Sports Fishing
The world famous Columbia River draws tens of thousands of sport anglers each year in pursuit of its salmon, steelhead and sturgeon. Once revered for the largest return of pacific salmon in the world, it remains one of the strongest sportfisheries in the Northwest. Annually, well over one million salmon and steelhead enter the Columbia River and are pursued by anglers from around the world. Columbia River fishing can offer some of the most exciting action imaginable by any angler.
In the heat of the run on the Columbia River, fishing for salmon can offer multiple hook-ups and super fast action for salmon upwards of 60 pounds! Chinook salmon make a strong showing both in the spring and the fall. The spring run of chinook salmon start in February and peak in April.
Fishing for spring chinook mostly takes place in the 100 mile stretch from Portland to Astoria and offers sport anglers a chance at the best tasting salmon that swim in the Northwest. These fish are revered for the high, flavorful oil content in their flesh that is required to sustain them in their long journey to the tributaries where they spawn.
Fishing the Columbia River for fall run salmon can be excellent as well with an intense fishery taking place at the rivers mouth in Astoria. The famed Buoy 10 fishery just west of Astoria will give up easy limits of salmon during the peak run in August and September. On a good year, anglers may see salmon returns as great as one million coho and chinook salmon back to the lower river in a short time frame!
Steelhead fishing opportunities in the Astoria area are limited but fishing can be quite productive at times. Smaller streams like the Klaskanine and Big Creek offer up winter opportunities in December and January. Beach fishing for the summer run variety of steelhead can be quite rewarding as well. The most productive beaches are best accessed by river boat but good public access can be had about 25 miles east of Astoria at Jones Beach near Westport, Oregon. Small, spinning drift bobbers will take steelhead and salmon from these beaches from March through August.
Cutthroat trout opportunities exist extensively throughout the Astoria area. Almost every stream, be it large or small, contains abundant native trout for catch and release opportunity. It is especially critical to be observant of fishing regulations on these streams to avoid incidental harvest of outmigrating salmon and steelhead. They are often mistaken for trout and should not be pursued en route to their ocean migration. The numerous lakes in the area offer up some catch and keep opportunities and are artificially stocked with state raised rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Sturgeon fishing has also made the Columbia River world famous in the Northwest. From Astoria through Portland and onto the Columbia River Gorge, sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River has resulted in over 170,000 angler trips annually. Most years, over 30,000 keeper sized sturgeon are taken from the bountiful Columbia.
Keeper sturgeon range from 42 to 60 inches but sturgeon over 10 feet are frequently hooked in some areas of the river. The lower Columbia near Astoria offers some of the most exciting fishing for keeper sturgeon as 20 to 50 fish days are not uncommon with up to 20% of those fish being in the keeper size range.
Sturgeon are a very versatile fish for consumption and revered by many anglers in the Northwest. The limit is one sturgeon per day and May – July is the peak fishing period for sturgeon in the Astoria area. The window for “take-home” fish is limited but catch and release opportunities offer unparalleled opportunity as effort drops off considerably giving anglers free range of all the productive areas.
Bottom fishing opportunities exist for those anxious to fish the mighty Pacific. Halibut, lingcod and various sea bass species can be pursued either by fishing the jetty or hiring a fishing guide or charter boat for such an experience. Bottom fishing opportunity exists almost year-round with the exception of halibut which is primarily a May fishery. Bottom fishing limits are generous so be prepared for a bounty!
Area lakes also offer up opportunities for warm water species. Bass and panfish are available during most months and readily take hardware during the summer months.
Crabbing is also primarily a boat only option but summer and fall months for the tastiest of the Pacific species- the Dungeness, can be unparalleled. The limit is currently a generous dozen and often times that limit is easily attained.
No matter what option you choose, safety should be a top priority. When jetty fishing, anglers need to be prepared with the proper footwear to negotiate the large jetty rocks and ALWAYS pay attention to the tides and wave height so as not to endanger yourself on your outing. When fishing from a boat, always wear a lifejacket no matter how calm the seas appear.
If you choose to pursue these species on your own, persistence pays off. Local anglers will often share their knowledge but some safeguard their favorite fishing holes so as not to ruin a good thing. Extensive literature is available by simply conducting an internet query. Technical reports, fishing reports and books all offer the novice angler a “leg-up” to dramatically increase your odds for success.
One of the most important pieces of equipment to take along on your fishing excursion is the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s regulation booklet. It is available online at: www.dfw.state.or.us/. It may be challenging to understand but it is a necessary item to ensure you are fishing in open waters for fair game.
If you want to take the short-cut to success, hire a professional guide or charter skipper from the area. <!— The chamber has a quality list to choose from by clicking here. —>Guides and skippers have been pursuing these fish for years making them the obvious choice for folks limited in their time to sportfish. You also don’t have to worry about understanding the fishing regulations.
Fishing licenses are required and can be purchased from many local stores and tackle shops. Fishing guides and charter offices frequently have day licenses available for day trip customers. A shellfish license is a new requirement that can also be purchased at the same locations as fishing licenses. The shellfish license covers you for crab, clams, mussels and other shellfish that anglers may use for bait. People that pursue shellfish should also be aware of potential closures to shellfish due to high levels of a natural occurring toxin that affects crab, clams and mussels on occasion. The shellfish hotline will alert you to any possible risks. Call (503) 986-4728.