North Kitsap offers many options for water activities such as swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, rowing, fishing, and shellfish harvesting, along with businesses and organizations that focus on many of those activities.

Everyone age 15 or older needs a fishing, crabbing or shellfish harvesting license in Washington state. Certain federally-recognized tribes and their members have tribal fishing rights.

The Port of Poulsbo downtown has a large marina and is a popular place for boaters to visit in Puget Sound. It includes 253 permanent moorage slips, 130 guest slips, a boat ramp, a fuel dock and more. There is also a seaplane docked at the marina. The seaplane base is free to use for all pilots, commercial and recreational. The breakwater at the marina is being replaced.

Liberty Bay Marina in Poulsbo offers boat moorage and can accommodate about 165 vessels with slips of 40 feet, 48 feet and 58 feet, along with side ties for larger vessels. Check their website for rates. There is free wifi across all docks, stationary and portable pump-out stations provided and security cameras around the facility. Nearby Oyster Plant Park offers shoreline, a viewing pier and a small boat launch.

Further down Fjord Drive is the Poulsbo Yacht Club. It has a marina for member moorage and hosts a variety of boating programs. PYC organizes cruises and social events around Puget Sound from September through May. It organizes informal regattas, participates in log races, and provides opportunities to improve knowledge with in-house presentations and hands-on experiences. Its community events include junior sailing camps and the Lighted Ships Parade.

Freedom Boat Club has a location based in Poulsbo, along with many other spots worldwide. It is the largest member-only boat club in the world. Members gain unlimited access to a new fleet of boats and reciprocal use of hundreds of clubs. FBC cleans, moors, maintains and insures the fleet so you don’t have to. They do it so you can focus on enjoying life on the water.

FBC is open seven days a week and has a reservation system. Fleet includes bowriders, pontoons, offshore/inshore fishing, deck and wake boats.

The Boat Company is also located in Poulsbo, a tour guide business that brings passengers on a small cruise to southeast Alaska May through September.

Longship Marine, a supply store, is located downtown near the waterfront. It offers boat parts and accessories and provides maintenance, among other services.

For rowing enthusiasts, Kitsap Rowing Association is located in downtown Poulsbo. It offers recreational and competitive rowing, welcoming adult rowers of all ages and abilities on Liberty Bay. They also offer learn-to-row classes every year. The club launches from a dock at the Port of Poulsbo marina. Regular rowing times for the club are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings; Monday and Wednesday evenings; and Saturday mornings.

The Suquamish Dock has a nearby boat ramp, which many tribal members use, and offers scenic views of Mount Rainier. Miller Bay Marine, a boat repair shop, is located on Miller Bay Road toward Suquamish.

Olympic Outdoor Center has locations in Port Gamble and downtown Poulsbo where you can rent or buy kayaks and paddleboards along with all the accessories that go with them.

Salsbury Point County Park near the Hood Canal Bridge offers saltwater beach access and a public boat launch. Each year, the dock is installed in April and removed in October.

Kitsap Memorial State Park in Poulsbo is a 62-acre camping park with 1,797 feet of saltwater shoreline. Water activities include swimming, fishing and shellfish harvesting. There is also waterfront access in Lofall and Edgewater in Poulsbo.

Keyport also has beach access and a small marina, including 14 private slips, 250 feet of guest moorage in five 50-foot slips and a new boat launch ramp. Liberty Bay Marine Canvas, a boat cover supplier, is located nearby.

The 23-acre Island Lake Park near Poulsbo offers lake access, a swimming area and a fishing pier. There is a life-jacket kiosk on-site. Fishing is allowed on the lake by canoe, kayak or small non-motorized boats. The non-trailerable boat launch is just to the right of the community building. Island Lake only allows electric trolling motors.

Fishing is allowed at the fishing pier, located along the shoreline west of the park swimming area. The fishing pier at Island Lake Park is closed due to damage received in the summer of 2021. The parks department will be assessing the damage for future repair.

The Port of Kingston has a marina and a public boat launch. Also downtown is the Kingston Cove Yacht Club. It has over 150 members. KCYC offers reciprocal boaters space at the Port of Kingston Marina, guest dock for reciprocal moorage and they have agreements with virtually all local and many international yacht clubs for reciprocal moorage privileges. Club cruises go to ports throughout the Pacific Northwest several times a year.

Downtown Kingston offers public beach access at Saltair Beach Park along the waterfront, where you can watch the ferries come in and out. Arness Roadside Park in Kingston offers saltwater beach access and views of downtown Kingston and the ferries. There are also waterfront beaches in the Jefferson Beach/President Point area of Kingston for various water activities.

Indianola is a hot spot for summer activities on its beach that includes a 900-foot dock, which many people jump off when the weather is hot. Indianola Days in the summer is an annual event with plenty of activities. The beach is always active in summer with fishing, kayaking wakeboarding, etc.

At Point No Point County Park in Hansville, you can play in the water and go salmon fishing by land or boat. It is known as one of the best places in the county to fish for salmon. Norwegian Point County Park in Hansville is also a popular fishing spot.

Driftwood Key Club in Hansville is a homeowner’s association with over 600 members and 700 properties. The DKC Marina is where Driftwood Key residents moor their boats. Members and guests can use temporary guest moorage. Members launch trailered boats at the boat launch.

Point Julia on Port Gamble S’Klallam land recently added a new boat ramp. Also being built there is a hatchery and beach shelter.

For crabbing, All of Marine Area 9 north of the Hood Canal bridge to a line connecting Olele Point and Foulweather Bluff is open July 1 through Sept. 4, Thursdays through Mondays only. All gear must be out of the water on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Buck Lake in Hansville is known for Rainbow Trout fishing. Motorboats are not allowed in the county on any lake less than 20 acres. Life jacket kiosk is located onsite.

Eglon has a boat launch on a small beach. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities there such as swimming, fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding.