Top 10 Saltwater Fish to Catch in Washington
Fish to Catch in Washington
Saltwater heavyweights. No room for the timid.
FISHYAF
Image Coming Soon
Top 10 Species
Meet the ten species that earned their spot on this list. Click any species to deep dive and learn more.
1
Chinook Salmon
Verified
World Record
97 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska
Les Anderson / 1985
Kenai River, Alaska
Signature Fact
Laboratory magnets made juvenile Chinook aim as if 'teleported' north or south, proving they navigate by Earth's field.
2
Pacific Halibut
Verified
World Record
459 lb 0 oz
Jack Tragis / 1996
Unalaska Bay, Alaska
Jack Tragis / 1996
Unalaska Bay, Alaska
Signature Fact
The IGFA all-tackle record hit 459 pounds-an 8-foot, refrigerator-door flatfish nicknamed a true "barn door.
3
Coho Salmon
Verified
World Record
33 lb 4 oz
Les Anderson / 1989
Skeena River, British Columbia
Les Anderson / 1989
Skeena River, British Columbia
Signature Fact
One of the few salmon that regularly crush topwater lures in saltwater-boils, cartwheels, absolute surface chaos.
4
Lingcod
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
Pending
Signature Fact
Some lingcod have naturally blue-green flesh that cooks snow-white, thanks to the pigment biliverdin.
5
Black Rockfish
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
23 lb 4 oz
James R. Toth / 2001
Washington, USA
James R. Toth / 2001
Washington, USA
Signature Fact
She can bank a mate's sperm for months, then unleash over a million live larvae in one birth.
6
Striped Bass (Striper)
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
81 lb 14 oz
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Gregory Myerson / 2011
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
Signature Fact
Their eggs must stay drifting for about 48 hours-sink once, and the entire spawn suffocates.
7
Bonneville Cutthroat
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
18 lb 3 oz
Darwin L. Peterson / 1966
Strawberry Reservoir, Utah
Darwin L. Peterson / 1966
Strawberry Reservoir, Utah
Signature Fact
During Bear Lake's January Cisco Disco, they mob the shallows under ice, gorging so hard they cough scales.
8
Shortraker Rockfish
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
44 lb 1 oz
James R. Toth / 2001
Alaska, USA
James R. Toth / 2001
Alaska, USA
Signature Fact
Radiocarbon dating pegged a shortraker at over 120 years old-older than your grandfather's favorite reel.
9
Striped Marlin
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
494 lb 0 oz
Bill Boniface / 1986
Tutukaka, New Zealand
Bill Boniface / 1986
Tutukaka, New Zealand
Signature Fact
Their cobalt stripes can switch on like neon under nervous control, apparently signaling teammates during tag-teamed baitball raids.
10
Roosterfish
Learn More Here Verified Catch
World Record
114 lb 0 oz
Mark Davis / 1960
La Paz, Mexico
Mark Davis / 1960
La Paz, Mexico
Signature Fact
Roosterfish push hornlike swim bladder extensions into the skull, supercharging low-frequency hearing to home on thrashing prey.
FAQs
What fish can you catch in Washington?
You’ll find chinook salmon, Pacific pacific-halibut, coho salmon, lingcod, black rockfish, and more in Washington saltwater.
What is the best time of year to fish in Washington?
Spring through early fall is prime time for most saltwater species in Washington.
Where are the best places to fish in Washington?
Washington’s saltwater spots offer everything from salmon runs to rockfish holes, with action across the coast and sound.
What gear do you need for fishing in Washington?
Bring sturdy rods, strong line, and saltwater tackle—think big hooks for pacific-halibut, jigs for lingcod, and spoons for salmon.
What are the easiest fish to catch in Washington?
Black rockfish and coho salmon are usually some of the more accessible saltwater catches in Washington.
