Promising Fishing Conditions Along the Oregon Coast Despite Challenging Weather

As of October 12, 2024, the fishing scene along the Oregon coast is looking promising, despite some challenging weather conditions lately.

### Weather and Tides
Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 62 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 50 degrees. The winds will be moderate, blowing at about 10 mph from the northwest. Tides are crucial for salmon fishing; today's high tide is at 9:34 AM and the low tide at 3:47 PM. Sunrise is at 7:24 AM, and sunset will be at 6:23 PM.

### Fish Activity
Ocean salmon fishing remains open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain for Chinook salmon until October 31. Yesterday, anglers reported decent catches, especially in areas like Garibaldi, where the average catch rate was about 0.44 salmon per angler.

For halibut, the Central Coast Subarea and Southern Oregon Subarea are still open seven days a week, with a two-fish bag limit per angler. However, effort has been winding down as anglers shift focus to inland salmon fishing.

### Catches and Best Spots
Yesterday, anglers caught a variety of fish, including Chinook salmon, halibut, and several species of rockfish. At Depoe Bay, catches included black, deacon, China, and yellowtail rockfish, along with some lingcod. Newport saw similar catches with black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfish being common.

For salmon, trolling anchovies and flashers from the mouth of the estuary up to the harbor entrance has been effective. The tide plays a key role, so timing your fishing trip around the high tide is advisable.

### Best Lures and Bait
For salmon, anchovies and flashers are the go-to choices. For rockfish and lingcod, using sand shrimp, mole crabs, or artificial sand worms has been successful. If you're targeting halibut, the usual bait of herring or squid works well.

### Hot Spots
- **Garibaldi**: Known for its good salmon catches and a mix of rockfish species.
- **Depoe Bay**: A hotspot for rockfish and lingcod, with decent salmon catches as well.
- **Newport**: Offers a good mix of black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfish, along with some lingcod.

Remember to always check the latest regulations and ensure you have your current fishing license and any necessary tags before heading out. Enjoy your fishing trip