Fishing on the Seacrest Pier
Few fishing spots in Washington offer a view like Seacrest Pier. With the Seattle skyline rising across the water and downtown's Water Taxi docking just steps away, it's proof that great fishing doesn't have to mean leaving the city behind. Summer evenings here bring the added draw of Chinook and coho staging near the Duwamish, while winter nights turn the pier into one of the best squid jigging spots in Puget Sound, lanterns glowing along the rail as anglers pull up jig after jig. Add in solid flounder fishing and a seasonal shot at Dungeness crab, and it's easy to see why Seacrest has become a go-to for city anglers chasing a little bit of everything.
Where is Seacrest Pier?
Seacrest Pier sits inside Seacrest Park in West Seattle, right on Elliott Bay at 1660 Harbor Ave SW. It's a genuinely urban fishing spot, part of a lively waterfront park that also draws walkers, joggers, kayakers, scuba divers, and Water Taxi passengers heading across the bay to downtown. Because the pier faces directly toward the Seattle skyline, it's one of the most scenic places to fish anywhere in the state, and the nearby Marination Ma Kai restaurant makes it easy to turn a fishing trip into a full outing.
Seacrest Park is only about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Seattle, just across the West Seattle Bridge or a short Water Taxi ride from the Seattle waterfront, making it by far the most convenient fishing spot in this guide series for anyone living in or visiting the city itself. Street parking is available nearby, though it can fill up on busy summer evenings and during peak squid season, so arriving early is a smart move.
Seacrest Pier Map
What You Can Catch on the Seacrest Pier
Seacrest is best known for salmon fishing, with Chinook, coho, and pink salmon all passing close by the pier as they stage near the mouth of the nearby Duwamish River before heading upstream. The pier is also a popular winter and summer evening spot for squid jigging, drawing crowds of anglers after dark who dangle lanterns over the water to attract them. Flounder and sole are commonly caught from the pier and nearby mudflats, making for an approachable bottomfish fishery, and the area is also popular for recreational Dungeness crab during the open summer season. Because Seacrest sits within WDFW's Marine Area 10, all the usual Puget Sound salmon, bottomfish, and shellfish regulations apply, and rules can change during the season, so checking current WDFW rules before keeping anything is always worth doing.
Seacrest Pier Fishing Seasons
Salmon: Salmon fishing at Seacrest is best in summer and into fall, when Chinook, coho, and pink salmon move through Elliott Bay on their way toward the Duwamish, with pink salmon showing up in particularly large numbers in odd-numbered years. Try casting metal jigs like Puget Pounders, Buzz Bombs and P-Line Laser Minnows.
Squid: Squid show up reliably in the cooler months, typically from fall through winter, when they move into Puget Sound to spawn and gather around lit piers like Seacrest after dark, though some summer evenings can also produce squid. Squid jigs in a variety of glow colors are the ticket here throughout the year.
Crab: Dungeness crab fishing is open seasonally in the summer months in Marine Area 10, with specific open days and limits set by WDFW rules each year, so confirming the current crab season dates and catch record card requirements before dropping a pot is essential. Drop down a crab snare or cast one out away from the pier with our Okuma Crab Snare Spinning Combo.
Flounder: Flounder fishing is generally most productive during the cooler months, making it a good option for anglers looking for action once the salmon season winds down. Small soft plastics like Berkley Gulp 2" Sandworms or Powerbait Floating Mice Tails with a slip egg sinker setup can be really effective!
Fishing on the Seacrest Pier
Because Seacrest draws such a mixed crowd of anglers, walkers, and Water Taxi commuters, being mindful of foot traffic and keeping gear tidy goes a long way toward a pleasant outing here. For squid jigging, timing your trip around a flood tide after dark tends to produce the best results, since squid are drawn to light and gather in the shadowy edges just outside a lantern's glow; a simple squid jig dropped and jigged near the pier lights is usually all it takes to get started, and it's one of the most beginner-friendly fisheries in Puget Sound. Salmon anglers do well casting spoons or buzz bombs from the pier itself, especially during the morning or evening tide changes when fish are actively moving through the bay. The park offers restrooms, ADA-accessible paths, and a fish cleaning station, making it one of the more comfortable public piers to fish in the region. As with any Puget Sound fishery, checking the Fish Washington app or current WDFW regulations before heading out is a smart habit, since salmon, bottomfish, and crab rules can all shift during the season. With its unbeatable skyline views and genuine variety, from salmon to squid to crab, Seacrest Pier remains one of the best reasons to fish without ever really leaving Seattle.
