"Fishing the Oregon Coast: Weather, Tides, and Targeted Species for December"

If you're planning to head out for some fishing in the Pacific Ocean off Oregon today, here’s what you need to know:

First, let's talk about the weather. A weak front is approaching the coastal waters, but the real action will come later with a stronger system arriving Friday and Saturday. For today, expect east to southeast winds at about 5 to 10 knots, with seas around 6 to 7 feet. There's a chance of showers this morning and early afternoon[3].

Tides are an important factor, especially if you're targeting bottomfish or surfperch. Today, you can expect a high tide of around 8.7 feet at 2:04 PM and a low tide of -0.6 feet at 9:04 PM. Fishing near slack tides, especially around the jetties in the lower Coos Bay estuary, tends to be more productive[1][2].

Sunrise today is at 7:42 AM, and sunset will be at 4:31 PM, giving you about 8 hours and 48 minutes of daylight[4].

For fish activity, December is a great time to target steelhead, especially since the steelhead season runs from December 1 to March 30. You'll need the Rogue South Coast Steelhead Validation for this. Winter steelhead usually arrive around Thanksgiving and will be available when river conditions are favorable. Be aware that coho salmon are in spawning areas and may be hooked while steelhead fishing, but the harvest of wild coho is closed for the season[1].

In the Coos River Basin, you can catch rockfish around the jetties. A jig fished with a twister tail trailer is a good option. The daily general marine fish bag limit is 5 fish plus 2 lingcod, with no retention of yelloweye or quillback rockfish. You can also harvest 1 cabezon per day as part of the general marine fish bag limit[1].

For bass and trout in places like Cooper Creek Reservoir, fishing has slowed with the cooling weather. Try angling mid-day on warmer days with a slower presentation. This technique should also work for bass anglers[1].

Hot spots include the Coos Bay estuary for bottomfish and the jetties for rockfish. If you're after steelhead, the rivers in the Southwest Zone, particularly those around the Rogue South Coast area, are good bets.

Remember to check the local regulations and ensure you have the necessary permits before you head out. Good luck on the water

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI