Puget Sound Fishing Report: Pinks, Coho, and Crab Limits - Maximize Your August Morning on the Salt

Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Friday, August 8th Puget Sound fishing report, right as sunrise hit at 5:46 AM. If you’re casting lines between now and sunset at 8:32 PM, it’s shaping up to be a classic August morning on the salt.

First things first—tides are key today. According to Puget Sound Washington Daily Fishing Report, we’re coming off a solid morning high tide just after 11 AM peaking at 5.54 feet. Early action will be best through the morning hours as baitfish ride those floods up onto the beaches and into the shallows. If you’re planning to hit the water in the afternoon, expect slowing currents and a tougher bite, so aim for that pre-lunch window if you want your chances maximized.

Weather’s in our favor, too. Marine weather forecasts call for light north winds at 5 knots, maybe bumping to 10 knots by midday, and calm seas less than 2 feet everywhere from the Tacoma Narrows up to Port Townsend and out toward Whidbey. Skies are partly cloudy, easier on your eyes but with plenty of light to keep the fish active and moving, especially salmon.

Speaking of salmon: pinks are absolutely thick in the Sound right now. Hella Fishy Adventures was reporting heavy pink salmon action just yesterday all across central and north Sound beaches and from small craft—expect fast limits trolling or jigging BuzzBombs, white hoochies, or drifting a Dick Nite spoon. Coho are mixing in for those jigging deeper pinks off points, with Chinook showing off in the southern reaches—just a few days ago, anglers out of Olympia were hauling up the biggest Chinooks of the week, mostly at dawn[3][9].

Most of the recent catches have come near the mouths of rivers—Snohomish, Nisqually, and Puyallup produce well after a fresh tide or rain as salmon school up. Jeff Head has been the hot spot for both pinks and coho using Ace Hi Flies behind standard flashers and plugs fished at 35 feet or less. Instagram anglers posted solid success on plugs and flashers just under the surface, so consider running light wire leaders and swapping colors between chartreuse and pink as the light changes[6].

Top lures for salmon right now:
- **BuzzBombs (Pink & Green)**
- **White or Chartreuse Hoochies**
- **Ace Hi Fly on a Flasher**
- **Dick Nite Spoon for drifting**

For bait, fresh herring or squid strips rule, especially under low light, but if you’re targeting bottom fish or crabbing between bites, chicken and mackerel are tried-and-true favorites for the pots as recommended by local TikTok reports[4].

If you’re after Dungeness crab, crab limits continue strong especially during slack tides—try mackerel or squid for best results. Several locals reminded everyone to get all licenses and crab endorsements squared away before hitting the dock, so don’t skip that step[4].

Hot spots to hit today:
- **Jeff Head:** Outstanding salmon reports, especially for pinks and coho.
- **Point Defiance:** Reliable for early tide salmon and crabbing at the low tide switch.
- **Edmonds Beach and Pier:** Bank anglers are scoring on pinks and the occasional coho, especially around first light.

Remember, the summer bite’s heating up as the Sound fills with baitfish—it’s the prime time for family outings, morning limits, and some big stories. Salmon, lingcod, and even the occasional trout are being caught in good numbers from boats and beaches around Everett, Kingston, and Tacoma. Don’t forget to try a pink splatter dodger or a Moonshine pattern if you’re targeting kokanee at Lake Sammamish, as reported by Gone Fishing Northwest[2].

That’s a wrap for today’s report. Thanks for tuning in to this local rundown. Be sure to subscribe for your daily tide, lure and limit updates—because every session starts with knowing what’s biting, where to be, and what to throw.

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