Marine Area 11

Tacoma Narrows / South Sound

Updated Sunday, September 6, 2026

Active Regulations

CLOSED: Upper Green (Duwamish) River closed to fishing from Sept. 16–Oct. 31 (All species.)

Closes all fishing.

Effective 2026-09-16 to 2026-10-31. Read the WDFW rule →

CLOSED: Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island) salmon fishery update (Chinook salmon.)

Closes Chinook salmon retention.

Effective 2026-08-15 to 2026-09-30. Read the WDFW rule →

About Marine Area 11

Marine Area 11 is arguably the most storied salmon fishing area in Puget Sound. Point Defiance — "THE spot" for South Sound Chinook — has been producing trophy fish for generations. The combination of deep water, strong currents, and clay bank structure creates ideal conditions for salmon.

This area is the epicenter of Puget Sound jigging, with anglers working 2-4 oz jigs along the clay banks around Point Defiance and Tacoma Narrows. Commencement Bay and Gig Harbor round out a diverse area that also offers excellent crabbing and bottomfish opportunities.

Map & Tide

Where the structure is, and when the water moves. Tap a hotspot for its depth, structure, and best tide, then time your trip around the tide windows below.

Fishing hotspotTap a pin for depth, structure & best tide.

▲ Incoming 7:07 AM – 3:25 PM▼ Outgoing 3:25 PM – 8:41 PM

The bite usually turns on around the transitions — the hour or so on either side of a high or low, when current moves bait. Predicted tides for Tacoma (NOAA station 9446484).

Upcoming week

SunSep 6TODAY

▼ L 7:07 AM -0.7′▲ H 3:25 PM 10.9′▼ L 8:41 PM 7.7′

MonSep 7

▲ H 1:04 AM 10.0′▼ L 8:15 AM -1.0′▲ H 4:10 PM 11.4′▼ L 9:39 PM 6.7′

TueSep 8

▲ H 2:21 AM 10.2′▼ L 9:16 AM -1.1′▲ H 4:46 PM 11.7′▼ L 10:25 PM 5.5′

WedSep 9

▲ H 3:28 AM 10.6′▼ L 10:08 AM -1.0′▲ H 5:16 PM 11.9′▼ L 11:05 PM 4.3′

ThuSep 10

▲ H 4:27 AM 10.9′▼ L 10:54 AM -0.5′▲ H 5:43 PM 12.0′▼ L 11:43 PM 3.1′

FriSep 11

▲ H 5:21 AM 11.0′▼ L 11:37 AM 0.4′▲ H 6:08 PM 12.1′

SatSep 12

▼ L 12:19 AM 2.0′▲ H 6:13 AM 11.0′▼ L 12:18 PM 1.6′▲ H 6:34 PM 12.0′

Current Conditions

Water Temp

56.3F

Pressure

1017.7 mb

Tide

7.1 ft

Species Outlook

Chinook Salmon

Closed for Chinook SalmonEmergency rule active

Coho Salmon

Open for Coho SalmonEmergency rule active

Dungeness Crab

Summer season endedEmergency rule active

Lingcod

Closed for LingcodEmergency rule active

Bottomfish

Open for BottomfishEmergency rule active

Season Status

Chinook SalmonClosed for Chinook Salmon

Coho SalmonOpen for Coho Salmon

Dungeness CrabSummer season ended

LingcodClosed for Lingcod

BottomfishOpen for Bottomfish

Emergency rules checked live as of Sunday, September 6, 2026. Base seasons are a static quick reference — see source and last-verified date below.

WDFW · WDFW base seasons — quick reference

Verified Jun 28, 2026

Check WDFW rules →

Base seasons change annually; emergency rules can open or close areas in-season. Reference only — not legal advice.

Fishing Hotspots

Point Defiance

THE spot for South Sound Chinook — clay banks hold bait and fish in a compact zone year-round

Best for: Chinook jigging and trolling — the best jigging water in Puget SoundDepth: 40-80 ft along the banksStructure: Clay banks with steep drop-offsBest tide: Both tides — fish the clay banks on the incoming, the point on the outgoing

Point Gibson

Extension of the Point Defiance structure — less pressure, same fish

Best for: Chinook, lingcod around the rocky structureDepth: 40-70 ftStructure: Rocky point with clay transitionBest tide: Ebb tide

Gig Harbor

Harbor mouth creates a funnel — fish cruise past the entrance

Best for: Chinook trolling the harbor mouth, crabbing insideDepth: 30-60 ft at the mouthStructure: Narrow harbor entrance with deep channelBest tide: Outgoing tide pushes bait out of the harbor

Commencement Bay

Industrial bay with surprising productivity — Puyallup River outflow brings nutrients

Best for: Fall Coho and Chum, early season ChinookDepth: 40-80 ftStructure: Deep bay with river outflowBest tide: Outgoing tide

Tacoma Narrows

Extreme current creates feed lanes — fish stack at current breaks

Best for: Chinook in current breaks — heavy jigs (3-4 oz) neededDepth: 60-120 ftStructure: Deep narrows with strong tidal flowBest tide: Slack tide transitions — do NOT fish peak current

Crab Spots

Titlow Beach · Dash Point · Les Davis Pier

Recent Catches (14 days)

Date	Species	Location	Count
2026-09-05	Chinook	Point Defiance Public Ramp	1
2026-09-05	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	68
2026-09-05	Coho	Point Defiance Boathouse	28
2026-09-05	Chinook	Point Defiance Boathouse	1
2026-09-04	Chinook	Point Defiance Public Ramp	1
2026-09-04	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	38
2026-09-04	Coho	Gig Harbor Ramp	5
2026-09-03	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	18
2026-09-03	Coho	Point Defiance Boathouse	15
2026-09-01	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	12
2026-09-01	Coho	Gig Harbor Ramp	5
2026-08-30	Coho	Point Defiance Boathouse	13
2026-08-30	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	33
2026-08-30	Chinook	Point Defiance Public Ramp	1
2026-08-29	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	41

Access Points

Point Defiance boat launch
Gig Harbor marina
Narrows Marina
Les Davis Pier
Titlow Beach

Other Marine Areas

Marine Area 8-1
Deception Pass / Skagit Bay

Marine Area 8-2
Possession Sound / Everett

Marine Area 9
Admiralty Inlet

Marine Area 10
Elliott Bay / Seattle

Marine Area 12
Hood Canal

Marine Area 13
South Puget Sound / Olympia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is biting in Marine Area 11 right now?

Area 11 is a year-round fishery centered on Point Defiance. Spring blackmouth start in April, summer kings peak August-September, and fall runs extend through November. Check our daily predictions for current conditions.

Best spots to fish in Marine Area 11?

Point Defiance is THE spot — specifically the clay banks and Point Gibson. Tacoma Narrows produces on the right tides. Gig Harbor mouth and Commencement Bay are also productive.

How do I jig at Point Defiance?

Use 2 oz Puget Pounder or Laser Minnow jigs in green/white. Drop to bottom, reel up 5-10 cranks, and work sharp upward snaps with controlled free-fall. Most strikes happen on the drop. Fish 40-80 feet along the clay banks.

Where can I fish from shore in Area 11?

Les Davis Pier in Tacoma, Titlow Beach, and Dash Point State Park all offer shore fishing access. Titlow Beach is also a good crabbing spot from shore.

Disclaimer: Regulations change frequently via emergency rules. Always verify current regulations at wdfw.wa.gov before fishing. FishInsight provides predictions and data analysis, not legal regulatory advice.