Ocean Bottom Fishing
Lingcod and Rockfish, also known as Bottom Fish are the main event in Astoria right now. The lingcod have moved into shore for the spawning cycle which means the big ones are nearby. The rockfish populations have also been recharging all winter. The Columbia River jetty tips and Tillamook head lighthouse have been giving up good numbers of fish. The size on the rockfish has been good too. Weather has been mostly ok. It’s definitely still worth watching the forecast and the tides closely. A smooth trip is defintely more enjoyable.
Sturgeon
For those waiting on Sturgeon, they should be moving into the area in good numbers in early June. Right around Father’s day tends to be a really good time to fish for Sturgeon.
Ocean Salmon
The Ocean Salmon season will open up on June 20th this year and I’m really looking forward to it! The early reports from the commercial Chinook Salmon season have been positive. The Coho forecast is for an even better season than the near record last year.
Spring Chinook
The mainstem Spring Chinook season is likely completed for the year (I hope I’m wrong). The numbers are not looking great, and as of this writing we are about 12,000 fish short of projection. The May run forecast will likely show a decrease, which will mean that we are probably over our quota.
New Boat Update
If you haven’t seen my social media posts lately, I will be transitioning to a new boat this Spring. I’ll be fishing in Blue Jay her until the “Good Ju Ju” has finished the licensing and insurance process. There are also a few annual maintenance items to go over.
The “Good Ju Ju” is a custom built boat that was designed for guided fishing trips in the Astoria area. She has lots of floor space and can seat 6 people comfortably. The Ju Ju also has more than twice the engine power of “Blue Jay”. The hull design prioritizes stability and the ability to cut through rough water. This will only be more comfortable but be a better overall fishing platform. I expect to have more days when I can take folks out bottom fishing. The extra seat so that larger families can enjoy the day together. I don’t currently have plans to add Halibut or other farther out species.
Booking Update
I still have plenty of summer fishing seats available, including for the Buoy 10 tournament days. Mixed groups and individuals are welcome. If you want to book a full boat, make sure to take advantage of the full boat discount.