Where would you live in Washington to be close to good fishing?

Your right. I like it here because I am a Military Retiree 

If you are wanting land, proximity to civilization, rivers and salt I would suggest the Lake Stevens/Marysville area or maybe Mukilteo.  Getting an acre of land anywhere near Seattle is going to cost you a small fortune.  Camano is good so long as you don't mind a teenage snot-nosed punk stealing your stuff from time to time 

How far are you willing to drive to fish your preferred spots?

I can drive a bit, but with a big truck and the cost of gas as well as just wanting to have as much time as possible actually on the water, it'd be nice to live close to some decent spots.  I kinda figure that as large as the sound is, I can probably find someplace close to quality fishing.

Thanks for good info.  Vashon sounded nice due to its rural, laid back atmosphere and proximity to Seattle.  It sounds even more appealing if decent salmon fishing is nearby.  Is there any decent crabbing near Vashon?  After a ferry ride, would there be any nearby river fishing for steelhead or salmon?  I'm not as interested in lake fishing as I am in fishing in the salt or rivers, but lake fishing is better than nothing. 

San Juans sound great but they might be too isolated at the moment.  Probably more of a retirement destination.  Bellingham sounds nice and will be on my list of places to check out next time I visit. 

Housing prices have been a shock.  I'd be paying about 2-3 times as much for a house similar to mine here in Texas, but the quality of life would be so much better that I'm willing to deal with it.

Portland is nice and we thought about moving there until we saw Seattle.  We first saw Seattle around dusk from the deck of the Bainbridge ferry and fell hard.

Not to steer you away from Washington and all it has to offer, but have you considered living somewhere along either side of the Oregon coast range?  There are many rivers to explore with a variety of species, and many many more areas of salt fishing.  Beingst that you are on a kayak forum, odds are good you will be fishing from a kayak, and that has it's advantages in the salt.  I would have never been able to get on rockfish trying to get my small powerboat safely through the many bar crossings, but these guys here got me out there with the kayak just punching through the surf zone. 

Oh, and Oregon is closer to Baja if that need ever pops up. J/K 

Don't forget to factor in the ferry fees if you end up on Vashon or one of the islands, they rack up fast even at the discounted rate.  If you are even slightly politically conservative greater Seattle, heck all of western King county, is really going to piss you off.  We could definitely use more Texans up here to balance out the Californians.  If fishing rivers and salt really is your thing I may have to give it to the Oregon guys.  Their seasons are longer and their regulations more forgiving.  I have even been looking for jobs down there.

As far as Washington, not much input there, my Sister lives on Whidbbey Island, I really like it there but seems kind of spendy and of course you are on an island so you have to deal with the transportation issues.

Not like i'm trying to build the biggest Yak fishing fleet ever... , but you ever give Coos Bay Oregon a thought?



Did you say Salt?...Check
Did you say Rivers?...Check
Lakes...Check
year round fishing opps....Check
Lots of fellow Kayak fishers...Check
Cheaper land and Home prices...Check

As long as you don't need a high paying job, and don't have a gambling problem, it's  almost perfect..

Beware of being dependent on the ferry system.  TLW commutes from the mainland to Bainbridge Island every day for work and her total commute adds about 3 hours a day.  Her previous commute was about 1 hour total.  You can do a whole lot with 2 hours a day.  She gets up at 5:15AM to leave the house about 6:30 to get to work about 8am.  She goes to bed at 9PM.  This already sucks, but it will suck worse when it doesn't get dark until 10:30PM.  And this is a "reverse" commute, and in the off-season.  Once the summer comes around the ferry terminals are constipated from morning to night.

Personally, I would NEVER live on one of the islands.

I have to echo Demonick's sentiments about the inconvenience, time, and expense of commuting off island to go to work, if you are living on any of the islands in the Salish Sea (Puget Sound).
After moving back to WA in '79 from Honolulu, I lived on Bainbridge Island and commuted to my job in S Seattle. I'd walk on the ferry and take the bus downtown if it was raining or snowing, or ride my 12-speed touring bike if it wasn't. Sometimes I would drive over.
I worked for a major Railroad, on the "Extra Board" (which meant that I was trained on a variety of jobs and was always "on call" to fill vacancies or do vacation relief).  I had a 1 1/2 hour window to get to work after getting called in. Talk about always "being on the starting line!"
My average time from leaving my house on B.I. and returning home after work for regular 8-hour shift was 12.5 hours, due to the ferry schedule, etc. (On some days it was 13.5 hours due to the State cutting back some late evening runs). Bicycling to work was the cheapest and quickest, so I biked to work about 2/3 of the time.
At least you can drive off of Bainbridge Island to the Kitsap Peninsula, but Bainbridge is really crowded and expensive, being a "bedroom community" for Seattle.
Those islands have water issues, too.
Although I am still way out here in the sticks on the WA coast, I won't live on an island again until long after I am retired and through with any traveling!  All those hours of my precious life wasted waiting in line for the ferry..... I'll never get 'em back!

It all depends if fishing comes first or work comes first...... Salt or fresh?     Adventure or crowds and combat fishing?   crabs,shrimp, clams, mussels or catching a planted trout?  Living near work? Raising a family?  Fighting freeways and ferries or living off the grid?
 The furthur west you go the wilder it gets.... and the better fishing you will find...
 Prepare to travel to get to the best fishing  Good luck grasshopper