We’ve been fishing with Thao for years now, and every trip out is as good as the last. He runs a first-class charter and is knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about putting you on fish.

What sets him apart is the variety of techniques he offers. Beyond the usual trolling and jigging, he’s one of the few captains in the area who mooches (a highly effective technique for salmon perfected by Japanese fishermen in Seattle in the early 1900s).

Over the years we’ve landed kings, coho, pinks, lingcod, cabezon, and flounder with him. He knows where the fish are, reads the water well, and adjusts his approach based on conditions. Whether you’re an experienced angler or bringing the family out for the first time, he’ll make sure you have a great day on the water.

If you’re looking for a charter captain who takes the craft seriously and treats every client like a friend, Thao is your guy!

Amazing experience! Captain Thao guided us to a great spot where we caught tons of flounder. He was also able to manage a bunch of unexperienced guys who kept getting tangled, keeping the experience fun. Highly recommended and will go fishing with him again the next time I’m in Seattle.

What made it exceptional:
From the moment we arrived at the dock, Thao was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about salmon fishing. He provided all the gear — quality rods, reels, tackle, and bait — and spent time explaining the technique for mooching for salmon before we even left the marina.

Within the first hour, we had our first king salmon on the line. By midday, our group of four had landed three King (Chinook) Salmon. At the end of the day, Thao expertly filleted all our fish to take home. The boat was clean, well-maintained, and had all required Coast Guard safety equipment.

What stood out:
- Deep local knowledge of salmon runs, tides, and seasonal patterns in the Puget Sound
- Patient instruction for beginners — my wife caught her first salmon ever
- Flexible itinerary — when the bite slowed in one spot, we moved quickly to a productive area
- Licensed, insured, and clearly experienced (20+ years guiding)
- Catch-and-release practices for wild steelhead we encountered
- Passionate: Thao was truly passionate about everyone on the boat being safe, learning, having fun, and enjoying both fishing and being on the water in the Puget Sound

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a salmon fishing guide in Seattle/Puget Sound, Thao delivers. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, this is a top-tier guided fishing experience. We’ve already rebooked for multiple times next season.

I’ve fished around six times now with Captain Thao at Seattle Nautic for salmon and lingcod in Seattle and Puget Sound, and it’s easily the best Seattle fishing charter I’ve found.

He consistently puts us on fish, puts in the effort to make every trip a great experience for everyone on the boat, and is extremely knowledgeable. Most importantly, he genuinely loves to fish, and it shows.

As a Seattle local, Seattle Nautic has become one of my go-to bookings when I have friends or family visiting, whether they’re new to fishing or experienced anglers. I’ve seen Thao work with a wide range of groups, including adults and families with kids. He’s fantastic with kids, patient, helpful, and great at keeping everyone actively fishing.

Unlike most Seattle salmon fishing charters that focus on trolling, Thao favors mooching. It’s a more engaging and often more effective technique, especially for groups. Everyone fishes their own rod, which makes for a much more active experience instead of waiting on a couple of trolling lines. On several trips, we’ve had 4 to 6 people actively catching salmon at the same time while other boats nearby were trolling with little to show for it.

I’ve also done a lingcod trip with Thao, which was an awesome, hands-on style of bottom fishing. We limited out on big lingcod, and my daughter landed a bonus cabezon. We’ll definitely be back next season to refill the freezer.

If you’re looking for a Seattle or Puget Sound fishing charter for salmon or lingcod, especially one that works hard to put you on fish and make it fun for everyone, I highly recommend Captain Thao and Seattle Nautic.

Would highly recommend, awesome experience, got us on a lot of fish