round. May: Coast rocks and Strait reefs.
Where do cabezon hold in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, fishing pier — around Ilwaco, Westport, La Push, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Seattle.
What is the best bait for cabezon in Washington Coast and Puget Sound?
Live bait: squid, sand crabs (pacific mole crabs). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for cabezon 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 cabezon · Washington Coast & Puget Sound, the whole year