Oregon Coast Fishing Report: Rockfish Reign, Salmon Steady, Weather Ideal for Anglers

Good morning anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your local fishing report for the Oregon Pacific coast, Sunday, April 20th, 2025.

The weather is treating us well today with clear skies, light offshore winds, and highs around 56 degrees, making for a pleasant day on the water. Sunrise was at 6:42 AM, and you can expect sunset at 7:44 PM. Tidal conditions are classic spring swings: look for a high tide this morning at 6:57 AM at 9 feet, a midday low at 12:47 PM dipping to -1.2 feet, and another high at 7:35 PM at 7.4 feet. These changes offer solid opportunities for both surf and boat anglers, especially as water movement ramps up feeding[4].

Rockfish are the name of the game right now. Reports from Depoe Bay and Newport show near limits of black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfish for most boats. Newport anglers are also seeing copper rockfish and a few kelp greenling in the mix. Lingcod action has been a bit slower than in previous weeks, but good catches are still coming in, especially if you persist in the rocky structure or deeper reefs[5][4]. Brookings offshore is seeing roughly three rockfish per angler, with a healthy mix of species[4].

Chinook salmon season is open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain until May 15. Catch rates have been modest, with Newport leading at about 1.2 Chinook per salmon angler last week. Remember, coho retention is still closed at this time[2].

Halibut season remains closed pending final decisions by ODFW after their recent meeting, so the focus should be on bottomfish and salmon for now[2][5].

For lures and bait, go with swimbaits and metal jigs for rockfish and lingcod. Black and blue patterns have been reliable in deeper water, and white paddle tails always seem to produce. Herring and anchovy are top choices if you’re after salmon, either trolled or as bait under a diver. For surfperch along the beaches, stick to sand shrimp, clam necks, or Gulp! sandworms, especially near the top of the incoming tide when fish are feeding in the wash[1].

Hotspots right now include the reefs and rocky points out of Depoe Bay and the productive waters just outside the jetties in Newport. Both harbors have had excellent bottomfish numbers and are great starting points, with bonus chances at spring Chinook salmon.

Today’s outlook is prime for filling your limit with rockfish and maybe picking up a nice ling or two for the table. Be safe out there, watch those tides, and keep your lines tight. Good luck and tight lines!