November Is a Transition Month
November in Washington sits between two seasons. Fall salmon are still a big part of the story, the rivers are filling with rain, and anglers start turning their attention toward winter steelhead and the colder months.
Here’s what we’ll be watching. As always, these are typical seasonal patterns, not a list of what’s open. Check the current WDFW fishing regulations and emergency rules before any trip.
Chum on Hood Canal
If one fish defines November in western Washington, it’s chum salmon. WDFW has described Hood Canal chum fishing as historically a November affair, with shoreline access around the Hoodsport area drawing anglers to these hard-fighting fish.
Chum, also called dog salmon, typically run 10 to 15 pounds and spawn in small coastal streams and the lower reaches of larger rivers. In fall they’re often easy to see in lower streams, making November a great month for salmon watching too.
Read our earlier Hood Canal chum preview, the Hood Canal chum fishery page and our chum species page. Remember that much of the shoreline near the hatchery is private, so stay on public tidelands.
Late Coho After the Rain
November rain can push late coho into rivers. Returning coho often gather near stream mouths and wait for higher flows before moving upstream, so the first big storms of the month are worth watching.
Our October coho post covers how rain changes the picture, and the coho page has more on the fish.
Squid Move South
Squid jigging doesn’t stop in October. WDFW’s squid page describes the typical progression: after the Edmonds and Seattle waterfronts, squid arrive in Des Moines and Tacoma in late November and December, then spread through South Puget Sound in December and January.
If you missed the early action, November is a good month to dust off the jigs and the lantern. See our squid jigging post and the Puget Sound squid fishery page. License and limit rules apply to squid; check WDFW regulations and emergency rules before you go.
East of the Mountains
November isn’t just a west-side month:
- Walleye: WDFW describes fall as a time when walleye fishing improves as water cools. See our fall walleye post and the Columbia and Snake walleye page.
- Yakima trout: The October caddis hatch can stretch into November, with blue-winged olives on cloudy afternoons. See our Yakima October caddis post and the Yakima River trout page.
Winter Steelhead on the Horizon
By late November, steelhead anglers are looking at the calendar. On the Washington coast, WDFW has scheduled most major coastal steelhead areas around a December-through-March window in recent seasons. That’s a pattern, not a promise. Coastal steelhead rules have been changing as WDFW and tribal co-managers work to rebuild runs, so check the current rules for the 2026-27 season before you plan.
Our Olympic Peninsula winter steelhead page and steelhead species page are good places to start.
Blackmouth: A Winter Story Starting to Build
Resident Chinook, known as blackmouth, are a winter and spring tradition in parts of Puget Sound. WDFW describes South Puget Sound blackmouth as an off-season opportunity in winter and spring, and notes that in the Seattle and Bremerton area winter blackmouth fishing typically opens in late winter or early spring. November is a good time to get boats and gear ready rather than to expect a fishery. See our Puget Sound salmon page and Chinook page.
Crab, Area by Area
Some Puget Sound marine areas have a fall-winter crab opportunity in some years and others don’t. See our fall crabbing post for why, and confirm current areas with WDFW.
Plan Ahead
November weather is the real wild card: short days, cold water and fast-changing wind. Dress for it, check forecasts, and wear a life jacket on the water.
For the full month-by-month picture, see our November season page. If you’d like to fish with someone who knows the water, browse the guide directory.
— The Salish Guide