"Late Summer Bounty: Salmon, Tuna, and More Along the Oregon Coast"

Artificial Lure with your September 3rd Pacific Ocean, Oregon fishing report: Sunrise came at 6:42, setting tonight at 7:34, with the ocean wrapped in a mild late-summer light. Today’s weather is classic coastal Oregon—overcast morning skies with a light westerly wind, patchy sun mid-day, and highs near 64 degrees. Light marine fog lingered on some headlands early, but nothing to keep seasoned anglers off the water.

Tides are running pretty moderate: this morning’s low hit at 4:41 am at Pacific City at 0.5 feet, swinging up to a high around 1:45 pm at nearly 5.6 feet according to Surfline’s local charts. These are good movement tides, especially for salmon staging outside estuaries and bass foraging close to structure.

Fish activity has been hopping along the central and north coast. Buoy 10, just inside the Columbia, saw another thick push of Chinook yesterday, with reports of strong action continuing above the bridge and into upriver holes. Guides like those at Astoria noted “plenty of fish around”—Chinook still present, while coho numbers are climbing, including some fish in the high teens. According to multiple captains, action is steady from the bridge upriver, both on the Oregon and Washington bank. Salmon are biting best on trolled spinners—1.5 to 3.5 Colorado blades in chartreuse/silver or pink/green combos tipped with fresh herring. Short-busers pulling green label herring and Pro-Troll flashers have also hammered bright fish this week.

Unseasonably warm offshore currents brought a huge surprise off Garibaldi last weekend: a 160-pound striped marlin was landed, a true rarity for Oregon! That same bluewater push has kept the albacore tuna bite alive for boats making the 30-mile run. Trolling cedar plugs, large swimbaits, and jet feathers in blue/white or pink has been best for tuna.

Closer in, the inshore rockfish bite remains solid from Newport’s Yaquina Head north past Cape Meares. Black rockfish, a scattering of lingcod, and the occasional cabezon are filling up coolers. Try casting white paddle-tail plastics or smaller metal jigs on a moderate retrieve near submerged rocks, kelp lines, or breakwalls. On the nearshore reefs, sand shrimp-tipped curly tails get bit all day.

Estuaries like the Port of Alsea at Waldport are putting out good numbers of Dungeness crab, and early morning pullers are doing best. Crab rings baited with raw chicken or fish scraps are your best bet before that midday sun gets high. The first waves of fall Chinook are also showing inside the bays, with anglers drifting plug-cut herring 2–3 feet off the bottom seeing the most action, especially at sunrise and tide changes.

Two hotspots for this week:
- “Buoy 10/Astoria Bridge Line”: For epic salmon action, especially during flood tide. Fish the channel edges with spinners and bait, and watch for jumpers.
- “Yaquina Bay South Jetty”: Combination of rockfish, late summer greenling, and now a handful of Chinook—fish the rip lines and shadow pockets with soft swimbaits, and try a sand shrimp on a dropshot.

If you’re heading out over the bar, always double-check the marine weather and wave height—the forecast calls for mild northwest wind but a building 4–5 foot primary swell after lunch.

That wraps it for today’s field report. Thanks for tuning in and remember to subscribe so you never miss a bite!

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