Coastal WA: 6.6-ft Seas at Buoy 46087 as Spring Chinook Season Builds

What's Biting

What's Next

**Seas and Wind**

With buoy 46087 reporting 6.6-foot wave heights and winds at 7 m/s, offshore and coastal runs face a meaningful chop through the near term. Buoy 46041 showed lighter winds at 5 m/s — a modest gradient that may offer some shelter to anglers working shallower inshore zones or Puget Sound-side water. Until a sustained drop in swell materializes, smaller vessels should monitor NOAA marine forecasts daily before committing to coastal or offshore runs. Larger trailered boats and charter-class vessels will have more flexibility.

**What to Target This Week**

Spring chinook are the prime target in Puget Sound and along the Washington Pacific coast in early May. No Washington-specific charter or tackle shop reports appeared in this cycle's feeds, but Saltwater Sportsman's coverage of Columbia River mouth chinook and coho activity signals the broader Pacific Northwest salmon migration is underway. If that pattern extends north — typical for this time of year — sound-side feeder chinook should be accessible to anglers trolling in the 80–150-foot range near known current seams and structure. Standard Pacific Northwest trolling presentations (whole or cut herring, hootchies) are the go-to approach for this window.

Halibut is the other marquee early-May target on the Washington coast. The coastal halibut season typically peaks in May as fish move onto nearshore banks. Bottom-bouncing or jigging near the 100–150-foot contour is the traditional approach; verify current season open dates and daily bag limits before rigging up, as retention rules can shift.

**Timing Windows**

The waning gibbous moon this week drives strong tidal exchanges — historically a plus for salmon feeding activity on current transitions. Plan outings around major tidal shifts at dawn and dusk, when bait schools stack against structure. If offshore swell at buoy 46087 relaxes below 4 feet heading into the weekend, expect increased boat pressure and fresher reports from coastal launch points. Check updated buoy readings each morning before departing.

Context

Early May is historically one of the stronger saltwater windows in Washington. Puget Sound's spring chinook — locally called "springers" — are the traditional anchor of the season, drawing trollers across the Sound from Port Townsend to Tacoma through May and into June. Coastal halibut fishing along the Washington Pacific coast is also at or near its seasonal peak this time of year, with offshore banks producing well in years when Pacific swell allows reliable access.

This week's conditions — air temps in the 11–12°C range and 6.6-foot offshore wave heights — are broadly consistent with what early May typically delivers in western Washington. The sea state is on the active side but not unusual for the coast in spring, when Pacific storm systems still generate occasional swell. The absence of water temperature readings from either buoy station limits precise comparisons, but historical averages for Puget Sound surface water in early May run roughly in the 48–52°F range — cool enough that salmon are comfortable and active but not yet pushing into summer thermal stratification.

No Washington-specific angler intel was available in this cycle's feeds to offer a direct comparison of whether the spring chinook push is running early, late, or on schedule relative to prior seasons. Saltwater Sportsman's recent Columbia River mouth salmon coverage (chinook and coho at Buoy 10) is consistent with the seasonal expectation that Pacific Northwest salmon are moving, though Buoy 10 traditionally peaks as a late-summer fishery. Anglers are encouraged to consult the latest reports from coastal marinas and check state emergency rules updates for on-the-ground confirmation before planning a trip.