Possession Bar is one of the most well known salmon fishing spots in all of Puget Sound. And for good reason, it's one of the largest fishing areas around, and it's underwater topography creates strong currents that concentrate huge masses of herring, making it prime feeding grounds for salmon that migrate into the Sound.
Learning how the tides effect salmon feeding patterns is paramount to understanding this productive yet complex fishing zone.
Where is Possession Bar?
Possession Bar is an underwater extension of the southern end of Whidbey Island and roughly follows the shape of the land mass. It is the largest underwater structure in Puget Sound and is several miles from end to end. Tidal currents sweep over the top of Possession Bar, bringing plenty of sealife including massive schools of Herring and Candlefish. Salmon spend the summer feeding off the large amounts of baitfish here. Lingcod can be found across the rocky top of the bar, resting on the reefs and looking for their next ambush. The sandy flats near Cultus Bay host good crabbing. In deeper water around the edges, Spot Shrimp are harvested during the short spring season.
Possession Bar Fishing Seasons
Possession Bar is in Puget Sound’s Marine Area 9 and follows that area’s rules and regulations.
Lingcod season usually opens May 1 to June 15 and draws quite a crowd. The large area in the middle of Possession Bar has lots of rocky habitat, and there is enough ground to cover that boats catch Lings all over the place.
Spot Shrimp season is usually a day or two each year, typically in May or June. The exceptionally short season does produce impressive catches for the brief time it’s open. These are deep-water shrimp and get caught in waters 200' or deeper, around the edges of Possession Bar.
Crabbing usually opens in July and lasts through August, and occasionally reopens for a winter season. Staying up near the shallow areas in front of Cultus Bay is best, as there are pockets of really good crabbing and usually softer currents that out in the middle of the bar.
Salmon season usually begins in mid-July and kicks off with some days for Hatchery Chinook, by far the most popular salmon in Puget Sound. Resident Coho are around in the early season, but the bigger ocean-run Coho start to trickle in by early August and peak in late August to mid-September. During odd numbered years (2025, 2027) Pink Salmon will flood into the area and become the easiest salmon to catch in Puget Sound.
For quick reference, here is the Marine Area 9 Regulations Page and Marine Area 9 Emergency Regulations
Possession Bar Fishing Map
Fishing at Possession Bar
Possession Bar is a very large and complex fishing area. It can be broken up into a dozen sub-areas, each with their own caveats and optimal fishing tidal stage. We will try and break down the basics.
West Possession Bar begins near Scatchet Head and extends southbound for several miles. The top of the bar is 55’ to 100’ and drops off quickly on its west side. Currents cross the contour lines of the ridgeline and make trolling on a specific contour line difficult at times, but it is a very productive area for Chinook so it’s definitely worth the challenging conditions.
East Possession Bar is found south of Possession Point and a popular area to fish on an outgoing tide. It’s also the closest part of the bar to Mukilteo and Everett so it gets plenty of attention. Chinook can be found here in good numbers, as can Coho and Pinks throughout the summer.
Tin Shed is a deep trench that separates the West and East Bars. It is common to see a cluster of boats working the inner edges of Tin Shed on an outgoing tide and finding good success.
Coho and Pink Salmon will flood over the top of Possession Bar and can be found all the way across it at times, at other times they concentrate on the top of the West Bar and East Bar. It’s common to pick up limits of both in the open water around the edges of the bar, although they will still be found in the upper water column (no need to try and troll 300’ deep).
Seattle Fishing Co. Salmon Gear
Trolling is the most popular salmon fishing technique, but there are some people that find really good success mooching and jigging as well. Check out our recommendations below, or if you want to see our full selection, visit our Saltwater Salmon Page.
Possession Bar Trolling Gear
- Pro-Troll Lighted 11" Flasher,
- P-Line CFX Fluorocarbon Leader
- Gibbs Skinny G Spoon
- Gibbs Highliner Flasher,
- P-Line CFX Fluorocarbon Leader
- Silver Horde Ace Hi Fly
- Oki Tackle Big Shooter Flasher,
- Silver Horde Coho Killer Spoon
Mooching Setup for Puget Sound
- Fisherman’s Gold Coated Mooching Sinker
- Gamakatsu Herring Leader
- Green Label Herring
- Brine N Bite
- bait knife
- bait cutting guide
Boat Jigging at Possession Bar
Summer Chinook caught at Possession Bar
