UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Oregon Coast
In Oregon Coast, Chinook (king) salmon peak June–October and are around March–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Ocean kings on the bait off Garibaldi, Newport and Brookings.
Chetco and Elk terminal ocean fishery for big late kings, plus the bays until the first big rains pull them upriver.
Chinook (king) salmon in Oregon Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchAroundA few early ocean kings for the boats out of Newport and Depoe Bay on calm days.
- AprilArrivingOcean chinook opens; trolling herring on the 120–200 ft line when the bar lets you out.
- MayArrivingSpring kings off the Columbia mouth and the central coast; Columbia springers pass upriver (the river is fresh water's).
- JunePeakOcean kings on the bait off Garibaldi, Newport and Brookings.
- JulyPeakPeak offshore — fish the color breaks and the krill; Brookings and Coos Bay hot.
- AugustPeakBuoy 10 opens August 1 for fall kings at the Columbia mouth; tule and upriver-bright kings on the flood. Bay kings start in Tillamook and the Rogue Bay.
- SeptemberPeakBay season: trolling spinners and herring in Tillamook, Nestucca, Siletz, Alsea and Coos on the incoming. Rogue Bay best early in the month.
- OctoberPeakChetco and Elk terminal ocean fishery for big late kings, plus the bays until the first big rains pull them upriver.
- NovemberLeavingLast bright kings at the Chetco and Elk mouths after the rain.
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Brookings, Coos Bay, Newport
Three hundred miles of headlands, jetties and drowned river bays — Chetco, Rogue, Coos, Umpqua, Siuslaw, Alsea, Yaquina, Siletz, Nestucca, Tillamook — with Heceta and Stonewall Banks offshore and the Columbia's mouth at the top.
Fish Scouter charts 19 lake spots in the The Oregon Coast map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Oregon Coast?
Peak season is June–October. Chinook (king) salmon are in Oregon Coast March–November. June: Ocean kings on the bait off Garibaldi, Newport and Brookings.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Oregon Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, beach / surf, fishing pier, ledge / hard bottom, river — around Brookings, Coos Bay, Newport, Depoe Bay, Garibaldi, Astoria.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Oregon Coast?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Chinook (king) salmon in Oregon Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and change — read the current rule at https://myodfw.com/fishing/marine-zone before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myodfw.com/fishing/licensing-info.
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