Fishing near Tacoma, Washington
Pierce County, population 219,346.
- 2 milesto nearest paged water
- 8launches nearby
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: jc.winkler, CC BY 2.0
A fishing read on Tacoma for visitors
In 2020 the city of Tacoma, Pierce County, held 219,346 residents by Census count. Drive north some 2 miles to reach Commencement Bay, the closest paged water. Steilacoom Lake covers 306 acres, the most in the lake table. Towing a boat, Lake Killarney boat launch is the closest mapped launch at 9 miles.
Old Town Dock on Commencement Bay, roughly 2 miles away, offers fishing from land. Stocked trout went into Wapato Lake (Pierce County), some 4 miles away, this year.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Tacoma; miles are straight lines.
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| Lake | Distance | Acres | Launches | WDFW program | Fish WDFW maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wapato Lake (Pierce County) | 4 miles south | 26 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout |
| Steilacoom Lake | 7 miles southwest | 306 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, rock bass |
| Waughop Lake | 7 miles southwest | 30 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Lake Louise | 8 miles southwest | 38 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout |
| Lake Killarney | 8 miles east | 29 | 1 | Mixed species – Warmwater emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, brown bullhead |
| Fivemile Lake | 8 miles east | 36 | 0 | Mixed species – Trout emphasis | rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill |
WDFW Fish Washington lowland and high lake layers (surface acres as published, management emphasis, mapped species); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Salt water near Tacoma
| Water | Kind | Distance | Launches | Piers and shore | Marine area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commencement Bay | regional marine water | 2 miles north | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| South Puget Sound (Marine Area 13) | WDFW marine area | 8 miles west | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Tacoma-Vashon Island (Marine Area 11) | WDFW marine area | 10 miles northeast | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Carr Inlet | regional marine water | 11 miles west | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| Colvos Passage | regional marine water | 12 miles north | 0 | 2 | 11 |
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. Salmon and bottomfish trips on marine water take the $40.71 resident Saltwater license ($81.70 for nonresidents).
WDFW Recreational Marine Areas, WDFW and State Parks marine launches, WDFW piers; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Streams that flow past Tacoma
- Puyallup River8 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 1 mapped launch, 1 WDFW shore or access site, 6 USGS gauges, 44 mi in Washington
- White River (Pierce County)14 miles, SWIFD lists chinook, chum and coho, 9 USGS gauges, 71 mi in Washington
Gauge readings today around Tacoma
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Leach Creek Near Fircrest, Wa | 3 cfs, 1.58 ft gage height | Nov 2 6:45 pm |
| Leach Cr At Meadow Park Gc At University Place, Wa | 8 cfs, 0.17 ft gage height | Nov 2 6:30 pm |
| Chambers Creek Bl Leach Creek Near Steilacoom, Wa | 56 cfs, 1.76 ft gage height | Nov 2 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 2, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USGS NHD flowlines, WDFW SWIFD salmon and steelhead distribution, WDFW and State Parks launches and USGS gauges; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Mapping water access near Tacoma
- Lake Killarney boat launchLake Killarney, WDFW, 9 miles
- Lake Geneva boat launchLake Geneva, WDFW, 9 miles
- North Lake boat launchNorth Lake, WDFW, 9 miles
- Steel Lake boat launch on Steele LakeSteele Lake, City of Federal Way, 9 miles
- Lake Dolloff boat launchLake Dolloff, WDFW, 10 miles
- American Lake boat launchAmerican Lake, WDFW, 10 miles
- Crescent Lake boat launch (south)Crescent Lake, WDFW, 11 miles
- Lake Fenwick boat launchLake Fenwick, City of Kent, 12 miles
Walk-in fishing around Tacoma
- Old Town Dock on Commencement Bayfishing pier, Marine Area 11, 2 miles
- Les Davis Pier on Commencement Bayfishing pier, Marine Area 11, 2 miles
- Wapato Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Paved trails provide shore fishing around entire lake, 4 miles
- Wapato Lake fishing piershore fishing site, Public dock, limited shore fishing, 4 miles
- Wapato Lake shore accessshore fishing site, Shore fishing, 4 miles
- Point Defiance Marina Boathouse on Commencement Bayfishing pier, Marine Area 11, 5 miles
WDFW Facilities layer and the State Parks boat launch layer; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Trout plants near Tacoma
| Lake | Distance | Latest 2026 plant |
|---|---|---|
| Wapato Lake (Pierce County) | 4 miles | Rainbow, 2,100 fish at 2.1 per pound, May 19, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery |
| Steilacoom Lake | 7 miles | Rainbow, 3,500 fish at 2 per pound, April 2, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery |
| Lake Louise | 8 miles | Rainbow, 500 fish at 1.67 per pound, June 5, 2026, Chambers Cr Hatchery |
| Lake Killarney | 8 miles | Rainbow, 2,700 fish at 2.4 per pound, May 8, 2026, Puyallup Hatchery |
Hatchery trout went into each of these lakes this year, per the WDFW report.
WDFW Trout Plants report (rows January 2 to October 27, 2026), read October 31, 2026.
Tackle counters and skippers near Tacoma
Where Tacoma anglers buy eggs and jigs
- Dick's Sporting Goods Tacomasporting goods store, Tacoma, 3 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Tacomasporting goods store, Tacoma, 5 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Federal Waysporting goods store, Federal Way, 7 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Puyallupsporting goods store, Puyallup, 10 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Puyallupsporting goods store, Puyallup, 10 miles
- Arabella's Landing Marinamarina, Gig Harbor
- GIG Harbor Marinamarina, Gig Harbor
- GIG Harbor Rent A Boat & Chartersmarina, Gig Harbor
Guides and charters listed near Tacoma
- Mount Rainier Flyreel Workscharter, Buckley, (360) 829-3691
- Wild Rivers Guided Fishing Tripscharter, Orting, (253) 222-6886
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point), guide and charter listings; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Washington records landed near Tacoma
| Species | Weight | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 1.38 lbs | Steilacoom Lake | June 26, 1981 |
| Cutthroat Trout, Coastal, sea-run | 6.00 lbs | Carr Inlet | May 1, 1943 |
| Atlantic Salmon, sea-run | 14.38 lbs | Green River (King County) | Sept. 22, 1999 |
| Black Crappie | 4.50 lbs | Lake Washington | May 1, 1956 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 10.63 lbs | Lake Washington | July 20, 1982 |
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) sport fish records list, as of October 31, 2026. Waters within 40 miles.
Bag limits for a trip from Tacoma
Lake and river trips call for the Freshwater license: $39.95 if you live in Washington, $115.85 if you do not. Marine water needs the Saltwater license instead ($40.71 resident, $81.70 nonresident) or a Combination license covering both. A catch record card rides along with the license whenever salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut are kept.
| 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) |
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. Lake, river and marine pages print any Special Rule or marine area table.
Beyond the edge of Tacoma
More bases close to Tacoma
- Fircrest3 miles
- Browns Point4 miles
- Ruston4 miles
- University Place5 miles
- Fife5 miles
The county around Tacoma
- Pierce Countyseat: Tacoma
A Piscifun spinning setup worth packing for Tacoma
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A photo key to fish at Tacoma
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Timothy Knepp of the Fish and Wildlife Service., Public domain
Photo: NPS Natural Resources, Public domain
Using Tacoma as a fishing base: questions
Which Washington lake is quickest to reach from Tacoma?
Wapato Lake (Pierce County), 4 miles south.
Where is the nearest boat ramp for Tacoma?
Lake Killarney boat launch, some 9 miles off.
What is the closest no-boat fishing spot to Tacoma?
Old Town Dock on Commencement Bay, 2 miles away.
Which shop near Tacoma sells bait and leader?
Dick's Sporting Goods Tacoma lists a store 3 miles from the town point.
Which Washington county takes in Tacoma?
Pierce County holds it.
How much is a nonresident license for a Tacoma trip?
Visitors pay $115.85 for a 2026-27 nonresident Freshwater license. Marine fishing adds a Saltwater license.
Which big lake can Tacoma anglers reach?
Steilacoom Lake covers 306 acres and sits 7 miles out.
Which Washington town is next to Tacoma?
Neighbours by distance: Fircrest (3 miles), Browns Point (4 miles) and Ruston (4 miles).
What marine area lies near Tacoma?
Commencement Bay, regional marine water, about 2 miles away.
Has a state record come from water by Tacoma?
Rock Bass, 1.38 lbs, from Steilacoom Lake, Pierce County.
Is there stocked trout water near Tacoma?
Wapato Lake (Pierce County), 4 miles away, is the closest lake with a 2026 WDFW plant.