Marine Area 13

South Puget Sound / Olympia

Updated Sunday, September 6, 2026

About Marine Area 13

Marine Area 13 covers the southernmost reaches of Puget Sound, from the Nisqually River delta to Olympia and the many inlets that define South Sound. This area offers a different character from northern areas — shallower, warmer waters with extensive mudflat habitat and strong Chum and Coho runs in fall.

Boston Harbor and Budd Inlet are the main fishing access points. The Nisqually Reach is a productive stretch for salmon during the fall runs. Henderson Inlet offers sheltered crabbing. While less known than the areas to the north, Area 13 rewards anglers who know the tides.

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.

Current Conditions

Water Temp

56.3F

Pressure

1017.7 mb

Tide

7.1 ft

Species Outlook

Chinook Salmon

Open for Chinook Salmon

Coho Salmon

Open for Coho Salmon

Dungeness Crab

Closed — until further noticeEmergency rule active

Lingcod

Closed for Lingcod

Bottomfish

Open for Bottomfish

Season Status

Chinook SalmonOpen for Chinook Salmon

Coho SalmonOpen for Coho Salmon

Dungeness CrabClosed — until further notice

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

Boston Harbor

Primary marina for South Sound — fish staging areas near the harbor

Best for: Fall Coho and Chum, summer Chinook, crabbingDepth: 20-60 ftStructure: Harbor with adjacent channelsBest tide: Incoming tide brings fish into the harbor area

Budd Inlet

Olympia's waterfront — accessible fishing with occasional good action

Best for: Salmon, bottomfish — urban convenienceDepth: 30-80 ftStructure: Deep inlet with muddy bottomBest tide: Incoming tide

Nisqually Reach

Nisqually River delta funnels migrating salmon through this corridor

Best for: Fall salmon — Chinook, Coho, Chum run through hereDepth: 20-60 ft in the channelsStructure: River delta with channels and mudflatsBest tide: Outgoing tide concentrates fish in the channels

Henderson Inlet

Sheltered inlet with excellent crabbing and some salmon action

Best for: Crab — protected water makes for comfortable crabbingDepth: 15-40 ftStructure: Sheltered inlet with muddy bottomBest tide: Higher tides

Crab Spots

Boston Harbor · Henderson Inlet · Nisqually Reach

Recent Catches (14 days)

Date	Species	Location	Count
2026-09-04	Coho	Point Defiance Public Ramp	2
2026-09-04	Chinook	Luhr Beach Ramp	4
2026-09-04	Coho	Hartstine Is. Ramp	2
2026-09-04	Chinook	Gig Harbor Ramp	1
2026-09-04	Coho	Boston Harbor Ramp/Marina	2
2026-09-04	Coho	Zittels Marina	2
2026-09-04	Chinook	Zittels Marina	2
2026-09-04	Chinook	Point Defiance Public Ramp	1
2026-09-03	Chinook	Hartstine Is. Ramp	2
2026-09-02	Coho	Boston Harbor Ramp/Marina	1
2026-09-01	Chinook	Point Defiance Public Ramp	3
2026-09-01	Chinook	Luhr Beach Ramp	2
2026-09-01	Coho	Luhr Beach Ramp	2
2026-08-31	Coho	Boston Harbor Ramp/Marina	4
2026-08-31	Chinook	Zittels Marina	1

Access Points

Boston Harbor Marina
Zittel's Marina
Luhr Beach boat launch
Olympia city docks

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 12
Hood Canal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is biting in Marine Area 13 right now?

Area 13 fishes well from spring through fall. Blackmouth start in April, summer kings run August-September, and fall brings strong Coho and Chum runs. Check our daily predictions for current ratings.

Best spots to fish in Marine Area 13?

Boston Harbor and Nisqually Reach are the top salmon spots. Budd Inlet near Olympia is accessible. Henderson Inlet is the go-to for crabbing in protected waters.

Where can I crab in Area 13?

Henderson Inlet, Boston Harbor, and Nisqually Reach are the top crab spots. The sheltered inlets make for comfortable crabbing even on windy days.

Is Area 13 less crowded than Area 10?

Yes, significantly. Area 13 sees a fraction of the fishing pressure of areas closer to Seattle. If you are willing to make the drive to Olympia, you will often have productive water to yourself.

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.