Fishing in Des Moines, WA
Des Moines sits within Washington's Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island), and its two public piers -- the marina pier and the separate Redondo pier -- are both named, year-round Puget Sound salmon fishing destinations, not just generic waterfront amenities.
Marine Area 11: The Regulatory Framework
Des Moines sits within Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island), one of the state's designated marine fishing management zones for Puget Sound. Salmon fishing rules -- open seasons, daily limits, gear restrictions, and area-specific closures -- are set annually and can change year to year based on salmon run conditions and conservation objectives; WDFW has, in specific years, closed portions of Marine Area 11 to salmon fishing (including an April closure in at least one recent season) to support conservation goals for specific salmon runs.
Any angler fishing in Des Moines should check the current WDFW regulation pamphlet and any active emergency rule changes before fishing, rather than relying on a prior year's season dates or limits -- salmon regulations here are genuinely dynamic year to year in a way a static guide can't responsibly capture.
The Des Moines Marina Pier: A Named Year-Round Pier
The Des Moines Marina Pier, at 410 S 222nd Street, is specifically named by WDFW as one of Marine Area 11's designated year-round piers (alongside Redondo Pier, Les Davis Pier in Tacoma, and Point Defiance Park Boathouse Dock in Tacoma) -- meaning it remains open to pier fishing across the full year, subject to whatever specific salmon season and limit rules are currently in effect. Chinook, coho, and pink salmon are all regularly reported caught from this pier, and its structure allows anglers to fish varying depths depending on tide stage and season. The pier includes parking, ADA access, restrooms, and a fish-cleaning station.
As with any Puget Sound pier fishery, actual salmon presence and catch rates vary significantly by season and by which specific salmon run (Chinook, coho, or pink, which runs on a two-year cycle with stronger odd-year returns in this region) is currently active -- check current WDFW fishing reports and the current-year regulation pamphlet before planning a trip specifically around salmon.
Redondo Pier: A Second Confirmed Fishing Destination
Redondo Pier, along Des Moines' 1.1-mile Redondo boardwalk at the town's southern edge, is separately and specifically named by WDFW as another of Marine Area 11's year-round piers, distinct from the marina pier. The water directly off Redondo Beach is also a WDFW-managed marine protected area (an octopus preserve), which carries its own specific fishing and harvesting restrictions for that exact zone -- confirm current boundaries and rules for the protected area specifically before fishing at Redondo, since a marine protected area designation can mean different rules apply there than at the marina pier a short distance away.
Seals, sea lions, and river otters are commonly reported around the Redondo pier -- a real, visible sign of the healthy marine ecosystem this stretch of Puget Sound supports, and a genuine bonus wildlife-viewing feature for anglers fishing here.
What Else Is Realistically Available Beyond Salmon
Puget Sound piers in this general area also support fishing for other species beyond salmon -- bottomfish and other resident species are commonly targeted from Puget Sound piers generally, though this page does not have confirmed Des Moines-specific data on non-salmon catch rates or species availability at either the marina or Redondo pier specifically, and won't invent that detail. Saltwater State Park, within city limits, offers additional shoreline fishing access alongside its swimming beach and underwater artificial reef (fishing and harvesting are prohibited within the reef area itself, which is managed specifically as a marine habitat rather than a fishery).
For boat-based fishing beyond pier access, the City of Des Moines Marina's 840 slips and associated launch facilities provide direct access to the broader Marine Area 11 waters -- covered in more detail on this site's Boating & Water Access page.
Licensing and What This Page Does Not Know
A current Washington fishing license, including the required Puget Sound salmon/steelhead endorsement where applicable, is required for anyone fishing in Des Moines waters -- available through WDFW directly. This page does not have confirmed current license fees, confirmed current-season salmon open dates or limits (which change annually), or confirmed non-salmon catch-rate data for either Des Moines pier.
Before planning a fishing trip, check the current WDFW regulation pamphlet and any active emergency rule changes for Marine Area 11 directly at wdfw.wa.gov, and purchase a current license through the same source.
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Get a Free Agent Referral →Independent research. No ads. No sponsored listings. Data sourced from: the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's own regulation materials (wdfw.wa.gov) for Marine Area 11 boundaries, year-round pier designations (including the Des Moines Marina Pier and Redondo Pier), the Redondo Beach octopus preserve marine protected area, and recent salmon-season closure examples; FishPiers.com for the Des Moines Marina Pier's address and amenities; and eRegulations and Ted's Sports Center for general Marine Area 11 salmon fishing context. Facts not independently confirmed and not invented here include: current-season salmon open dates and daily limits, which change annually and must be checked directly with WDFW; current license fees; and non-salmon catch-rate data for either Des Moines pier. Confirm current regulations, seasons, and licensing requirements directly with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before fishing. Nothing on this page is fishing regulatory advice -- WDFW's own current publications are the authoritative source.