Marine Area 9

Admiralty Inlet

Updated Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Active Regulations

CLOSED: WDFW closes Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet shellfish harvesting effective immediately following reports of lethal levels of shellfish biotoxins

About Marine Area 9

Marine Area 9 covers Admiralty Inlet, the deep-water channel connecting Puget Sound to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This area sees the first fish entering Puget Sound and consistently produces some of the largest Chinook in the system.

Point No Point and Jefferson Head are legendary fishing locations with documented trophy-class Chinook catches. The deep water and strong currents mean bigger gear is often needed, but the payoff can be spectacular. This area also offers some of the best halibut fishing in the Sound.

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 4:59 AM – 12:14 PM▼ Outgoing 12:14 PM – 3:47 PM▲ Incoming 3:47 PM – 10:18 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 Port Townsend (NOAA station 9444900).

Upcoming week

TueJul 21TODAY

▼ L 4:59 AM 1.6′▲ H 12:14 PM 5.4′▼ L 3:47 PM 4.6′▲ H 10:18 PM 8.3′

WedJul 22

▼ L 5:51 AM 0.8′▲ H 2:15 PM 6.2′▼ L 4:54 PM 5.8′▲ H 10:45 PM 8.0′

ThuJul 23

▼ L 6:40 AM 0.2′▲ H 3:34 PM 7.1′▼ L 6:28 PM 6.7′▲ H 11:16 PM 7.7′

FriJul 24

▼ L 7:26 AM -0.2′▲ H 4:24 PM 7.8′▼ L 8:07 PM 7.0′▲ H 11:54 PM 7.5′

SatJul 25

▼ L 8:09 AM -0.6′▲ H 5:03 PM 8.3′▼ L 9:21 PM 7.1′

SunJul 26

▲ H 12:42 AM 7.4′▼ L 8:50 AM -0.8′▲ H 5:37 PM 8.5′▼ L 10:04 PM 7.0′

MonJul 27

▲ H 1:35 AM 7.4′▼ L 9:29 AM -1.0′▲ H 6:06 PM 8.5′▼ L 10:32 PM 6.8′

Current Conditions

Water Temp

56.3F

Pressure

1014.9 mb

Tide

4.5 ft

Species Outlook

Chinook Salmon

Closed for Chinook Salmon

Coho Salmon

Closed for Coho Salmon

Dungeness Crab

Closed today · Opens Thu, Jul 23

Pacific Halibut

Closed for Pacific Halibut

Lingcod

Closed for Lingcod

Bottomfish

Closed for Bottomfish

Season Status

Chinook SalmonClosed for Chinook Salmon

Coho SalmonClosed for Coho Salmon

Dungeness CrabClosed today · Opens Thu, Jul 23

Pacific HalibutClosed for Pacific Halibut

LingcodClosed for Lingcod

BottomfishClosed for Bottomfish

Emergency rules checked live as of Tuesday, July 21, 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

Jefferson Head

First landmass salmon encounter entering Puget Sound — creates a natural ambush point

Best for: Trophy Chinook — some of the largest fish in the Sound hit here firstDepth: 80-150 ftStructure: Rocky point with deep water close to shoreBest tide: Ebb tide pushes fish along the point

Point No Point

Classic point with strong current convergence — fish funnel past on both sides

Best for: Chinook, halibut — year-round producerDepth: 60-120 ftStructure: Sand/gravel point extending into deep channelBest tide: Flood tide — fish the back eddy on the south side

Bush Point

Whidbey Island point with consistent tidal flow and bait concentrations

Best for: Chinook trolling, lingcod jigging near rocksDepth: 40-100 ftStructure: Rocky point with kelp and current breaksBest tide: Ebb tide

Double Bluff

Long bluff creates a current shadow — fish hold in the calm water

Best for: Chinook, blackmouth in winterDepth: 40-80 ftStructure: Clay bluff with sandy bottom offshoreBest tide: Flood tide — fish the lee side

Recent Catches (14 days)

Date	Species	Location	Count
2026-07-18	Chinook	Point Defiance Boathouse	2
2026-07-18	Coho	Point Defiance Boathouse	1
2026-07-18	Coho	Port of Friday Harbor Marina, San Juan Is	2
2026-07-18	Chinook	Port Townsend Boat Haven Ramp	70
2026-07-18	Coho	Port Townsend Boat Haven Ramp	1
2026-07-18	Chinook	Shilshole Public Ramp	37
2026-07-18	Coho	Shilshole Public Ramp	38
2026-07-18	Chinook	Port of Friday Harbor Marina, San Juan Is	2
2026-07-18	Chinook	Armeni Public Ramp	10
2026-07-18	Coho	Armeni Public Ramp	8
2026-07-18	Chinook	Cornet Bay Public Ramp	2
2026-07-18	Chinook	Everett Ramp)	166
2026-07-18	Coho	Everett Ramp)	178
2026-07-18	Halibut	Everett Ramp)	2
2026-07-18	Chinook	Kingston Public Ramp	7

Access Points

Kingston marina
Point No Point
Port Townsend boat haven
Fort Worden

Other Marine Areas

Marine Area 8-1
Deception Pass / Skagit Bay

Marine Area 8-2
Possession Sound / Everett

Marine Area 10
Elliott Bay / Seattle

Marine Area 11
Tacoma Narrows / South Sound

Marine Area 12
Hood Canal

Marine Area 13
South Puget Sound / Olympia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is biting in Marine Area 9 right now?

Area 9 is one of the most productive marine areas in Puget Sound. Chinook year-round, halibut in spring, and lingcod in early summer. Check our daily predictions for current species ratings.

Best spots to fish in Marine Area 9?

Point No Point and Jefferson Head are the two premier salmon spots. Double Bluff produces well on certain tides. Bush Point on Whidbey Island rounds out the top spots.

Can I fish for halibut in Area 9?

Yes. Halibut season typically runs April through June in Area 9, with a daily limit of 1 and an annual limit of 6. A descending device is required. Check WDFW for exact dates as they adjust based on quota.

What gear do I need for Area 9?

Heavy gear is recommended — 15-18 lb downrigger balls, 25+ lb test leaders, and flasher/herring combos. The strong currents in Admiralty Inlet demand heavier weight to stay in the zone.

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.