Our Guide to Point Wilson Salmon Fishing
Salmon fishing near Fort Worden State Park & Port Townsend
Point Wilson is a popular salmon fishing spot where Puget Sound ends and the Strait of Juan de Fuca begins. Strong currents at the lighthouse on this sandy point of land push incoming Chinook Salmon into a tight area for a few hours each day, giving the locals at Porth Townsend a chance to catch them from their small boats.
Where is Point Wilson?
The Point Wilson Lighthouse sits on the waters edge at Port Townsend’s Fort Warden State Park. A popular place for shore anglers to try their luck, there is a deep drop off within casting distance from the beach. The fishing area itself is pretty small, along the south shore of the park out to the point. Most people that fish here use small “kicker” boats, usually 14 feet to 18 feet long, which can maneuver easily in the tightly packed fleet. Mooching is the most common method of fishing here, and trolling is typically not possible with all the boats drifting.
Point Wilson Fishing Map
Point Wilson Fishing Seasons
Point Wilson marks the boundary of Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and Marine Area 9 (Puget Sound’s Admiralty Inlet). For the most part, the Chinook Salmon spot is inside the point in Marine Area 9 and usually occurs during mid to late July. Once Coho and Pink Salmon migrate into the area, anglers find a much broader area away from the shore to catch salmon.
For quick reference, here is the Marine Area 9 Regulations Page and Marine Area 9 Emergency Regulations
Seattle Fishing Co. has the gear you need for Point Wilson
Mooching and jigging is popular here, and most of the salmon are caught very close to the beach. Check out our recommendations below, or if you want to see our full selection, visit our Saltwater Salmon Page.
Mooching Setup for Puget Sound
Sinker: Fisherman’s Gold Coated Mooching Sinker 3 ounce to 5 ounce
Bait: Green Label or Red Label Cut-plug Herring cured with Brine N Bite, make sure you have a good bait knife and a bait cutting guide.
Leader: Gamakatsu Herring Leader with 2/0 3/0 hooks or 3/0 4/0 hooks and 20 pound to 30 pound fluorocarbon with a length of 48” to 60 “
Boat Jigging at Point Wilson
Puget Pounder Jig 2 ounce to 3-1/2 ounce and P-Line Laser Minnow 2 ounce to 3 ounce
Replacement Hooks: Gamakatsu Big River Bait Open Eye Hooks size 2/0 to 4/0, split ring size 5, barrel swivel size 7
Leader: P-Line SS Fluorocarbon 20 pound to 30 pound with a length of 33” to 40”
Shore Casting at Point Wilson
Buzz Bomb 2.5" or 3L", check out our Buzz Bomb Rigging Guide
P-Line Laser Minnow 1 ounce to 2 ounce and make sure you replace the hooks!