What you need to catch Pink Salmon in Puget Sound

August 12, 2025

Our Best Lures and Gear for Puget Sound Pink Salmon Fishing

When Pink Salmon make their migration back to Puget Sound, fishing at local salmon spots, whether they be from boat or beach can be red-hot. These are also called Humpy Salmon, and they return to spawn in the rivers of Puget Sound on odd-numbered years. The peak saltwater fishing season is August to early September and when fishing is good it is some of the fastest action you can find on the water.

Here we've put together a list of our favorite Pink Salmon lures for saltwater fishing. You'll notice a trend, most lures are pink in color, which just so happens to be the best option for catch Pinks!

Must Have Trolling Gear for Puget Sound Pinks

Pink Salmon Trolling Lures

These are all great options for Pink Salmon. When we are trolling, our troll speed is usually a little slower, from 1.5 to 2 mph. You can run 20 to 30 pound leader material at 24" to 36" lengths. Remember that all hooks need to be single-point and barbless for salmon in Puget Sound.

Yamashita Octopus Trolling Rig

Troll this behind a flasher with 24" to 36" leader. It's a Humpy Salmon slayer!

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Yamashita Needlefish Trolling Rig

We custom tie these with Puget Sound Pink Salmon in mind, it's a perfect profile for most areas.

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Pink Salmon Special

Another great trolling setup, this 3.5" Hoochie is one of our favorite rigs to troll for Pink Salmon.

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McOmie's Salmon Spoons

McOmie's has a couple pink patterns that have been a staple for Pink Salmon trollers.

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Luhr Jensen Coyote Spoons

Specifically their Size 3.5 Humpy Special, as its name suggests, it is an effective Pink Salmon trolling lure.

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Grand Slam Bucktails

We've had some great luck using these saltwater trolling flies. Coho and Chinook love them too!

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Flashers & Dodgers

We typically downsize our flashers when we target Humpies. Not only do smaller flashers cause less drag against the salmon when you're fighting them, but they impart the perfect action on our trolling lures.

Luhr Jensen Herring Dodger

A Luhr Jensen Dodger 3/0 can be just enough to create motion and flash to draw in Pinks.

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Stinger 8" Flasher

This Great Lakes flasher has really proven itself out here, and we've caught a ton of Pinks using them!

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Pro-Troll HotChip 8" Flasher

This smaller profile flasher pairs well with any of the trolling lures mentioned above

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Casting from the boat or shore

Fishing for Pink Salmon on the beach.

Large schools of Pink Salmon can often be seen jumping in open water near the trolling grounds, and clost to shore at some great public access points around the Sound. Here are a few casting lures that have our stamp of approval. Buzz Bombs and other lures come with a treble hook that needs to be replaced with single point barbless hooks, check out our in-depth post on Buzz Bomb Hook Options.