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Rating depth structure for chinook salmon.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
1,690-acre bay near Poulsbo. The water tops out around 66 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct 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, Liberty Bay runs 1,685 acres with 16.1 miles of edge. The 2.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 68% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. End to end it runs roughly 4.2 mi, about 1.7 mi across. The water lies in Kitsap County. For a second option, Island Lake lies 3 mi south.
In spring, chinook salmon run shallow here, mostly 5 to 40 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 20 to 66 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 66 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 64 ft, rated prime for summer chinook salmon. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger most summer days.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 120 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (64 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (49 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 90 ft | midday | Deep basin (64 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: coho salmon in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 20 to 66 ft, wintering in 20 to 60 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 64 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 20 to 66 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (64 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Deep basin (64 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: an inflow / creek mouth around 1 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (1 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (49 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
In spring, surfperch run shallow here, mostly 2 to 18 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 25 ft before dropping to 6 to 35 ft for winter. Summer surfperch concentrate at Shallow feeding flat, a prime-rated feeding flat around 19 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a 1–2 inch grub or a small paddletail most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Small grub on a light jig, Sand-crab imitation |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | 1-2 inch grub, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Small jig and grub, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 35 ft | midday | Shallow feeding flat (19 ft) | Slow small grub, Light bottom jig |
The chart marks 21 structure features on Liberty Bay; the deepest is Deep basin at about 64 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. 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 — and special regulations can apply to Liberty Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Liberty Bay is about 66 ft (20 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetric surveys, so measured depths remain distinct from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target chinook salmon, coho salmon, cutthroat trout, surfperch on Liberty Bay.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 64 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For 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 Liberty Bay is regulated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official Washington regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Island Lake 3 mi · Dyes Inlet 7 mi · Port Gamble Bay 8 mi · Eagle Harbor 9 mi · Wildcat Lake 10 mi · Kitsap Lake 11 mi · Blakely Harbor 11 mi · Shilshole Bay 11 mi · Sinclair Inlet 12 mi · Bitter Lake 14 mi · Buck Lake 14 mi · Green Lake 15 mi
See how Liberty Bay stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in Washington · best coho salmon lakes in Washington · best cutthroat trout lakes in Washington
More water nearby: Kitsap County fishing maps (9 charts). Browse all Washington fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). 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.