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227-acre Gig Harbor fishing map with native-MLLW NOAA survey contours (77.26% measured, 95.07% assessed), 20 source-traceable measured fishing spots, six fish profiles, exact surf-smelt and SAV nursery-forage calendars, three public access sites, Marine Area 11 rules and consumption guidance. The water tops out around 40 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Traced from the shoreline, Gig Harbor runs 226 acres with 5.4 miles of edge, broken up by 10 islands. An index of 2.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 53% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. Call it 1.3 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. For a second option, Quartermaster Harbor lies 6 mi northeast.
Spring puts pacific chinook salmon in skinny water — 10 to 40 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 40 ft, and winter fish hold in 11 to 40 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 20 ft, rated good for summer pacific chinook salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A herring or sand-lance spoon or a baitfish hoochie behind a flasher covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Herring-pattern spoon, Three-to-four-inch baitfish swimbait |
| Summer | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Herring or sand-lance spoon, Baitfish hoochie behind a flasher |
| Fall | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Compact spoon, Baitfish spinner where legal |
| Winter | 11 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Slow-trolled spoon, Deep baitfish plug |
Start shallow in spring: pacific coho salmon sit in 6 to 40 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 40 ft covers summer, 12 to 40 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 20 ft range, good in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small hoochie behind a flasher or a slim spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small silver spoon, Slim baitfish fly |
| Summer | 4 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small hoochie behind a flasher, Slim spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small spinner where legal, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 12 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Slow small spoon, Compact trolling fly |
Early season pink salmon use the shallows, holding in 5 to 40 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 40 ft; winter keeps them in 9 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is NOAA charted pier — dock line, 12 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a pink or orange casting spoon or a small hoochie and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small chrome spoon, Compact herring-pattern jig |
| Summer | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Pink or orange casting spoon, Small hoochie |
| Fall | 1 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (12 ft) | Small bright spoon, Pink jig |
| Winter | 9 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small vertical jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chum salmon in 6 to 40 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 40 ft through summer, 10 to 40 ft in winter. The spot to know is Dangerous NOAA charted wreck, a wreck in about 19 ft of water that rates good for chum salmon in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a chartreuse or pink hoochie or a bright spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Chrome spoon, Compact baitfish jig |
| Summer | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Chartreuse or pink hoochie, Bright spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Bright spinner, Pink or chartreuse jig |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Early season cutthroat trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 15 ft. Summer is a 10 to 35 ft game here, winter a 10 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Dangerous NOAA charted wreck — wreck, 19 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (17 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Dangerous NOAA charted wreck (19 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: english sole in 10 to 40 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 40 ft through summer, 9 to 40 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in the 20 ft range, good in fall. Time it for early morning. Summer baits: a small scented jig or a light grub on bottom gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small scented bottom jig, Light bucktail |
| Summer | 4 to 40 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small scented jig, Light grub on bottom |
| Fall | 7 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Slow bucktail, Small bottom jig |
| Winter | 9 to 40 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Slow scented bottom jig |
Structure-wise the chart holds 24 features, led in depth by Dangerous NOAA charted wreck at roughly 21 ft.
Access data: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife surf-smelt guide and Puget Sound creel reports. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Washington waters are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Marine Area 13 — South Puget Sound) — and special regulations can apply to Gig Harbor specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Gig Harbor is about 40 ft (12 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to MLLW; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target pacific chinook salmon, pacific coho salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, cutthroat trout, english sole on Gig Harbor.
Dangerous NOAA charted wreck is the top-rated area: a wreck in about 19 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For pacific chinook salmon, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Gig Harbor is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (Marine Area 13 — South Puget Sound). Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Quartermaster Harbor 6 mi · Horseshoe Lake 6 mi · Carney Lake 10 mi · Wye Lake 10 mi · Long Lake 10 mi · Bay Lake 10 mi · Lake Koeneman 11 mi · Poverty Bay 11 mi · Mirror Lake 11 mi · Little Wapato Lake 11 mi · Steilacoom Lake 12 mi · Lake Louise 12 mi
See how Gig Harbor stacks up: best cutthroat trout lakes in Washington · best pink salmon lakes in Washington · best chum salmon lakes in Washington · best pacific chinook salmon lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information and Office of Coast Survey NOAA Gig Harbor hydrographic survey composite (MLLW; 77% measured, 18% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.