Marine Area 11Chinook Salmon · Open

Des Moines Bell Buoy

47.40°N · 122.34°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 7 AM
86/100
GOOD

Now 71 · 10 AM PDT

BEST WINDOW
6 AM-10 AM
Tide flooding
WDFW · Marine Area 11 · Chinook Salmon openRegulations ↗1 per day · min 22"
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster

24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

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Conditions
Time
10 AM
Now
Score
71
Fair
Tide
10.0 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
Ebb
Wind
5 kn
SE · steady
Sea state
Calm
est. from wind
Air temp
18°
Warm
Weather
Overcast
100% cloud
Hour 10 AM. Score 71 Fair. Tide 10.0ft Falling ▼. Current -0.2kn Slack. Wind 5kn SE G10. Sea Calm (est. from wind). Air 18.2°.
Why this score
Light
Golden hour
Prime
Current
Slack
Tough

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Chinook Salmon
Retention open
Daily limit
1 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 22"
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Entire Area (excluding Commencement Bay and piers). Open Wednesday–Saturday only; closed Sunday–Tuesday. Min. size 22" (55.9 cm). Daily limit 2 total salmon including no more than 1 Chinook. Release wild Chinook; only hatchery Chinook may be retained.
Season
Mar 31 to Apr 30
Other species here
Coho Salmon Retention open
Always check with WDFW

Source: WDFW · Marine Area 11 · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Chinook Salmon is best at this spot

Peak seasonCurrently in peak season for Chinook Salmon
~2 more weeks at peak
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff seasonRelease onlyClosed
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
60-180 ft
Mud
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Peak now
STRUCTURE
Corridor
Mid

Des Moines Bell Buoy marks a mud-bottom corridor in the waters off Tacoma, Washington, where depths run from 120 to 240 feet. Its position in a travel lane, rather than over isolated structure, means fish move through the area as they follow the contour along the bottom. The mid-water exposure keeps conditions moderate, without the full force of open-water swell or the sheltered stillness of an inner bay. Tidal flow works along the corridor, shaping how bait and current concentrate at different stages. Anglers navigating the site orient to the bell buoy as a fixed reference point over an otherwise featureless mud flat.

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Des Moines Bell Buoy is one of the spots we track around Tacoma. See every scored spot in Washington.

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