Fishing on the Les Davis Pier
Set along one of Tacoma's most scenic waterfront stretches, Les Davis Pier has built a reputation as one of Washington's best all-around public fishing piers. With Mount Rainier looming over Commencement Bay and a well-lit structure that stays productive well after dark, it's a genuine favorite for salmon, squid, and everything in between. Add in the steady stream of walkers and joggers along Ruston Way, occasional seals and herons working the shoreline, and a layout that lets anglers fish comfortably at multiple depths, and it's easy to see why this pier draws such a loyal following.
Where is Les Davis Pier?
Les Davis Pier sits along Ruston Way on Tacoma's Commencement Bay, at 3427 Ruston Way, part of a beloved stretch of waterfront parks running toward Point Defiance. Built in the 1960s as part of a broader effort to improve public shoreline access, the pier offers views of downtown Tacoma, the Port of Tacoma, and Mount Rainier on a clear day, along with the occasional seal, great blue heron, or passing whale. Ruston Way itself is a popular walking and jogging corridor, giving the pier a lively, social atmosphere alongside its fishing.
From Seattle, Les Davis Pier is roughly 40 minutes to an hour south via I-5, making it one of the more convenient Puget Sound piers for anglers coming from either the Seattle or Tacoma side. Free parking is available along both sides of Ruston Way, and the pier itself is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is a big part of what makes it such a popular spot for night fishing during squid season.
Les Davis Pier Map
What You Can Catch at Les Davis Pier
Les Davis is known for a genuinely wide variety of catch, including salmon, squid, perch, and flounder, making it one of the more versatile piers in the South Sound. Pink and coho salmon are the primary salmon targets, with the pier drawing especially large crowds during pink salmon years. Squid jigging is a major draw here as well, particularly in late fall and early winter, when the pier's lighting brings squid in close after dark. At certain times of the year, crabbing is allowed with a valid WDFW license, though most crab caught from piers like Les Davis tend to be rock crab rather than Dungeness, and anglers should expect it to take some patience given the pressure this pier sees. Because Les Davis sits within Marine Area 11, current WDFW rules on single barbless hooks, seasons, and daily limits all apply, and can shift during the year, so checking current regulations before keeping anything is essential.
Les Davis Pier Fishing Seasons
Salmon: Pink and coho salmon are the headline catch at Les Davis, with pink salmon providing especially strong action during odd-numbered years and often best fished with a metal jig like a Buzz Bomb, Kokanator Jig or P-Line Laser Minnow. Like most Puget Sound piers, Les Davis is also open to Chinook fishing year-round, giving anglers a shot at kings even outside the peak pink and coho months, though as with any pier, checking current WDFW season dates and limits before heading out is essential. Chinook tend to like metal jigs like Puget Pounders in 1.5 to 2 ounce.
Squid: Squid jigging at Les Davis is most productive from late fall into early winter, when squid gather in close to the well-lit pier after dark, making this one of the most popular winter night-fishing spots in the South Sound. Select a variety of squid jig sizes and colors from us to capitalize on this great squidding pier!
Crab: Crabbing is permitted at Les Davis with a valid WDFW license, mostly producing rock crab rather than Dungeness, and while the pier's popularity means real competition for legal-sized catch, a crab ring dropped alongside a fishing line is a common approach here. There is usually a summer season, but check in with WDFW crab page to confirm. Best to use a castable crab snare, which pairs well with our Okuma Crab Snare Spinning Combo.
Flounder: Flounder and sole are a reliable, if secondary, catch at Les Davis throughout much of the year, rounding out a pier known more for its salmon and squid seasons but still worth targeting on a slow day. Fish a sliding egg sinker rig with a small chunk of bait or a Berkley Gulp! 2” Sand Worm.
Fishing on Les Davis Pier
Squid fishing is best after dark, so a headlamp, warm layers, and a bucket with a lid are worth having, since freshly caught squid can eject ink when handled. The pier's long, well-lit layout makes this one of the best piers in the Tacoma area, if one spot isn't producing, moving down the pier is often all it takes to find better action. Sheltered huts with fillet tables and running water make cleaning your catch easy right on site. Always carry a current Washington fishing license and, if targeting crab, be ready to show it to WDFW enforcement, since the pier sees regular check-ins given how popular it is. With its variety of species, scenic Commencement Bay setting, and round-the-clock access, Les Davis Pier remains one of the best public fishing spots in the South Sound.
