Dungeness Crab Fishing in Bellingham Bay: Gear, Spots & Season Tips
Bellingham Bay is a crabbing paradise. Learn the gear, deployment strategies, and prime spots for filling your limits of...
Read MoreWashington · Strait & Sound
BELLINGHAM
FISHING CHARTERS
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Fishing Types
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About
Bellingham Fishing
Bellingham is a vibrant university city on Bellingham Bay, just south of the Canadian border, with excellent access to the San Juan Islands and productive Strait of Georgia waters. Salmon, halibut, and lingcod fishing is outstanding, with the unique bonus of fishing in sight of both the Cascade Mountains and the San Juan Islands.
Fishing Calendar
What's Biting in Bellingham?
See which species are available each month, color-coded by activity level.
Color Key
Peak
Good
Fair
Off Season
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inshore
|
F | F | F | F | G | G | P | P | G | F | F | F |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
F | F | F | G | P | P | P | G | G | F | F | F |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | - | G | G | - | - | - | F | - | - |
|
Bottom Fishing
|
- | - | - | - | G | P | G | F | - | - | - | - |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | - | - | G | P | G | F | - | - | - |
|
Nearshore
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | G | P | G | - | - |
Species Glossary
View Full Species Guide
Bellingham Fish Species
6+ species organized by fishing type. Click any species to learn more.
Inshore Species
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore.
Nearshore Species
Target reefs, wrecks, and structure within a few miles of land.
Bottom Fishing Species
Charter Guide
Fishing Charter Types in Bellingham
Understanding the different charter types will help you book the perfect trip for your group.
INSHORE
Fish the bays, flats, and passes close to shore. Target redfish, speckled trout, flounder and more in calm, protected waters.
View Inshore ChartersNEARSHORE
Fish the reefs, wrecks, and structure 1-9 miles offshore. Target snapper, grouper, cobia and more over natural and artificial reefs.
View Nearshore ChartersDEEP SEA FISHING
Deep sea fishing 20+ miles out. Chase tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo and other pelagic gamefish in blue water.
View Deep Sea Fishing ChartersTROLLING
Cover water by dragging lures or bait behind a moving boat to target pelagic species.
View Trolling ChartersBOTTOM FISHING
Drop baits to the ocean floor to target snapper, grouper, and other reef dwellers.
View Bottom Fishing ChartersFLY FISHING
Sight-cast with fly rods on the flats for redfish, trout, and tarpon.
View Fly Fishing ChartersSURF FISHING
Fish from the beach or wade into the surf to target pompano, whiting, and redfish.
View Surf Fishing ChartersKAYAK FISHING
Paddle out for a more intimate fishing experience on bays and nearshore waters.
View Kayak Fishing Charters
Fishing Tips & Guides
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Bellingham Fishing Blog
Local insights, seasonal reports, and expert tips for fishing in Bellingham.
Guest Reviews
4.7
based on 3 reviews
Bellingham Fishing Reviews
Chinook Crushing It in Bellingham Bay
Found a pod of Chinook staging in the deep water of Bellingham Bay and they were eating everything at 90 feet. Trolled herring behind flashers and had boat limits of summer kings to 20 pounds by 10 AM. The protected waters of the bay make Bellingham one of the most comfortable salmon ports in Washington.
C
Captain Tom Barkley
July 2025
Chinook Salmon
Dungeness Crab Limits Off Lummi Island
Set crab pots in the channel between Lummi Island and the mainland and every pot was stacked with keepers. These Bellingham Bay Dungeness crabs are fat and sweet from feeding on the rich nutrient waters. Limits for everyone aboard in the first pull — can't beat that.
C
Captain Linda Henriksen
November 2025
Dungeness Crab
Lingcod on the Reefs Off Chuckanut
Worked the rocky reefs off Chuckanut Bay and found lingcod holding tight to the structure in 100 feet. Five keepers to 16 pounds on jigs tipped with herring strips. Not the biggest lings but solid eating-size fish. Mixed in copper and quillback rockfish on lighter tackle for a nice varied box.
C
Captain Al Papadakis
April 2025
Lingcod
Copper Rockfish
Quillback Rockfish
Start Your Adventure
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