Inner Puget Sound looks like it will open for our annual Halibut season this year on April 2nd. Harvest quota has been signed off for Marine Areas 5-13 at 79,772 pounds for the season, and managers are working on the final sign off to give us a pretty respectable season. Puget Sound's protected waters and countless access points make it a great place for everyone to target Halibut. While our hot spots in the Pacific Ocean are usually a sure thing for Halibut limits, in Puget Sound you have to work a little harder and put in a little more time, but the reward can be a payoff of a huge Halibut caught much closer to home and in much calmer waters.
The 2026 Puget Sound Halibut season is April 2nd to June 30. Halibut fishing will be open 7 days a week. The daily limit is 1 per person, annual limit of 6. Any Halibut kept must be recorded on your Catch Record Card. This covers Marine Areas from Sekiu to Olympia. Also check out WDFW's Puget Sound/Strait of Juan de Fuca Halibut Seasons page.
Reminder that descending devices must be on board and ready to deploy if you incidentally catch a Rockfish or other bottomfish. Barbless hooks are required for Halibut in Marine Areas 5-13.
Halibut Fishing in Puget Sound
While the entire Puget Sound will be open to Halibut fishing, the opportunities improve the further north you go. South Puget Sound around Olympia and Tacoma rarely see any efforts, while Seattle area anglers occasionally catch a nice one off Jeff Head or Kingston. Travel north into Marine Area 9 and fish places like West Possession Bar, Foulweather Bluff, Mutiny Bay and Admiralty Bay for the best action in Puget Sound.
There are three main ways that anglers target Halibut in Puget Sound. Drifting, Anchoring and Trolling.
Trolling Downriggers for Halibut can be a great way to cover an area and search for Halibut in areas where they aren't concentrated. Trolling a choked herring or herring in a helmet is a great option.
Anchor Fishing for Halibut is really popular in the Eastern Straits and Admiralty Inlet. About half of the boats you'll see in Admiralty Bay and Mutiny Bay will be anchored. They'll have a chum bag tied to their anchor and create a great big scent trail to draw the Halibut into their zone. It can take an hour for a scent trail to effectively start working, so find a good spot and be patient!
Drift Fishing for Halibut is another widely used tactic. Search out an area where you think you'll find some fish, then plan your start point to the current drifts you over the spot. Usually best during a mild to moderate current.
Seattle Fishing Co. Halibut Gear
We have a great selection of rods, reels and tackle to get you outfitted for your next trip. As always, if you need help getting ready for an upcoming trip, contact us and we can get you set up! Check out our Halibut Gear Page.
- Halibut Weight Slider Spreaders
- Halibut Glow Tube Spreader Bars
- Gamakatsu Halibut Leaders
- B2 Squid Halibut Rigs
- Fisherman's Gold Electric Eels
- Berkley Powerbait Halibut Grubs
- Kalin's Big'N Grub 10"
- P-Line Twin Tail Squid
- Square Halibut Weights
