Pike Place Market Webcam – Seattle’s Flying Fish Stall

The Pike Place Market Webcam looks down on the Pike Place Fish Market stall in Seattle, the fish counter famous for throwing salmon through the air. A long display fills the middle of the frame: whole salmon packed in crushed ice, crab, an octopus and rows of handwritten price signs, with sunflowers tucked in among them. Behind it, fishmongers in orange overalls work the counter under hanging lamps, and on the left shoppers crowd the aisle to watch and order. During opening hours the scene barely stops moving. After closing, the fish comes off the ice and the camera keeps running over an empty, lit stall until the next morning.

About Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market opened on 17 August 1907 and is one of the older continuously operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. The city’s official Pike Place Market Historical District covers about 7 acres (2.8 hectares) above the waterfront, overlooking Elliott Bay on Puget Sound. It is Seattle’s most popular tourist destination, with 20.9 million visitors in 2023.

Pike Place Fish Market has been trading here since 1930. Its staff are known for throwing salmon up to about 0.9 meters (3 feet) long, and other fish, to each other rather than passing them by hand, and the camera hangs right above the display where that routine plays out.

Weather and Climate in Seattle

The stall sits under cover, so the camera’s picture changes little with the weather, but a visit to the rest of the market does. Seattle’s winters are cool and damp: January averages a high of 9 C (48 F) and a low of 3 C (38 F), and November is the wettest month, with about 160 millimeters (6.3 inches) of rain. Measurable rain falls on around 156 days a year, adding up to roughly 999 millimeters (39 inches).

Spring warms slowly, with April highs near 15 C (59 F). Summer is the dry season. July and August both average highs of about 25 C (77 F) with nights near 14 C (57 F), and July sees only about 15 millimeters (0.6 inches) of rain. October falls back to around 16 C (61 F) by day and 8 C (47 F) at night.

Things to Do Near Pike Place Market

Elsewhere in the market, Rachel the Pig, a 250 kilogram (550 pound) bronze piggy bank, has collected coins since 1986, around 6,000 to 9,000 dollars a year for the Market Foundation’s social services. Starbucks fans head to 1912 Pike Place, where the store has traded since 1977 under the company’s original siren logo. The very first Starbucks opened in 1971 a short distance away at 2000 Western Avenue.

The market itself is the main attraction, with farmers selling fresh produce alongside flower sellers and craftspeople, and views out over Elliott Bay from its western edge. In 2023 its businesses took 177 million dollars in sales, which gives a sense of how many stalls there are to work through beyond the fish counter.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

More cameras from Seattle and from markets elsewhere:

• Downtown Seattle Webcam
• Seattle Aquarium Sea Otter Webcam
• Grote Markt Groningen Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you see on the Pike Place Market Webcam?

The camera looks down on the Pike Place Fish Market stall: the iced display of salmon, crab and other seafood, the fishmongers behind the counter, and the shoppers gathered in front of it.

Can you see the fish throwing on the Pike Place Market webcam?

Often, yes. The staff throw salmon and other fish to each other instead of passing them by hand, and the camera sits right above the display where it happens. Watch during busy daytime hours for the best chance.

Why does the fish market look empty on the webcam?

The stall is closed. After business hours the fish is taken off the ice and the display stands empty, but the camera keeps streaming. The stall fills up again when it reopens in the morning.

Does the webcam show the Public Market sign or the main entrance?

No. The camera is mounted above the fish market display and looks down on the stall. The market’s neon sign, the street and the main entrance are not in view.

How old is Pike Place Fish Market?

Pike Place Fish Market has been in business since 1930. The market around it is older, having opened on 17 August 1907.

Where is the original Starbucks at Pike Place?

The store at 1912 Pike Place has operated there since 1977 and still uses the original siren logo. The company’s first store opened in 1971 nearby, at 2000 Western Avenue.

What is the weather like in Seattle?

Cool and wet in winter, with January highs near 9 C (48 F) and November the wettest month. Summers are dry and mild, with July and August highs around 25 C (77 F).

Source: Pike Place Fish Market