Fishing in San Juan County, Washington
County seat: Friday Harbor. Population 17,788.
- 5lake pages
- 15launches
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Sizing up San Juan County before the drive out
San Juan County numbered 17,788 residents in 2020; its commissioners meet in Friday Harbor. The 2026 WDFW trout plants report files its plantings here under WDFW Region 4.
Mountain Lake leads the 5 paged lakes inside the county, which add up to 478 acres. The county shoreline opens onto San Juan Islands, Rosario Strait and Haro Strait. Count 15 boat launches across the county, split as 3 WDFW and 12 State Parks. Without a boat there are 7 shore or access sites on the WDFW map, and 5 include a pier.
Census 2020 population; WDFW Fish Washington lake layers, WDFW facilities and State Parks launch layers (WDFW GIS); WDFW marine areas; retrieved October 31, 2026.
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WDFW and State Parks launch layers, WDFW facilities, WDFW lake points, NHD river midpoints and WDFW marine area points. Checked November 2026.
Lowland and alpine lakes spread over San Juan County
| Lake | Acres | Launches | WDFW program | Fish WDFW maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Lake | 195 | 1 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, brook trout, coastal cutthroat trout |
| Cascade Lake | 176 | 3 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, coastal cutthroat trout, kokanee |
| Sportsman Lake | 66 | 1 | Warmwater emphasis | largemouth bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed |
| Hummel Lake | 34 | 1 | Warmwater emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill |
| Egg Lake | 7 | 1 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); WDFW publishes no lake depths in these layers. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
Marine water along the edge of San Juan County
Salt water off San Juan County is split among 3 marine pages.
| Water | Kind | Launches | Piers and shore | Marine area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) | WDFW marine area | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| Rosario Strait | regional marine water | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Haro Strait | regional marine water | 0 | 0 | 7 |
NOAA water level near San Juan County
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 31, 2026); station page for live data.
21 marina sites appear in the NOAA ESI record of 2003 to 2006.
WDFW Recreational Marine Areas (WAC 220-300-160 boundaries), WDFW and State Parks marine launches, WDFW piers and USGS GNIS bay names; retrieved October 31, 2026.
The species tally for water around San Juan County
Each bar is a tally of waters inside 50 miles of Friday Harbor naming the fish, with rainbow trout first.
Species mapped in the WDFW Fish Washington layers, WDFW state records and the 2026 WDFW trout plants, counted per water page within 50 miles; not a survey.
Hatchery rainbows and cutthroat in San Juan County
WDFW logged 3 trout plants in San Juan County so far in 2026, 4,200 fish across 3 waters.
- Cascade LakeRainbow, 2,800 fish at 2 per pound, April 22, 2026, Kendall Cr Hatchery
- Hummel LakeRainbow, 900 fish at 2 per pound, March 30, 2026, Whitehorse Pond
- Egg LakeRainbow, 500 fish at 2 per pound, March 30, 2026, Whitehorse Pond
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026; newest plants first.
WDFW and State Parks ramps in San Juan County
- Hummel Lake boat launchHummel Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
- Moran, Cascade Lake ELC boat launchCascade Lake, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Moran, Cascade Lake, Boat rental dockCascade Lake, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Moran, Cascade Lake, fishing dockCascade Lake, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Moran, Mountain Lake boat launchMountain Lake, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Sportsmans Lake boat launchSportsman Lake, WDFW, 1 ramp, gravel surface, Discover Pass
- Stuart Island, Prevost HarborMarine Area 7, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Stuart Island, Reid HarborMarine Area 7, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Stuart Island, Reid Harbor moorage floatMarine Area 7, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Stuart Island, Reid Harbor pump out floatMarine Area 7, State Parks, Discover Pass
- Egg Lake boat launchEgg Lake, WDFW, 1 hand launch, Discover Pass
- James Island boat launch on Rosario StraitRosario Strait, State Parks, boat ramp
- Jones Island boat launchMarine Area 7, State Parks, boat ramp
- Matia Island boat launchMarine Area 7, State Parks, boat ramp
- Sucia Island, Fossil Bay boat launchMarine Area 7, State Parks, boat ramp
11 of the listed ramps sit on land where a Discover Pass is required for parking.
San Juan County shore fishing on WDFW maps (7)
- Friday Harbor Marina Docksfishing pier, Marine Area 7
- Cascade Lake fishing piershore fishing site, Public pier
- Egg Lake fishing piershore fishing site, Public dock
- Fishing pier on Egg Lakefishing pier
- Killebrew Lakeaccess point (no launch)
- Mountain Lake fishing piershore fishing site, Public pier, accessible from Twin Lakes Trail
- Mountain Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Limited shore fishing next to boat launch
WDFW Facilities layer (boat launches, piers, shore sites) and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026. Lanes and per-launch fees are not published in these layers.
Washington statewide limits that apply in San Juan County
Every San Juan County lake or creek without a Special Rule uses these statewide rows. At 2026-27 WDFW prices, freshwater fishing runs $39.95 for a resident and $115.85 for an out-of-state angler 16 or older. For the sound and the coast, WDFW prices the Saltwater license at $40.71 resident and $81.70 nonresident. Retained salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut go on a catch record card issued with the license.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only largemouth bass less than 12" may be retained, except 1 over 17" may be retained. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Largemouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Only 1 smallmouth bass over 14" may be retained. Daily limit 10. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Smallmouth Bass | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | Min. size 12" in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 8. Only 1 over 22" may be retained. May be caught, retained, and released alive from a livewell until daily limit is in possession. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Walleye | No size restriction/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Channel Catfish | No min. size/daily limit in rivers, streams, and beaver ponds. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Burbot (Freshwater Ling) | No min. size. Daily limit 5. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Crappie, Northern Pikeminnow, Peamouth Chub, Perch, Suckers, Sunfish, | No min. size. No daily limit. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 |
| Grass Carp | Closed unless otherwise listed in Special Rules. | Closed |
| Kokanee | No min. size. Daily limit 10. When fishing with bait, all kokanee that are lawful to possess and are equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit whether kept or released. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Tiger Muskellunge (Tiger Muskie) | Min. size 50". Daily limit 1. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Whitefish | No min. size. Daily limit 15. | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs: year-round; rivers, streams and beaver ponds: Sat. before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 (p.23 general rule for |
| Steelhead | Release all wild steelhead. Min. size 20". Daily limit 2. Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed. | Open during salmon or game fish seasons unless as otherwise listed |
| Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Golden Trout, Tiger Trout | In rivers, streams, and beaver ponds: Min. size 8". Daily limit 2. | Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31 (statewide river season, p.23) |
Marine limits are set per marine area; each linked marine page above prints its own table. Marine area rules
Pamphlet Special Rules inside San Juan County (4)
| Water and reach | Species | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Cascade Creek: from mouth to Mountain Lake | All species | Selective gear rules. |
| Cascade Creek: from mouth to Mountain Lake | Trout | Statewide min. size/daily limit. Except: release cutthroat trout and wild rainbow trout. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Cascade Creek: from mouth to Mountain Lake | Other game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (Sat. before Memorial Day-Oct. 31) |
| Cascade Lake | All game fish | Statewide min. size/daily limit. (4th Sat. in Apr.-Oct. 31) |
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 27 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations statewide freshwater page), read October 31, 2026. Special Rules as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), pamphlet page 28 (pamphlet PDF), read on eRegulations October 31, 2026.
WDFW record entries for San Juan County
| Species | Weight | Angler | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand sole | 2.59 lbs | Shannon Reiss | San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) | March 31, 2019 |
| Kelp Greenling | 4.42 lbs | Danita Rixen | Sucia Island, San Juan County | Sept. 19, 1999 |
| Lingcod | 61.00 lbs | Tom Nelson | San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) | July 30, 1986 |
| Quillback Rockfish | 7.19 lbs | Bror Hultgren | Middle Bank, San Juan County | Oct. 29, 1987 |
| Tiger Rockfish | 7.50 lbs | James Wenban | Middle Bank, San Juan County | Nov. 30, 1989 |
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026.
Gear and guided trips around San Juan County
San Juan County counters for tackle and bait
- FHR – Friday Harbor Airportmarina, Friday Harbor
- Harbor Rental and Saw Shopmarina, Friday Harbor
- San Juan Outfittersmarina, Friday Harbor
- Shell Marinamarina, Friday Harbor
- Shipyard Cove Marinamarina, Friday Harbor
Yellow Pages and chain store listings, guide and charter listings (city of business); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Close around San Juan County
San Juan County communities ranked by size
- Friday Harborpop. 2,613
Washington county pages surrounding San Juan County
- Island County31 miles southeast
- Clallam County45 miles southwest
- Jefferson County52 miles south
- Skagit County59 miles east
Piscifun gear a Cascades angler could bring to San Juan County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs of fishing water around San Juan County
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: slgckgc, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Joseph, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Water in San Juan County, question by question
Can I launch a drift boat or sled in San Juan County?
Count 15 launches, run by 3 WDFW and 12 State Parks.
Which San Juan County lake comes first on surface acres?
Mountain Lake, at 195 surface acres in the WDFW layer.
What ends up in the cooler around San Juan County?
Rainbow trout lead the count of water pages within 50 miles, followed by largemouth bass, coastal cutthroat trout and yellow perch.
Where do San Juan County anglers buy bait and tackle?
Try FHR – Friday Harbor Airport; the list holds 5.
Are any charter skippers based in San Juan County?
No charter listing names this county.
Which Washington town runs the business of San Juan County?
Friday Harbor hosts the county offices.
Which WDFW license does a San Juan County trip call for?
At 2026-27 WDFW prices, freshwater fishing runs $39.95 for a resident and $115.85 for an out-of-state angler 16 or older. For the sound and the coast, WDFW prices the Saltwater license at $40.71 resident and $81.70 nonresident.
Which neighbouring county page should San Juan County anglers open next?
Closest by centre point: Island County, Clallam County and Jefferson County.
Which Special Rules apply in San Juan County?
The 2026-27 pamphlet prints 4 Special Rule entries touching this county, starting with Cascade Creek; the table above shows the first ones.
Which marine areas touch San Juan County?
San Juan Islands, Rosario Strait and Haro Strait; the marine table above links each page.
What record weights trace to San Juan County?
Sand sole, 2.59 lbs, from San Juan Islands, San Juan County (March 31, 2019).
Is there stocked trout water in San Juan County?
3 WDFW plants so far in 2026, 4,200 fish; the latest went into Cascade Lake on April 22, 2026.
Plan two days of fishing in San Juan County
Lake pages list ramps, trout plants and WDFW species.