Messin’ Around Fishing Charters brings salmon and lingcod fishing to the Puget Sound, led by Captain Mathew Messing and based out of Bremerton, with trips also serving the Seattle area. Captain Mathew has fished the Puget Sound since he was 8 years old growing up in Kitsap County, turning a childhood dream of becoming a charter captain into a full-time business.

Trips run aboard a Defiance boat outfitted with Raymarine electronics and a fully enclosed toilet, no bucket bathrooms involved. Captain Mathew primarily trolls for salmon but adjusts to jigging or mooching depending on conditions to keep guests on fish. His main goal on every trip is straightforward: put guests on fish and send them home with a full cooler. That approach has paid off competitively too, with Mathew taking first place and a $1,000 prize at a local fishing derby, though his focus stays on delivering a great experience for clients rather than competition.

Reviews highlight Captain Mathew’s patience with kids and first-time anglers, along with a strong conservation mindset, careful not to keep undersized fish and handling catch-and-release fish gently to keep them healthy. Guests have reported catching near-limits of coho salmon along with additional action from out-of-season Chinook and dogfish, plus wildlife sightings including porpoises, seals, and bald eagles along the way. Barbless lure fishing keeps the experience clean and approachable even for first-timers.

Trips run $195 per person, including 9% sales tax, fish cleaning, and all gear, bait, and tackle, with a military discount available. Guests only need to bring snacks, drinks, proper clothing, and non-marking boots, with a Washington state fishing license available for purchase on board for $10. Left-handed reels are available on request.

For anglers looking to fish salmon or lingcod in the Puget Sound out of Bremerton with a locally raised, highly rated captain, Messin’ Around Fishing Charters offers a well-reviewed, straightforward day on the water.