Fishing on the Fox Island Pier
Perched right along a key salmon migration route through the Tacoma Narrows, Fox Island Pier gives South Sound anglers without a boat a genuine shot at Chinook, coho, and pink salmon. Quiet, scenic, and less crowded than the piers closer to downtown Tacoma, it's a favorite for anyone willing to make the short drive across the Narrows Bridge. With a rare year-round salmon season, picnic areas, and a peaceful island setting away from the busier waterfront crowds, it's an easy pick for anglers who want good fishing without the hassle of finding a spot on a packed pier.
Where is Fox Island Pier?
Fox Island Pier sits on the eastern tip of Fox Island in South Puget Sound, reached by crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge into Pierce County. Built by WDFW in 1995 and later transferred to what is now PenMet Parks, the pier offers picnic areas, beach access, birdwatching, and a concrete, over-water structure built to last, all set in a quieter, more residential stretch of the South Sound compared to Tacoma's busier waterfront. The Double Tee concrete deck, supported on solid prestressed piles, was built with a service life of more than 60 years, giving the pier a genuinely sturdy, well-engineered feel. The nearest communities are Gig Harbor and University Place, both just a short drive back across the Narrows, giving anglers easy access to restaurants and supplies before or after a day at the pier.
From Seattle, Fox Island is roughly 50 minutes to an hour away, generally via I-5 and Highway 16 across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and onto Fox Island itself. The pier is open from 7 a.m. to dusk, and a parking fee applies, with ADA access, paved pathways, a fish cleaning station, and restrooms available on site.
Fox Island Pier Map
What You Can Catch at Fox Island Pier
Fox Island Pier sits near a genuine salmon migration choke point, with Chinook, coho, and pink salmon all passing through the Tacoma Narrows on their way to South Puget Sound's rivers and streams. Because the pier sits within Marine Area 13, which covers all the protected waters south of the Narrows Bridge, it benefits from one of the state's most generous salmon seasons, including a rare year-round opportunity to fish for resident Chinook, locally known as blackmouth. Squid can be jigged from the pier during the cooler months as they move through the Sound, and bottom fishing for flounder and other small fish is possible as well, though reports suggest it can be hit or miss compared to more consistent flounder piers elsewhere in the region.
Fox Island Pier Fishing Seasons
Salmon. Salmon fishing is the main draw at Fox Island Pier, with Chinook, coho, and pink salmon moving through the Narrows on their way south; because the pier sits in Marine Area 13, resident Chinook, or blackmouth, can be targeted here year-round, offering some of the best off-season salmon opportunity anywhere in Puget Sound, while coho and sea-run cutthroat fishing is typically strongest from fall through spring. Chinook anglers should use Puget Pounder Jigs, and if you're fishing during the Coho or Pink Salmon migration, a Buzz Bomb or P-Line Laser Minnow is a great choice.
Squid. Squid jigging at Fox Island is best in the cooler months, following the same general pattern as other South Sound piers, when squid move in close to structure and lit areas after dark to spawn. Having a variety of squid jig sizes and colors is key to matching exactly what they are looking for at any given time.
Flounder. Flounder and other bottomfish can be caught from Fox Island Pier, with the pier's decent dropoff just offshore offering some promise, though anglers report the fishing here can be inconsistent, so treating flounder as a bonus rather than a guaranteed catch is realistic. A sliding egg sinker setup with a small chunk of bait, or a Berkley Gulp! 2" Sandworm will work like a charm!
Fishing on Fox Island Pier
Because Fox Island Pier faces a deeper dropoff just offshore, casting a buzz bomb or similar metal jig out as far as possible and working it back gives you the best shot at reaching salmon holding in that deeper water. Since Marine Area 13 allows a rare year-round salmon season with a two-pole endorsement available, it's worth taking advantage of the winter and spring blackmouth fishery when most other marine areas are closed, making Fox Island a good off-season option for anglers who don't want to wait for summer. Checking current WDFW regulations and the Fish Washington app before heading out is always worthwhile, since even generous seasons like Marine Area 13's can shift with emergency rule changes. Because the pier sees lighter pressure than piers closer to downtown Tacoma, it's a solid pick for anglers who want more room to fish and fewer crowds to navigate. With its rare year-round salmon opportunity, scenic island setting, and easy access from the Gig Harbor peninsula, Fox Island Pier is one of the more distinctive fishing spots in the South Sound.
