Neah Bay Salmon and Halibut Fishing: First-Timer’s Guide

Overview

Neah Bay is the main way into Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay). The area runs from Cape Alava north to Cape Flattery and then east inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Sekiu River. Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point in the lower 48 states. See the WDFW Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) page for the official map.

Marine Area 4 is the premier small-boat fishery on the Washington coast. You can troll or mooch for salmon near the bay entrance, chase halibut from inshore flats to offshore banks and fish rocks and pillars for lingcod and rockfish.

The bay sits about 5 miles east of Cape Flattery. It’s a harbor of refuge, easy to enter at any time and protected from all but east weather. That shelter ends at the breakwater. The water around the cape is a different story, and most of this page is about reading it.

Map of the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Marine Area 4 covers the water from Cape Alava north around Cape Flattery and east to the Sekiu River. Marine Area 5 runs from the Sekiu River east to Low Point. A solid line runs from Cape Flattery to the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island and north to the light on Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island. — Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) runs from Cape Alava north to Cape Flattery and east inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Sekiu River. Marine Area 5 (Sekiu/Pillar Point) runs east from the Sekiu River to Low Point. The Bonilla-Tatoosh line is drawn from its official coordinates.

Best months: May–Aug — see May, June, July and August.

Getting There

From Seattle

From Seattle you have two ferry routes to choose from.

Seattle–Bainbridge ferry: SR 305 north, SR 3 north, SR 104 west over the Hood Canal Bridge, US 101 through Port Angeles, then SR 112. About 4.5 hours. The crossing is about 35 minutes.
Edmonds–Kingston ferry: SR 104 west, then the same route. About 4 hours. The crossing is about 30 minutes.

Check current sailings on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) ferry schedule before you leave.

From Forks or the Coast

Take US 101 to Sappho. Turn north on SR 113 for about 10 miles to SR 112 near Clallam Bay, then head west.

The Last 61 Miles

SR 112 runs 61 miles from Neah Bay (milepost 0) east to US 101 west of Port Angeles. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours for it one way. Logging trucks use it every day. It has blind curves and little or no shoulder in places. GPS can be wrong in remote areas.

In Neah Bay, stay on Bayview Avenue. Google sometimes suggests Backtrack Road, a truck route that leads to gravel.

Check the WSDOT Travel Center Map for current road conditions before you tow a boat out.

Other Ways In

The M.V. Coho ferry runs between Victoria, British Columbia and Port Angeles. Makah Transit connects with Clallam Transit on weekdays.

Visiting the Makah Reservation

Neah Bay is on the Makah Reservation. The Makah Tribe is a sovereign nation, and you are a guest on its land.

The Recreation Use Permit

The Makah Tribe requires a Recreation Use Permit for recreation on the reservation. That includes sport fishing, pleasure boating, kayaking and sightseeing.

It costs $20 per vehicle and is good for the calendar year.
Print it and display it in your vehicle window. Each vehicle needs its own.
Buy it on the Makah Tribe’s permit page or in person. Sellers include Makah Marina, the Makah Museum, Pat’s Place, Makah Mini Mart, Tribal Center Financial Services, Hobuck Beach Resort, The Cape Resort and the booth near the Cape Flattery trailhead.
Driving a rental? Enter “RENTAL” for the plate when you buy, then write the plate number in before you arrive. Questions go to rec.permits@makah.com.

Licenses

You need a Washington saltwater fishing license to fish. Fishing from shore within the reservation also needs a tribal fishing license. The Makah Fisheries Management Department and Washburn’s General Store sell it. For non-tribal fishing regulations, use the Makah Tribe’s fishing page.

Visitor Rules

Keep to designated visitor facilities.
Cannabis is not legal on the reservation.
No beachcombing or gathering of drift material.
Drones may not take off or land on the reservation.
Commercial photo or film work needs a Location Agreement.
Dispersed camping is not allowed. Use designated campgrounds.
The Cape Flattery Trail needs the permit. It is open from dawn to 30 minutes after sunset, with no camping or overnight parking.

Makah Days

Makah Days falls on the weekend closest to August 26 each year. Lodging fills quickly, so book early if your trip lands that weekend.

Launches and Marinas

Makah Marina

Makah Marina, the Port of Neah Bay, is at 1321 Bayview Avenue.

200 slips from 30 to 70 feet, with permanent and temporary moorage. Vessels over 100 feet can be accommodated.
Fuel dock, lubricants, water and power. Pump-out for a fee.
Restrooms and showers.
Long- and short-term parking for vehicles and trailers.
A launching ramp.
Office hours are Monday–Friday 8–5 and Saturday–Sunday 8–3. Phone 360-645-3015. The marina uses VHF channels 16 and 66.

Call about moorage and launch fees before you go.

Big Salmon Fishing Resort

Big Salmon Fishing Resort is at 1251 Bayview Avenue. It’s also a marina contact.

Charters also operate out of Neah Bay. To find one, see Guides Who Specialize in This below.

Entering and Leaving the Bay

The entrance runs between Waadah Island and Baada Point and carries 17 feet. A breakwater links the west side of the bay to Waadah Island. A reef and foul ground run about 0.2 mile off the island’s southwest side. Another reef runs about 500 yards northwest from Dtokoah Point. A lighted bell buoy marks it. When wind and swell run against the current, a short, choppy sea can build near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Brushing Up: “Waddah” and “Waadah” are two spellings of the same island’s name.

Chart-style map of Neah Bay. Waadah Island sits on the north side of the entrance with Baada Point to the south. A breakwater runs from the west shore of the bay to the island. Sand-colored reefs that dry at low water lie off the southwest side of the island and off Dtokoah Point, with a lighted bell buoy beside the Dtokoah Point reef. The Makah Marina pin sits on the south shore of the bay. — The entrance runs between Waadah Island and Baada Point. A breakwater links the west side of the bay to Waadah Island. A reef and foul ground run off the southwest side of the island. Another reef runs northwest from Dtokoah Point and a lighted bell buoy marks it.

Kayaks and Other Launches

Some anglers launch kayaks at Snow Creek and other hand-launch spots. Others run to Marine Area 4 from Sekiu.

Tackle, Bait, Fuel, Food and Lodging

Neah Bay is small, so plan around what’s here. These are the places to pick up tackle, bait, fuel, a meal and a bed.

Tackle, Bait and Supplies

Washburn’s General Store, 1110 Bay View Avenue: groceries, fishing tackle, bait, dry goods, supplies and a service deli. It is the only full-service grocery in Neah Bay. It also sells Washington fishing licenses.
Makah Mini Mart & Fuel, 931 Bay View Avenue: groceries, a deli with pizza and fuel (diesel, gas, oil and marine).
Makah Museum Gift Shop, inside the Makah Museum.
Big Salmon Fishing Resort, 1251 Bayview Avenue: a marina contact (see Launches and Marinas).

Fuel. Makah Mini Mart & Fuel sells marine fuel. Makah Marina has a fuel dock.

Ice. Bring your cooler already iced, or ask at the marina or a store when you arrive.

Food and Coffee

The Warmhouse Restaurant, 1471 Bayview Avenue: waterfront dining.
Calvin’s Crab House, 160 Bay View Avenue: seafood, coffee and pastries.
Pat’s Place, 1111 Bay View Avenue: Indian tacos, cakes, pies and jams.
Bigginz Burgers and Seafood, Portage Street and Woodland Avenue: hamburgers, seafood and milkshakes.
Linda’s Wood Fired Kitchen, 1110 Bay View Avenue.
Native Grounds, in the business center on Bayview Avenue: coffee, breakfast and lunch.
Honey Hollow Coffee Co., 1184 Bayview Avenue.
Washburn’s Deli, 1110 Bay View Avenue.

Lodging and Camping

Hobuck Beach Resort: cabins, camping and RV sites at the beach.
The Cape Resort: cabins, camping and RV sites downtown near the marina.
The Village RV, 1184 Bay View Avenue: 26 full hookups with space for boat trailers.
Apocalypto Motel, 1110 Bay View Avenue: motel facing the beachfront.
Butler’s Motel, 910 Woodland Avenue: motel one block from the bay.
Hide-Away RV Park, 814 Hobuck Road: RV, cabin and tent sites.
Sandy Feet Cabins, 720 Hobuck Road: cabin and camping.
Harmony Cabins, 610 Bay View Avenue: cabins.
Good Night Irene’s, 1580 Bay View Avenue: two-bedroom vacation home.
Maggie’s Ocean Retreat, 1251 Tsoo-Yess Beach Road: one-bedroom vacation home.
Raven’s Corner Guesthouse: two-bedroom furnished unit.

Sekiu and Clallam Bay Alternatives

Sekiu and Clallam Bay sit in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu/Pillar Point), just east of the Sekiu River. See the WDFW Marine Area 5 (Sekiu/Pillar Point) page. Clallam Bay is about 15 miles southeast of Neah Bay by water. Sekiu is about 30 minutes from Neah Bay.

Launches

Most Marine Area 5 boaters launch from the marinas at Sekiu and Clallam Bay. Pillar Point has a small launch.

WDFW Sekiu Water Access Area: open year-round. One concrete ramp, no boarding float and limited trailer parking. No camping. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) requires a WDFW Vehicle Access Pass or a Discover Pass for vehicles parked at its water access areas.
Mason’s Resort (formerly Olson’s Resort), 444 Front Street: moorage assigned on arrival, a general store and tackle shop, fuel, propane and a walk-in fish freezer.
Van Riper’s Resort, 280 Front Street: an on-site launch and fish-cleaning tables. Moorage is first come, first served. Hotel guests get priority.

Berths, gas, water, ice, launch ramps and limited marine supplies are in Sekiu, but not in the town of Clallam Bay. You’ll need to stock up when and where you can.

The Water

Marine Area 5 gets some shelter from ocean swell, but currents run strong. West and northwest swell still reaches it, most of all in winter and spring. Kydaka Point gives some protection. Water gets rough off Slip Point and off the west side of Kydaka Point near the Hoko River mouth. Give Slip Point a berth of more than 0.2 mile.

Named spots include the Caves near the marina breakwater, Slip Point, Mussolini Rock, the Coal Mine, the Slide Area, Cod Fish Bay and Pillar Point. Halibut ridges sit in 200 to 400 feet off Kydaka Point, Clallam Bay and Pillar Point. Hoko Flats lies in 100 to 200 feet west-northwest of the Hoko River mouth toward the Sekiu River.

Halibut rules for Marine Area 5 come from WDFW’s Puget Sound subarea, not the North Coast rules that cover Neah Bay. Check both before you choose a port.

The Water: Spots and Landmarks

“Inside” means the water east of Tatoosh Island and “outside” means the water past the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and the offshore banks. Rules change at that line too (see Rules and Boundaries).

Inside

Waadah Island and the Green Can. The water around Waadah and the “Green Can” at the bay entrance is some of the best salmon water. The green buoy off Waadah is relatively protected for small boats.
The Garbage Dump to Tatoosh. The stretch from the “Garbage Dump” west to Tatoosh Island is relatively protected. Watch the forecast before you run to the Garbage Dump.
Seal and Sail Rocks. About 2 miles east of Neah Bay and about 600 yards offshore.
Koitlah Point. The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary boundary starts here.
Slant Rock. Just around the northernmost tip of the state, this is a popular spot.

Boats from 14 to 20 feet often stay inside, east of Tatoosh or around Waadah Island.

Outside

Makah Bay lies between Portage Head and Waatch Point. Makah Bay and the inshore ocean south of Cape Flattery fish well when the weather allows.
Cape Alava, farther south, is popular.
Offshore banks: the Garbage Dump, Swiftsure Bank, Table Rock and Blue Dot, among others. Watch the forecast closely before you head out to them.
Swiftsure Bank is about 3.5 miles across. Many fishing boats troll or anchor there in summer, so use caution when visibility is low.

Bottomfish and Halibut Water

Rocks and pillars hold lingcod and rockfish. Bottomfish hang on rocky reefs from 50 to 90 feet. Black and yellowtail rockfish hold mid-water over the nearshore kelp beds. Halibut range from inshore flats to offshore banks and canyons. Watch for sea otters.

Hazards

Tatoosh Island sits about 0.4 mile northwest of the cape. The passage between the island and the cape is not recommended.
Duncan and Duntze rocks lie about 1 and 1.3 miles north-northwest of the Tatoosh light. Duntze is covered. The passage between Duncan Rock and Tatoosh is hazardous.
Submerged rocks. Check your charts for them.
Tide rips. They run heavy off Cape Flattery and can be dangerous to small boats.
Logs and deadheads (logs floating low in the water).

Where the Kings Hold

Chinook hold close to shore near Mushroom Rock, the Midway rocks and south toward Skagway, in shallow water near the kelp. Find these spots on your chart before you run out.

Chart-style map from Swiftsure Bank east to Seal and Sail Rocks. The Bonilla-Tatoosh line runs north from Cape Flattery through Tatoosh Island. A detail box shows Tatoosh Island, Cape Flattery and Slant Rock with Duncan Rock and Duntze Rock north of Tatoosh. Koitlah Point, Waadah Island, Seal Rock and Sail Rock sit along the strait shore to the east. Makah Bay lies south of the cape. — WDFW uses "inside" for the water east of Tatoosh Island and "outside" for the water past the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and the offshore banks. Each spot is pinned where a chart or gazetteer places it.

How Locals Fish It

Most of the methods here are the same ones you would use elsewhere in the salt. One local habit stands out.

Shallow motor mooching. Many anglers motor mooch a herring in 25 to 50 feet of water near the kelp beds. Motor mooching means pulling a mooching rig slowly with the motor. See Mooching for the rig and how to work it.

Tight to the kelp. Fish cut-plug herring on a downrigger about 30 feet down in about 60 feet of water, close to the beach and kelp on an outgoing tide. The bigger kings hold close in and the coho run deeper. Candlefish, needlefish and herring are the baitfish to match. See Trolling for downrigger basics.

Bottomfish. Jigging works for rockfish around the nearshore kelp. See Jigging and Halibut.

Rules and Boundaries

Check WDFW Before Every Trip. Seasons, limits, gear rules and closures change every year and can change in season. Read the current WDFW sport fishing regulations and emergency rules for the exact water you plan to fish. Find your area on WDFW’s Marine Areas map.

The Bonilla-Tatoosh Line

This line runs from Cape Flattery to the Tatoosh Island lighthouse, then north to the Bonilla Point light on Vancouver Island. Salmon, bottomfish and halibut rules in Marine Area 4 differ east and west of it. Know which side you are on before you drop a line.

Other Lines and Closures

WDFW sets separate closures east of a north-south line through Sail Rock.
WDFW says to review the “C Closure” bottomfish zone and the depth rules around Duncan and Duntze rocks.
WDFW closes a yelloweye rockfish conservation area to bottomfish and halibut fishing.
Fishing for salmon in Canadian waters? WDFW says to notify it before you leave state waters.

Quotas Can Close a Season Early

Ocean salmon quotas are set through the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). Each port can close early once its quota or guideline is met. Halibut quotas are tracked during the season too, and fisheries can close early. Marine Area 4 falls in WDFW’s North Coast halibut subarea.

New seasons are set each winter. The 2027 process runs through PFMC and International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) meetings from November 2026 into January 2027.

Safety, Weather and Radio

No Bar, Plenty of Weather

Neah Bay has no dangerous bar to cross. Ocean fishing can be extremely hazardous and weather can change quickly and without warning. The weather off the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca is, as a rule, exceptionally severe. In winter small boats often run into Neah or Clallam Bay to wait for better weather.

In April 2025 a 15-foot pleasure boat with three people aboard did not return to its slip. It was found capsized on a beach near Koitlah Point. One person was found dead, and the Coast Guard suspended its search for the other two. No bar is no promise. Respect the swell, the wind and the forecast every time you leave the breakwater.

Currents and rips. Currents between Cape Flattery and Race Rocks run 2 to 4 knots. Tide rips off the cape can be dangerous to small boats.
Afternoon wind. In summer a sea breeze can reach 30 knots by late afternoon. Calm early mornings are common. Plan your run home before the wind comes up.
Fog. Sea fog is worst from about July through October and most frequent at the west end of the Strait. Visibility drops under 0.75 mile on about 55 days a year, and fog can hang for days in calm weather. Off Tatoosh, fog cuts visibility under half a mile on up to 16 days a month.
Fall and winter. From October to March, southeast to southwest winds bring gales 4 to 6 days a month. Southeast winds raise confused seas off Cape Flattery.
Big ships. Ships transit these waters under the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service.

Side-view sketch. Wind arrows blow from left to right above the water while current arrows run from right to left below the surface. Where they meet the waves turn short and steep with breaking crests. — When wind and swell run against the current, a short, choppy sea can build near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Forecasts and Live Readings

What	ID or Frequency	Source
Marine forecast: West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait of Juan de Fuca	PZZ130	National Weather Service (NWS)
Marine forecast: Central U.S. Waters Strait of Juan de Fuca	PZZ131	NWS
Marine forecast: Cape Flattery to James Island, out 10 nautical miles	PZZ150	NWS
Marine forecast: Cape Flattery to James Island, 10 to 60 nautical miles	PZZ170	NWS
NOAA Weather Radio, Neah Bay	KIH-36, 162.550 MHz	NWS and Washington Military Department
Buoy 6 nautical miles north of Cape Flattery	46087	National Data Buoy Center (NDBC)
Neah Bay weather and water level station	NEAW1	NDBC
Neah Bay tide predictions	9443090	NOAA Tides and Currents

Map of the west end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the outer coast with four dashed forecast zones. PZZ130 covers the strait off Neah Bay and PZZ131 the strait farther east. PZZ150 covers the coast out 10 nautical miles and PZZ170 the water from 10 to 60 nautical miles. Buoy 46087 sits in the strait north of Cape Flattery and station NEAW1 sits at Neah Bay. — Read the zone forecast for the water you will fish. Then check buoy 46087 and NEAW1 the night before and the morning of.

Radio

Channel 16: distress, safety and calling. The Coast Guard keeps a listening watch here.
Channel 9: boater calling.
Channel 22A: Coast Guard liaison and safety broadcasts, announced first on 16.
Channel 66: used by Makah Marina, along with 16.

Help Nearby

Coast Guard Station Neah Bay is part of Sector Puget Sound. An emergency response tug is also stationed at Neah Bay.

Seasonal Calendar

Season	WDFW General Timing	Weather	2026 Example (Dates Change Every Year)
Winter (December–February)	Blackmouth (resident Chinook) fishing in Marine Area 5 is popular in winter.	Gales from the southeast to southwest, most often off Tatoosh in December and January.	—
Spring (March–May)	Blackmouth in Marine Area 5 into early spring. Halibut openers are set each year by quota.	West and northwest swell still reaches Marine Area 5.	—
Summer (June–August)	Cape Flattery is known for summer salmon fishing. Early-summer Chinook pass through Marine Area 5. Pink salmon in odd years from July into early September. Coho in Marine Area 5 from August.	Fog season starts in July. Afternoon sea breeze.	Chinook led the Neah Bay ocean catch from late June through most of July. Coho led from the last week of July. The Neah Bay ocean salmon fishery closed in late August as the coho quota neared.
Fall (September–November)	Coho in Marine Area 5 into October.	Fog through October. Gale season starts in October.	—

Next year’s ocean salmon and halibut seasons take shape at PFMC and IPHC meetings from November into January.

Twelve-month chart. WDFW timing bars show summer salmon off Cape Flattery from June through August and blackmouth in Marine Area 5 through winter into early spring. Early-summer Chinook show in June. Pink salmon in odd years run from July into early September and coho in Marine Area 5 from August through October. Halibut openers are set each year by quota. Weather bars show fog from July through October and gales from October to March, most often off Tatoosh in December and January. A lighter 2026 example row shows Chinook leading the catch from late June through most of July, coho leading from the last week of July and the fishery closing in late August. — Best times, not regulations. The 2026 row is an example only. Dates change every year and nothing here is an open date. Check WDFW rules before every trip.

First Trip Checklist

Check the WDFW regulations and emergency rules for the exact area and side of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line you will fish.
Buy a Makah Recreation Use Permit, print it and put it in your window.
Buy your Washington saltwater license. Add a tribal license if you will fish from shore on the reservation.
Check ferry sailings and the WSDOT Travel Center Map.
Set your GPS for Bayview Avenue, not Backtrack Road.
Call Makah Marina about moorage, launch and fees.
Plan your bait, groceries and ice.
Read the NWS zone forecasts and check buoy 46087 and NEAW1 the night before and the morning of.
Mark Duncan and Duntze rocks, the Tatoosh passage and the Dtokoah Point reef on your chart.
Know your VHF channels: 16, 9 and 22A.
Tell someone ashore where you are going and when you will be back.
Plan to be back inside before the afternoon wind.

Methods

Mooching: the shallow herring approach near the kelp.
Trolling: downriggers and covering water for Chinook and coho.
Halibut: drifting bait or jigs on the bottom during openers.
Jigging: rockfish and lingcod around rocks and kelp.

Guides Who Specialize in This

Find salmon guides for the Strait and Neah Bay

Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.

FAQ

Do I Need a Makah Permit to Fish From Neah Bay?

Yes. The Makah Tribe requires a Recreation Use Permit for sport fishing and boating on the reservation. You also need a Washington saltwater fishing license.

Is There a Bar to Cross?

No. There isn’t a dangerous bar to cross. The open coast, the swell and the tide rips off Cape Flattery are the real hazards.

Can I Fish Close to the Bay in a Small Boat?

Many boats from 14 to 20 feet stay inside, east of Tatoosh or around Waadah Island. Watch the afternoon wind and the fog either way.

Is Sekiu More Sheltered?

Partly. Marine Area 5 gets some shelter from swell, but its currents are strong and swell still reaches it in winter and spring.

When Is the Best Time for Salmon?

Cape Flattery is known for summer salmon fishing. In 2026, for example, Chinook led the catch early in the summer and coho led later. Seasons and quotas change every year, so check WDFW first.

Sources for this guide are listed on our Credits page.

— The Salish Guide