Species guide · Washington
Kelp greenling fishing in Washington
Hexagrammos decagrammus, a nearshore species also called greenling, sea trout and rock trout. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca at 61, one of 8 Washington bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
ODFW: spawning runs July to January with most eggs laid in the fall, and October and November are the best months for larger mature greenling, followed by spring. Common from jetties, rocky shores and estuary mouths.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Washington bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's kelp greenling score this hour.
Best window today 5-9 PM (75) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (75) · 11 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (73) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (74) · 27 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (68) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (68) · 8 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (65) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (67) · 20 named spots
Best window today 6-11 AM (73) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 AM (75) · 308 named spots
Best window today 7-9 PM (74) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (75) · 23 named spots
Best window today 6-11 AM (72) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (74) · 22 named spots
Best window today 7-11 AM (72) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (74) · 268 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 44°F to 62°F, best between 48°F and 56°F.
- Water depth
- 3 to 80 ft of water.
- Structure
- Kelp, jetty, reef, point and estuary, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with light current.Jetty and rocky-shore anglers generally do best as the incoming tide floods the rocks. Tide guidance is guide consensus; ODFW's species sheet only advises starting in the morning and fishing rocky reef areas.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Kelp greenling are solitary bottom fish of rocky shores, jetties and kelp beds, usually in water shallower than 60 feet. Use a small number 4 to 6 hook with sand shrimp or marine worms, or a small lead-head grub, dropped to the bottom and reeled up slightly. Larger fish show in October and November when they spawn close to shore, and mornings tend to fish best.
- Methods
- bottom fishing from jetties and rocky shore, light jigging, kayak fishing, fly fishing
- Lures
- small lead-head jigs with grubs, small swimbaits, shrimp flies
- Bait
- sand shrimp, marine worms, mussels, clam necks, squid
Regulations
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Sep 18, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
9 bottomfish combined per day
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
On all-depth halibut days with halibut on board, only certain bottomfish may be kept. Counts toward the 9 bottomfish daily limit. WDFW's page lists no separate limit for this species; check the pamphlet.
WDFW Columbia River halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
9 bottomfish combined per day
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
Counts toward the 9 bottomfish daily limit. WDFW's page lists no separate limit for this species; check the pamphlet.
WDFW South Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
9 bottomfish combined per day
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 18, 2026
The C-shaped yelloweye rockfish conservation area off the north coast is closed to halibut and bottomfish fishing. Counts toward the 9 bottomfish daily limit. WDFW's page lists no separate limit for this species; check the pamphlet.
WDFW North Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026
9 bottomfish combined per day
Season: Mar 14 to Oct 17, 2026
Changes to special rules on Oct 18, 2026
East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, bottomfish fishing is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. The C-shaped yelloweye rockfish conservation area off the north coast is closed to halibut and bottomfish fishing. Counts toward the 9 bottomfish daily limit. WDFW's page lists no separate limit for this species; check the pamphlet.
WDFW North Coast halibut and bottomfish seasons page · verified Sep 13, 2026