How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Tacoma, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, nearby tide chart, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the Tide Clock section to sync bite times with high and low tide chart.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Fishing in Tacoma, Washington centers around the rich, saltwater and freshwater opportunities of southern Puget Sound, from Commencement Bay to the Puyallup River and local lakes. Anglers target salmon, lingcod, rockfish, halibut, and trout in a mix of urban shorelines, deep marine channels, and stocked stillwaters. With year-round options and easy access piers, Tacoma offers productive Pacific Northwest fishing for boat, kayak, and shore anglers. read more...
Some of the best fishing spots near Tacoma include: Point Defiance, Commencement Bay, American Lake, Puyallup River, Gig Harbor, Chambers Bay, Titlow Beach, etc. see full list
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Moonset:
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Moon over:
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Moon under:
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Visibility:45%
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Third Quarter Moon
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Distance to earth:363,586 kmProximity:98.9 %
Moon Phases for Tacoma
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average Day
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major Time:
06:21 am -
08:21 am
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minor Time:02:51 pm - 04:51 pm
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major Time:
06:41 pm -
08:41 pm
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minor Time:10:31 pm - 12:31 am
Tides Times for Fishing: Fri, 4 Sep
Tide Clock
Tide Graph
Times
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| low | 05:32 am | -0.66 ft |
| high | 01:08 pm | 11.38 ft |
| low | 05:54 pm | 8.33 ft |
| high | 10:55 pm | 12.27 ft |
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
| Date | Major Bite Times | Minor Bite Times | Sun | Moon | Moonphase | Tide Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
low:
, -0.43 ft
high:
, 11.35 ft
, Coeff: 57
low:
, 7.32 ft
high:
, 12.86 ft
, Coeff: 76
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-
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-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
low:
, -0.66 ft
high:
, 11.38 ft
, Coeff: 58
low:
, 8.33 ft
high:
, 12.27 ft
, Coeff: 68
|
|
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
R: S: |
R: S: |
Third Quarter Moon |
low:
, -0.75 ft
high:
, 11.88 ft
, Coeff: 64
low:
, 8.6 ft
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|
|
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Crescent |
high:
, 11.75 ft
, Coeff: 62
low:
, -0.89 ft
high:
, 12.57 ft
, Coeff: 72
low:
, 8.04 ft
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Crescent |
high:
, 11.58 ft
, Coeff: 60
low:
, -1.08 ft
high:
, 13.12 ft
, Coeff: 79
low:
, 7.02 ft
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|
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-
|
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
Waning Crescent |
high:
, 11.78 ft
, Coeff: 62
low:
, -1.21 ft
high:
, 13.48 ft
, Coeff: 83
low:
, 5.81 ft
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
high:
, 12.14 ft
, Coeff: 67
low:
, -1.05 ft
high:
, 13.71 ft
, Coeff: 86
low:
, 4.56 ft
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-
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-
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R: S: |
R: S: |
New Moon |
high:
, 12.4 ft
, Coeff: 70
low:
, -0.52 ft
high:
, 13.85 ft
, Coeff: 87
|
Fishing Overview Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington offers a dense mix of saltwater and freshwater fishing centered on southern Puget Sound, Commencement Bay, and a network of productive lakes. Anglers can chase salmon, lingcod, rockfish, and halibut in the Sound, then pivot to trout, bass, and panfish in nearby urban lakes, all within a short drive. Success comes from timing seasonal movements and matching techniques to specific habitats.
In the saltwater, salmon are the main draw. Chinook and coho push through Commencement Bay and the shipping lanes, tracking bait along points, ledges, and current seams. Trollers work the deep contours off Point Defiance, the Clay Banks, and Owens Beach with downriggers, running flasher and hoochie or cut-plug herring close to bottom for chinook and a bit higher for coho. Tide changes are critical; plan your prime passes around the hour before and after slack when bait stacks and salmon move up in the water column.
Bottomfish like lingcod and rockfish relate tightly to structure. Drift rocky breaks, reef areas, and artificial structure with leadhead jigs tipped with swimbaits or whole herring. Keep your offering just off bottom and be ready to lift out of snags quickly. Halibut and larger flatfish hold on sand and gravel edges adjacent to deep drop-offs; bounce heavy jigheads or bait rigs slowly along the bottom, maintaining contact as the boat drifts. In shallower nearshore zones, light spinning tackle with small metal jigs and soft plastics will produce greenling, perch, and various flatfish for steady action.
Shore and pier anglers around Tacoma can do well without a boat. Cast spoons, jigs, or spinners for salmon during peak runs from public access points with current and depth, focusing on early morning or evening low-light windows. Under the lights at night, use small jigs or bait rigs to pick up perch and other schooling species. When crabbing seasons align with open dates, many anglers combine salmon or bottomfish trips with Dungeness and red rock crab pots set on productive flats and ledges.
Freshwater lakes in and around Tacoma offer year-round trout and warmwater fishing. Stocked rainbow trout respond well to PowerBait on sliding sinker rigs from the bank, or small spinners and spoons cast along drop-offs. Trollers do well running small spoons, wedding rings, or hoochies behind lake trolls at varying depths to locate fish. Early and late in the season, focus on the upper 10–15 feet; as lakes warm, follow trout deeper with leadcore line or small downriggers.
For bass, work docks, weedlines, and submerged timber with soft plastics, finesse worms, and jigs. In spring, target shallow, protected bays where largemouth stage and spawn; by summer, shift to deeper edges and shade lines. Panfish such as perch and crappie school around weed edges and vertical structure. Small jigs tipped with pieces of worm under a float are highly effective and ideal for introducing new anglers to Tacoma’s lakes.
Across all of Tacoma’s fisheries, pay close attention to tides in the Sound, water temperature in the lakes, and bait presence everywhere. Adjust lure size and color to match local forage, stay mobile until you find fish, and log productive depths and locations to quickly dial in patterns on future trips.
The Best Fishing Spots around Tacoma
Point Defiance
Commencement Bay
American Lake
Puyallup River
Gig Harbor
Chambers Bay
Titlow Beach
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Tacoma area
Wharf's or Jetties are good places to wet a line and meet other fishermen. They often produce a fresh feed of fish and are also great to catch bait fish. As they are often well lit, they also provide a good opportunity for night fishing. There are 3 wharf(s) in this area.
Tacoma Baker Dock (historical) - 0.99503000588km , Railroad Wharf (historical) - 1.4469338218km , Tacoma Athletic Club Dock (historical) - 3.11124989549km
Beaches and Bays are ideal places for land-based fishing. If the beach is shallow and the water is clear then twilight times are usually the best times, especially when they coincide with a major or minor fishing time. Often the points on either side of a beach are the best spots. Or if the beach is large then look for irregularities in the breaking waves, indicating sandbanks and holes. We found 2 beaches and bays in this area.
Commencement Bay - 3.64330215477km , Caledonia Beach - 6.34650045974km
Harbours and Marinas can often times be productive fishing spots for land based fishing as their sheltered environment attracts a wide variety of bait fish. Similar to river mouths, harbour entrances are also great places to fish as lots of fish will move in and out with the rising and falling tides. There are 9 main harbours in this area.
Foss Harbor Marina - 0.78492489282km, Thea Foss Waterway - 1.17361678836km, Portland Avenue Reservoir Dam - 3.99971712162km, Chinook Landing Marina - 4.49747869365km, Hylebos Waterway - 4.92090430902km, Turning Basin - 4.97408502551km, Lower Turning Basin - 5.67169243445km, Upper Turning Basin - 6.28629206109km, Boathouse Marina - 7.84348082407km
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Tacoma. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Foss Harbor Marina - 0.78492489282km , City Waterway - 0.86780687923km , Tacoma Baker Dock (historical) - 0.99503000588km , Thea Foss Waterway - 1.17361678836km , Middle Waterway - 1.33965059105km , Railroad Wharf (historical) - 1.4469338218km , Alaska Street Reservoir North Dam - 1.49389567579km , Saint Paul Waterway - 1.59842572256km , Alaska Street Reservoir South Dam - 1.63251027478km , Puyallup Waterway - 2.06959914779km , Puyallup River - 2.20590622064km , Milwaukee Waterway - 2.37402547817km , Hood Street Reservoir Dam - 2.37813980927km , Sitcum Waterway - 2.72394536173km , Tacoma Athletic Club Dock (historical) - 3.11124989549km , Wapato Creek - 3.62211310804km , Snake Lake - 3.63416781983km , Commencement Bay - 3.64330215477km , Portland Avenue Reservoir Dam - 3.99971712162km , Swam Creek - 4.32901906683km , Hylebos Creek - 4.36923528375km , Chinook Landing Marina - 4.49747869365km , Hylebos Waterway - 4.92090430902km , Turning Basin - 4.97408502551km , Lower Turning Basin - 5.67169243445km , North End Reservoir Dam - 5.73683858357km , South Tacoma Swamp - 5.88977824285km , Squally Creek - 6.09248684644km , Indian Hill Reservoir Dam - 6.24381141176km , Upper Turning Basin - 6.28629206109km , Caledonia Beach - 6.34650045974km , Little Wapato Lake - 6.42391954735km , Wapato Lake - 6.45922447852km , Boathouse Marina - 7.84348082407km , Loreene Lake Dam - 7.85830577141km , Flett Creek Holding Basin Dam - 8.08634270039km , Titlow Lagoon - 8.29825632501km , Jean Lake Dam - 8.29889690124km , West Hylebos Creek - 8.5168279155km , Owens Marsh - 8.53545538082km
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