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74,601-acre bay near South Bend. The water tops out around 94 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. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Willapa Bay maps at 74,263 acres behind 104.2 miles of shoreline, with 8 islands in the mix. The 2.7 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. About 62% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Figure 24.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 11.9 mi at the beam. Its nearest charted neighbour, Willapa River, is 10 mi to the northeast.
When the water first warms, chinook salmon slide up into 5 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 28 to 94 ft, and by winter most fish are in 30 to 90 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Goulters Slough inflow: an inflow / creek mouth around 11 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Goulters Slough inflow (11 ft) | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 28 to 94 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (79 ft) | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dawn & dusk | Goulters Slough inflow (11 ft) | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 30 to 90 ft | midday | Deep basin (79 ft) | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
When the water first warms, coho salmon slide up into 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 30 to 70 ft game here, winter a 20 to 60 ft one. Start at Goulters Slough inflow. It's an inflow / creek mouth holding about 11 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Goulters Slough inflow (11 ft) | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Deepest basin (77 ft) | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 8 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Goulters Slough inflow (11 ft) | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 20 to 60 ft | midday | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small spoon, slow troll |
Spring puts cutthroat trout in skinny water — 3 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 35 ft; cold water stacks them in 10 to 40 ft. Goulters Slough inflow is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 11 ft, rated prime for spring cutthroat trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Goulters Slough inflow (11 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The chart marks 26 structure features on Willapa Bay; the deepest is Deep basin at about 79 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 Willapa Bay specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Washington fishing regulations →
Willapa Bay is about 94 ft (29 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 on Willapa Bay.
Goulters Slough inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. 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 Willapa 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.
Willapa River 10 mi · Loomis Lake 10 mi · Island Lake 11 mi · Black Lake 18 mi · Grays Harbor 25 mi · Duck Lake 30 mi · Columbia River - Reach 1 of 5 30 mi · Lake Aberdeen 30 mi · Summit Lake 52 mi · Lost Lake 52 mi · Deep Lake 54 mi · Black Lake 54 mi
See how Willapa Bay stacks up: best chinook salmon lakes in Washington · best coho salmon lakes in Washington · best cutthroat trout lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington fishing maps or 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.