Tides, Winds, and Bites: Pacific City Fishing Forecast for Anglers

Today’s the kind of day that just calls to you to get out on the water—sunrise at 5:27 AM and sunset stretching till 9:04 PM, according to the tide tables for Pacific City. That’s a full day of fishing if I ever saw one. The tides are shaping up nicely for anglers: low tide at 9:53 AM with a minus tide dipping to -1’0”, a good time to hit those rocky spots for some bottom dwellers, then high tide rolls in again at 4:36 PM with a solid 5’9” swell.

Weather-wise, it’s looking pretty decent, but don’t toss the windbreaker aside just yet. The past week has seen some choppy seas thanks to small craft advisories, but nothing that’ll keep you pinned to the dock today—just watch for those sudden wind gusts and keep an eye on the swell if you’re heading offshore.

Now, what’s biting? Salmon fishing is solid along the Oregon Coast from Cape Falcon all the way down to the California border, with the main action focused on ocean Chinook and some straggling coho that need to be released. The Chinook minimum size is 24” and steelhead, if you’re lucky, is 20” according to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. The bite has been steady, with some boats hitting limits when the weather cooperates. Recent reports from charter captains and blogs like Fast Action Fishing mention that ocean fishing has been productive for Chinook, especially earlier in the week, although some anglers are releasing coho and “jacks” for now.

Halibut season is in full swing since May 1st, with the Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon subareas open daily at all depths. Anglers out of Depoe Bay have been averaging more than one fish per angler, while newport and Garibaldi have been closer to half a fish per rod. Down south in Brookings, it’s a bit slower, but there’s still some halibut action if you’re persistent.

For the best results, try jigging with herring or squid strips for halibut. Chinook salmon are hitting flashers paired with herring, spoons, and anchovie rigs. If you’re feeling adventurous, casting swimbaits and swim jigs around rocky outcrops can get you into some lingcod and rockfish, especially during low tide.

Two hot spots I’d recommend today: start with the reefs just off Depoe Bay for halibut and salmon, then motor down to the mouth of the Nestucca near Pacific City for a shot at early season salmon and bottomfish. Both spots offer good structure and bait holds, especially with these tides.

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