Fishing on Lincoln Park
A rare stretch of natural, undeveloped shoreline within Seattle's city limits, Lincoln Park has become one of the most popular spots in town for salmon anglers willing to fish from the beach rather than a pier. When the pink salmon run hits its peak in odd-numbered years, this West Seattle park turns into one of the liveliest "combat fishing" scenes anywhere in Puget Sound. With its forested bluffs, beach trails, and the shore around Coleman Point offering prime casting spots, it gives city anglers a genuine taste of natural shoreline fishing without ever leaving Seattle.
Where is Lincoln Park?
Lincoln Park sits along the Puget Sound shoreline in West Seattle, near the Fauntleroy neighborhood and the ferry terminal that connects to Vashon Island and Southworth. The park offers over a hundred acres of forested bluffs and beach trails, giving it a genuinely natural feel that's rare this close to downtown, with points like Point Williams and Point Coleman providing prime casting spots along the shore. Unlike Seacrest Pier or Shilshole Marina, Lincoln Park is a beach fishery rather than a pier, so anglers wade in and cast from natural shoreline instead of standing on a dock.
From downtown Seattle, Lincoln Park is roughly 15 to 20 minutes away via the West Seattle Bridge and Fauntleroy Way SW, making it another easy, close-to-home option for city anglers. Street parking is available near the park, though it can fill up quickly during the peak of pink salmon season, when the beach draws large, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds early in the morning.
Lincoln Park Map
What You Can Catch at Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is best known for coho and pink salmon, which migrate close to shore here, making it one of the more productive beach fisheries in the city for anglers without a boat. Sea-run cutthroat trout are also present and provide a worthwhile target outside of peak salmon season. Flounder and sole can be found in the mudflats and sandy bottom typical of this stretch of Puget Sound, and the area sees some interest from crabbers as well, though it's better known as a finfish spot than a dedicated crabbing destination. Because part of Lincoln Park's tidelands are designated as the Lincoln Park Marine Preserve, a protected no-shellfishing (Dungeness Crab included) zone along a specific stretch of the shoreline, it's essential to know current boundaries before casting anywhere in the park, since crabbing and digging shellfish inside the preserve is prohibited.
Lincoln Park Fishing Seasons
Salmon: Coho and pink salmon are the main draw at Lincoln Park, with coho providing action through summer and into fall and pink salmon arriving in massive numbers every odd-numbered year, typically peaking in August. During strong pink years, the beach can get genuinely crowded with anglers casting for these fish as they migrate close to shore on their way to spawn. Cast Buzz Bombs and P-Line Laser Minnows for the best shot at salmon from the beach.
Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout: Sea-run cutthroat are available at Lincoln Park outside the peak salmon crowds, with the best action often coming in the fall as fish move along the shoreline. They respond well to small spoons, spinners, or flies fished close to structure, and because they draw far less attention than the salmon runs, they're a good option for anglers looking for a quieter session on the beach. Our favorite lures are Acme Kastmaster Spoons, Krocodile Spoons, and Roostertail Spinners for Lincoln Park Sea Run Cutthroat.
Flounder: Flounder and sole are present in the sandy, mudflat sections of the park's shoreline, generally offering more consistent action outside the busiest salmon months, when the beach is far less crowded and easier to fish comfortably. Cast and still-fish with a Berkley Gulp 2” Sandworm or Powerbait Mousetail on a slip egg sinker setup for flounder.
Crab: Dungeness crab opportunities exist along this stretch of Puget Sound during Marine Area 10's open summer season, though Lincoln Park is used more as a casual crabbing spot alongside fishing than as a primary destination, with current WDFW season dates and catch record card requirements applying as they do throughout the marine area. There is a no-crabbing area south of Coleman Point, so stay north to avoid the Lincoln Park Marine Preserve. Use one of our Okuma Crab Snare Spinning Combos with your favorite crab snare to catch delicious Dungeness Crab right off the beach!
Fishing on Lincoln Park
During the pink salmon run, the most effective technique at Lincoln Park is fishing a Buzz Bomb or similar metal jig, casting out and working it back in with a jigging retrieve as fish migrate along the shoreline. Because the beach draws such heavy "combat fishing" crowds during peak pink years, arriving early, well before sunrise on the best mornings, makes a real difference in claiming a good spot along Coleman Point. Fly anglers also fish this beach successfully, particularly for coho, and tend to find a bit more room to work compared to the tighter casting lanes favored by spinning gear anglers. Bring polarized sunglasses to help spot fish moving through the shallows, and check the Fish Washington app or current WDFW regulations before heading out, since salmon rules in Marine Area 10 can shift during the season. With its natural shoreline, strong pink and coho runs, and genuine sense of open space compared to Seattle's piers, Lincoln Park offers one of the most distinctive saltwater fishing experiences in the city.
