Oregon Coast Fishing Report: Bottomfish, Salmon, and Surf Perch Action Awaits (134 characters)

Good morning, anglers! Here’s your fishing report for the Pacific Ocean off the Oregon Coast on April 12, 2025. Today offers promising conditions to get out and cast a line.

The weather on the coast is cool but calm, with morning temperatures around 48°F, climbing to a high of 57°F under partly sunny skies. Winds are light at 5-10 knots, making for relatively stable ocean conditions. Sunrise was at 6:41 AM, and sunset will be at 7:47 PM. The tidal schedule for Newport today includes a high tide at 6:57 AM at 9.0 feet, a low tide at 12:47 PM at -1.2 feet, and another high tide at 7:35 PM at 7.4 feet.

**Fish Activity and Catches**
It’s a great day for bottomfish enthusiasts. Lingcod and rockfish continue to show strong activity, with near-limits of black, deacon, and copper rockfish reported from Depoe Bay to Newport. Lingcod catches have slightly slowed but remain steady, with large specimens caught near rocky structures. Offshore, anglers are also finding success with flatfish such as sand dabs and sole. Surf fishing along sandy beaches is yielding excellent results for redtail surf perch, especially during the high tide transitions.

The spring Chinook salmon season has provided anglers with good action between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, especially near estuary areas where the salmon are staging. While Pacific halibut season is closed, crabbing remains an option, though yields are modest at 1-3 per person.

**Best Baits and Lures**
- For rockfish and Lingcod: Try heavy metal jigs or swimbaits in blue, chartreuse, or silver tones. Adding squid or herring to your jig can make it even more effective. Focus on rocky reefs and kelp beds.
- For salmon: Brined anchovies or herring trolled behind a flasher work well. A two-hook rig with a slight bend in the bait ensures a lifelike presentation.
- For surfperch: Clam necks, sand shrimp, mole crabs, or artificial Berkley Gulp Sand Worms are top choices. Surfperch are schooling close to the shoreline, making them accessible to shore anglers.
- For flatfish: Small pieces of squid or herring on a drop-shot or Carolina rig are ideal.

**Hot Spots**
1. **Depoe Bay**: Sheltered waters and abundant rockfish make this a prime spot for bottomfishing. Lingcod lurk near the deeper rocky areas.
2. **Newport Jetty**: Offers consistent rockfish and Lingcod action. The Yaquina Bay area is also productive for salmon anglers.
3. **Bandon Beach**: Perfect for surfperch anglers, especially mid-morning around high tide.

Remember to check regulations carefully, as yelloweye and quillback rockfish are prohibited, and the Lingcod limit is two fish per angler with a minimum 22-inch length. With calm seas and active fish, it’s shaping up to be a good day on the water. Tight lines and happy fishing!