Marine Area 12

Hood Canal

Updated Sunday, September 6, 2026

About Marine Area 12

Marine Area 12 covers Hood Canal, a long, narrow fjord on the western side of Puget Sound. Hood Canal is unique in the Puget Sound system — its salmon fishery is severely restricted due to ESA-listed stocks, but it offers outstanding crabbing and shrimping opportunities.

The deep, protected waters of Hood Canal make it a year-round destination for shellfish. Hoodsport and Potlatch State Park are the go-to spots for crabbing, with some of the highest catch rates in the region. Bottomfish are available in limited areas, restricted to flatfish only north of Turner Creek.

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 6:56 AM – 3:09 PM▼ Outgoing 3:09 PM – 8:18 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 Bangor (NOAA station 9445133).

Upcoming week

SunSep 6TODAY

▼ L 6:56 AM -1.0′▲ H 3:09 PM 10.2′▼ L 8:18 PM 7.5′

MonSep 7

▲ H 12:40 AM 9.4′▼ L 8:03 AM -1.2′▲ H 3:56 PM 10.6′▼ L 9:16 PM 6.7′

TueSep 8

▲ H 2:01 AM 9.6′▼ L 9:01 AM -1.3′▲ H 4:32 PM 10.9′▼ L 10:02 PM 5.6′

WedSep 9

▲ H 3:08 AM 9.8′▼ L 9:52 AM -1.1′▲ H 5:02 PM 11.1′▼ L 10:44 PM 4.4′

ThuSep 10

▲ H 4:09 AM 10.0′▼ L 10:38 AM -0.5′▲ H 5:29 PM 11.2′▼ L 11:23 PM 3.2′

FriSep 11

▲ H 5:05 AM 10.1′▼ L 11:20 AM 0.4′▲ H 5:55 PM 11.2′

SatSep 12

▼ L 12:01 AM 2.2′▲ H 6:00 AM 10.1′▼ L 12:00 PM 1.6′▲ H 6:20 PM 11.2′

Current Conditions

Water Temp

56.3F

Pressure

1017.7 mb

Tide

7.1 ft

Species Outlook

Dungeness Crab

Open today · Thu–Mon · check sub-areaEmergency rule active

Bottomfish

Open for Bottomfish

Season Status

Dungeness CrabOpen today · Thu–Mon · check sub-area

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

Hood Canal Bridge

Bridge pilings create structure in otherwise open water — fish hold here

Best for: Crabbing, limited bottomfish (flatfish only)Depth: 40-80 ftStructure: Bridge pilings, deep channelBest tide: Slack tide for crabbing near the bridge

Hoodsport

The crabbing capital of Hood Canal — consistently high catch rates

Best for: Dungeness crab — drop pots in 30-60 ftDepth: 30-60 ftStructure: Sandy/muddy bottom, moderate depthBest tide: Incoming tide

Potlatch State Park

Easy access with productive crabbing and shrimping grounds

Best for: Crab, shrimp — shore access for pot deploymentDepth: 20-50 ftStructure: Gradually sloping bottomBest tide: Higher tides for easier pot access

Crab Spots

Hoodsport · Potlatch State Park · Triton Cove

Recent Catches (14 days)

Date	Species	Location	Count
2026-09-05	Coho	Saltwater Park Ramp	38
2026-09-05	Chinook	Saltwater Park Ramp	1
2026-09-04	Coho	Saltwater Park Ramp	59
2026-09-04	Coho	Quilcene Bay Ramp	10
2026-09-04	Coho	Union Ramp	27
2026-09-04	Chinook	Union Ramp	3
2026-09-03	Coho	Union Ramp	7
2026-08-30	Coho	Saltwater Park Ramp	24
2026-08-30	Coho	Union Ramp	5
2026-08-30	Chinook	Union Ramp	7
2026-08-30	Chinook	Saltwater Park Ramp	6
2026-08-29	Coho	Saltwater Park Ramp	37
2026-08-29	Chinook	Saltwater Park Ramp	5
2026-08-29	Chinook	Union Ramp	1
2026-08-29	Coho	Union Ramp	2

Access Points

Hoodsport boat launch
Potlatch State Park
Hood Canal Bridge
Triton Cove State Park

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 11
Tacoma Narrows / South Sound

Marine Area 13
South Puget Sound / Olympia

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fish for salmon in Hood Canal (Area 12)?

No. Salmon fishing in Marine Area 12 is closed year-round due to ESA-listed salmon stocks. This includes Chinook, Coho, and all other salmon species. Hood Canal is a no-go for salmon fishing.

Where should I crab in Hood Canal?

Hoodsport, Potlatch State Park, and Triton Cove are the top crab spots in Hood Canal. The deep, protected waters produce some of the best crab catch rates in Puget Sound.

Can I fish for bottomfish in Area 12?

Very limited. Bottomfish in Area 12 is restricted to flatfish only, north of Turner Creek, at depths less than 120 feet. Rockfish and lingcod are closed year-round.

Is lingcod open in Hood Canal?

No. Lingcod fishing in Marine Area 12 is closed year-round due to ESA protections.

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.