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For more information on
fishing, please contact the
WDFW Fish Program.
360-902-2700
For fishing regulation
questions, e-mail us at:
fishregs@dfw.wa.gov
For all other questions and comments, e-mail us at:
fishpgm@dfw.wa.gov
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The near shore waters of Puget Sound contain an abundance
of fishes and a wide variety of species. Included below are
some of the more commonly caught fishes, grouped by family.
Each fish is listed by its common name and scientific name,
maximum length, and (in parenthesis) the average length in
Puget Sound. Identifying characteristics are noted for each
fish. The drawing at the right describes the general anatomy
of a fish.
| SPINY DOGFISH |
(Squalus acanthias) |
| SIZE: |
to 4’3” (24 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
grey to brown above, near white below. |
| LOOK FOR: |
2 dorsal fins, each preceded by a spine |
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| BIG SKATE |
(Raja binoculata) |
| SIZE: |
to 8” (NA) |
| COLOR: |
olive brown to black above, white below. |
| LOOK FOR: |
1 large ‘eye’ on each wing (pectoral
fin). |
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| PACIFIC HERRING |
(Clupea harengus pallasi) |
| SIZE: |
to 10” (NA) |
| COLOR: |
silver, with blue-green tint above. |
| LOOK FOR: |
deeply forked tail; lacks adipose fin. |
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| COHO SALMON |
(Oncorhynchus kisutch) |
| SIZE: |
27” at maturity. |
| COLOR: |
bright, silver overall, blue-green tint above. |
| LOOK FOR: |
black spots above lateral line and on upper lob
of tail; gum-line clear; tail squared; adipose fin
present. |
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| CHINOOK SALMON |
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) |
| SIZE: |
36” at maturity. |
| COLOR: |
silvery overall, blue-black color above. |
| LOOK FOR: |
conspicuous black spots from head to both lobes
of tail; gum-line black; tail forked; adipose fin
present. Note: immature Chinook known as Blackmouth. |
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| SURF SMELT |
(Hypomesus pretiosus pretiosus) |
| SIZE: |
to 8” (NA) |
| COLOR: |
silvery, with a dark stripe along the latrine. |
| LOOK FOR: |
small adipose fin; dark stripe along lateral line. |
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| SHINER PERCH |
(Cymatogaster aggregate) |
| SIZE: |
to 6” (4”) |
| COLOR: |
silvery, with irregular horizontal black stripes
and 3 vertical yellow bars on sides. |
| LOOK FOR: |
yellow and black color patterns on sides. |
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| STRIPED SEAPERCH |
(Embiotoca lateralis) |
| SIZE: |
to 15” (11 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
bright body with alternating blue and red stripes
on sides. |
| LOOK FOR: |
bright color pattern. |
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PILE PERCH |
(Rhacochilus vacca) |
| SIZE: |
to 17” (11 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
dusky to silvery grey. |
| LOOK FOR: |
distinct dorsal fin; and dark spot on lower portion
of gill cover. |
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| BROWN ROCKFISH |
(Sebastes auriculatus) |
| SIZE: |
to 20” (13”) |
| COLOR: |
brown; mottled, and with brown bars. |
| LOOK FOR: |
brown color and dark spot on upper gill cover. |
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COPPER ROCKFISH |
(Sebastes caurinus) |
| SIZE: |
to 21” (14”) |
| COLOR: |
varies from copper to brown with green tint or
yellow cast. |
| LOOK FOR: |
2 yellowish bars radiating from eyes; clear area
in last 2/3 of lateral line. |
|
QUILLBACK ROCKFISH |
(Sebastes maliger) |
| SIZE: |
to 24” (14 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
head and throat light brown with yellow tint,
fins and body darker. |
| LOOK FOR: |
high dorsal fin; freckling on throat may be present. |
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SABLEFISH (Blackcod) |
(Anoplopoma fimbria) |
| SIZE: |
to 40” (17”) |
| COLOR: |
slate grey with green or blue tint on sides. |
| LOOK FOR: |
slender, elongated body with 2 dorsal fins, and
1 anal fin. |
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KELP GREENLING |
(Hexagrammos decagrammus) |
| SIZE: |
to 21” (13”) |
| COLOR: |
MALE- brownish with green or blue tint
and blue spots.
FEMALE- grey to brown with yellow tint and
yellow to reddish brown spots. |
| LOOK FOR: |
1 long, continuous dorsal fin; small cirrus (fringed,
fleshy flap) above each eye; and several lateral
lines. |
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PACIFIC STAGHORN SCULPIN |
(Leptocottus armatus) |
| SIZE: |
to 18” (9 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
light brown to dark olive green above, off-white
below. |
| LOOK FOR: |
antler-like spines on gill covers; black spot
on first dorsal; and scaleless body. |
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PACIFIC SANDDAB |
(Citharichthys sordidus) |
| SIZE: |
to 18” (10 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
eyed side- brown to tan with dark mottling; blind
side- off-white. |
| LOOK FOR: |
left-eyed fish; color and pigment pattern. |
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| ROCK SOLE |
(Lepidopsetta bilineata) |
| SIZE: |
to 23” (12”) |
| COLOR: |
varies; eyed side- dark brown to grey, mottled
with yellow or dark brown; blind side- off-white. |
| LOOK FOR: |
right-eyed; lateral line arches abruptly above
pectoral fin. |
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ENGLISH SOLE |
(Parophrys vetulus) |
| SIZE: |
to 22” (12”) |
| COLOR: |
eyed side- dark brown to grey, mottled with yellow
or dark brown; blind side- off-white. |
| LOOK FOR: |
smooth scaled, slender fish, tapering sharply
at each end; branched lateral line near head. |
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STARRY FLOUNDER |
(Platichthys stellatus) |
| SIZE: |
to 36” (14 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
eyed side- dark brown, with olive green cast;
blind side- off-white. |
| LOOK FOR: |
striking, alternating orange and dark bars on
fins; large, individual rough scales. |
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SAND SOLE |
(Psettichthys melanostictus) |
| SIZE: |
to 24” (12 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
varies; light to darker brown or grey with fine
speckling over eyed side; blind side- off-white. |
| LOOK FOR: |
first 8 dorsal rays, elongated and separate; speckling
on eyed side. |
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DUNGENESS CRAB |
(Cancer magister) |
| SIZE: |
to 8” (6 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
brown to tan, reddish tint. |
| LOOK FOR: |
white tipped claws. |
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RED ROCK CRAB |
(Cancer productus) |
| SIZE: |
to 6 ½” (5 ½”) |
| COLOR: |
brick red. |
| LOOK FOR: |
black tipped claws. |
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