Freshwater anglers get openers; saltwater anglers get seasons — shorter, tighter, and more quota-driven. Lingcod and spot shrimp are the two spring events worth planning around, and both reward preparation over improvisation.
Fishing snapshot
Lingcod season typically runs mid-April into mid-June across most Puget Sound marine areas (dates shift by area — confirm your zone's opener). Fish lead jigs and big swimbaits along rocky structure on moving tides. Spot shrimp openings cluster in May in most areas, fished from pots set in 150–300 feet with bait and a labeled buoy, pulled every 45–90 minutes. Check WDFW's shellfish pages for this year's exact dates, sizes, and pot rules before launching anything.
Best for: boaters and kayak anglers ready to add two genuinely delicious species to the calendar.
Key takeaway: these are short windows with real quotas. Watch the announcements, not just the calendar — seasons close early when catches run hot.
Lingcod: the structure hunter
Lings ambush from rock piles, wrecks, and current seams:
- Jig approach: 3–8 oz leadheads with 6–10 inch plastics (white, chartreuse, pearl). Lift-and-drop near bottom; strikes come on the fall.
- Bait approach: herring or squid on a jighead or spreader rig when fish sulk.
- Tide play: moving water positions bait and lings. Slack periods go quiet; fish the first two hours of a strong exchange.
- Depths: 30–120 feet typical in central Sound; deeper along the strait.
- Where: rocky shorelines, reef markers, wreck coordinates, and the bases of points where current eddies form.
Handle carefully: lings have teeth built for the job. Long-nose pliers, a net sized for the fish, and no fingers near the mouth.
Spot shrimp: the pot game
Spot shrimp (prawns) run deep and delicious:
| Element | Typical setup |
|---|---|
| Depth | 150–300 ft; edges of channels and drop-offs |
| Pot style | Circular or slinky pots; check area gear limits |
| Bait | Commercial pellet bait or cat food-in-cannister style setups |
| Soak time | 45–90 minutes; spots pile in fast during good sets |
| Buoy | Labeled with name/address per regulation |
The rhythm: set on a tide change, drink coffee, pull, rebait, repeat. Limits count by number and sometimes size — read your area's sheet. Pots escape (and become marine debris) without proper line weighting and buoy marking; do it right.
Kayak and small-boat notes
Both fisheries work from human-powered craft:
- Lingcod from the yak: heavy jigs vertical-jigged at rockpiles; anchor only in safe current or drift-fish with planer-style control.
- Shrimp from the yak: one pot is plenty; hauling 200 feet of wet rope is technique (leverage wraps, glove work) more than strength.
- Both: marine radio or phone in waterproof pouch, PFD worn not stowed, and a tide-current app checked before leaving the ramp.
Reading the announcements
Two pages matter each spring:
- WDFW sport fishing seasons — lingcod dates vary by marine area; some zones open earlier than others.
- Shellfish/spot shrimp pages — openings announced with specific dates, hours, and pot limits; popular areas close within days.
Set a reminder for the announcement releases (late winter–early spring) so you're booking launch ramps and pulling gear the day your area opens, not discovering it after closure.
Sources Checked
- WDFW sport fishing regulations — marine area lingcod seasons.
- WDFW shellfish pages — spot shrimp openings, gear rules, size/count limits.