How to Choose your Fishing Charter Trip

Astoria is blessed with lots of great fishing options. In my charter service alone I offer trips for bottom fish, sturgeon and salmon both in the river and the ocean. Others offer trips for tuna, halibut and other deep water species. With so many options to choose from, it may be hard to pick “the best trip”. These recommendations are designed to help you figure out how to choose a fishing charter trip that will give you the best chance of getting the most out of your experience. The individual trip recommendations are for trips that I offer, however I’m not the only one that offers them so they should be useful for anyone visiting the area.

Set Your Goals and Expectations

Speaking from a guide’s perspective, my default goal on a fishing charter is to catch fish. If I receive no other feedback, that’s what I’m going to try to accomplish. While there are plenty of people who choose a fishing trip based on that goal, a lot of others have different goals. Some people just want a day on the water and the fishing is the excuse. Maybe for them it’s a priority to have smooth water. Others are looking for conversation and minimizing trolling would help have a better trip. Even more are looking to explore the area from a different perspective. For them, covering water would be a priority. Decide this ahead of time and communicate it. On private trips, I can adjust the fishing plans around this goal. For a shared trip, I can help guide the group in coming up with shared goals.

If there’s something special, speak up

If there’s something special and specific, make sure you communicate that as well. I have lost count of the number of times I have slipped the net under a fish only to find out later that we were catching someone’s first ever salmon and that we had fulfilled the whole goal of the trip in the first hour. Whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, or any sort of special moment, letting me know ahead of time helps me focus on that person and make sure they get on the fish.

Flexibility has its advantages

No matter what fishing trip you choose, nature has a funny way of adding things that are not only unexpected but special. I’ve had mornings where a planned early departure turned into a late start so that we could stop, drift quietly, and enjoy a stunning summer sunrise over Tongue Point. I’ve had clients ask to stop fishing for half an hour in order to get a closer look at a pod of whales. An early limit of coho turned fishing trip into a nature tour as we shifted gears and explored some of the bays and sloughs around the Columbia River estuary. Sometimes you choose a fishing trip, sometimes the trip chooses you.

Choose a fishing charter that matches your goals

Now that you’ve set your goals, it’s time to choose a fishing charter that meets them. Sometimes the time of year will impact your choices. Just because a trip isn’t available when you are doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun. Adjusting your goals can help you still have a great day on the water.

Best Choice to Bring Home Lots of Salmon

1. Summer Ocean Salmon

Best time: Late June – Mid August

With all respect to the Buoy 10 salmon fishery, if your goal is to bring home as many pounds of salmon as possible, the summer ocean salmon fishery is your best option. A typical trip will often have either multiple takedowns at once, or in very quick succession. This fishery is what gave meaning to the phrase “coho rodeo”. The season typically opens in late June and runs through early to mid-August. Retention for both Coho and Chinook typically opens at the same time. The salmon will continue to put on weight as they go through the season so an 8 pound coho late June may be 12-14 pounds in late July or early August. Chinook start larger but go through a similar transformation.

Boat limits are not uncommon, especially in recent years as the size of the coho runs have increased. Just like in the river, limits tend to be 2 salmon, one of which can be Chinook. Plan to release a lot of coho however. The regulations typically require that coho have their adipose fin clipped.

2. Buoy 10 Salmon

Best time: August-September

This is the main event of the year and draws tens of thousands of anglers to the area. Hundreds of thousands of salmon stage up in the Columbia River estuary and present a target rich environment. While not quite as active as the ocean fishery on a day to day basis, the river tends to lean much more heavily towards Chinook in August. Their bigger size will often increase the pounds of fish available to take home.

The limit for Chinook is typically one fish. Any additional fish must be Coho which can be a bit sparse earlier on in the season. Boat limits of Chinook and Coho tend to be more frequent during the last couple of weeks of August and into Labor Day. The fall Columbia River salmon season begins August 1st and Chinook Salmon retention typically goes through Labor Day weekend. Coho Salmon retention typically continues on through the rest of the year with peaks in early September and Mid October. If you choose this fishing trip make sure you book your spot early and your hotel even earlier. Waiting for the last minute can result in a very expensive hotel bill if you stay nearby.

Best Astoria charter trip for hard fighting fish

1. White Sturgeon

Best time: May through July

White sturgeon in the Columbia River are known not just for their size but their acrobatics. These giant beasts can generate a sound on your reel’s drag that rivals the scream of an F1 car running down the pit straight. Despite their massive size, they are also capable of tail walking and full body leaps. This catch and release fishery which results in a population much more weighted towards the larger sized specimens. When serious anglers call me asking for a bucket list adventure and they aren’t concerned about bringing fish home, this is the trip I recommend.

2. Fall Tule Chinook

Best time: July through Labor Day

Fall Tule Chinook are the quarter horses of salmon. They pull, they jump, they switch back, they charge the boat, and they will even do cartwheels. Generally speaking, Tule’s are the hardest fighting variety of Chinook salmon. Their relative proximity to their spawning grounds when they enter the river means they don’t have far to go and they can afford to spend energy on a fight. We usually start targeting them in the Ocean in July, then transition to the river for the Buoy 10 fishery.

Their proximity to the spawning grounds does have the drawback of not being the best eating salmon, however they’re still plenty tasty. Salmon afficionados will generally relegate them to the smoker, but I’ve enjoyed plenty on my plate. If asked to choose a fishing charter for someone who has never caught a salmon before, this is my go-to.

Best Eating Fish Near Astoria, Oregon

1. Spring Chinook

Best time: April-May

When foodies ask me to help them choose a fishing charter, this is the one I recommend. Spring Chinook fatten themselves up to survive months of travel upriver without feeding. When they enter the Columbia, they will be at their culinary peak. A well fed springer will be buttery and rich when cooked properly. They carry a massive payload of Omega-3’s which not only make them amazing to eat but makes them amazingly healthy too.

2. Ling Cod

Best Time: April-July

If salmon isn’t your thing, Ling Cod is a fantastic option. Ling Cod have a finely textured white meat with a delicate flavor. They’re a versatile year round favorite in coastal restaurants. You can find Ling Cod blackened, poached, broiled, baked, fried, breaded, and even in sushi. I prefer mine baked with just a little bit of salt, pepper, butter, and dill.

Most Fun Charter Trip For Younger Kids

1. Crab

Best time: October -December

When you’re trying to choose a fishing charter for kids it can be stressful. Dungeness crab trips are easy to bring kids on. They’re usually around 4 hours long, which helps with short attention spans. Additionally, being centered around the tides means you don’t have to worry about getting them up too early. Younger ones in particular love to look at the crab and watch as they crawl around on the boat. Using fishing rods with crab snares on them can also keep the action going. The only note of caution is to make sure that little fingers stay away from the pincers.

2. Buoy 10 Fall Coho or Bottom Fish

Best time for Fall Coho: September
Best time for Bottom Fish: April – July

This one is a bit of a tossup. Fall Coho fishing in the estuary, especially in early to mid September can generate a lot of action. There aren’t as many other boats around which results in calmer water. The weather is also usually still pretty good. While most of the coho will be on the larger side, there will still be a few that are smaller, allowing a younger kiddo to help reel one in.

Bottom fish does require crossing the bar and going into the ocean. Ocean swells may not be the most comfortable for some younger kiddos. On the other hand, the variety of fish that we catch may more than make up for it. I love it when we pull up a brightly colored rockfish in front of an amazed kid.

Choose a fishing charter to catch up with friends and family

1. Spring Chinook

The primary method for Spring Chinook fishing is anchoring up in the salmon’s travel lane, dropping plugs, and waiting for the fish to bite. This means that a lot of the trip will be spent enjoying the scenery and conversation without the sound of a trolling motor. While the action action may not be the fastest, this is one of the best ways to experience the serenity of fishing with people you care about.

2. White Sturgeon

Similar to Spring Chinook, sturgeon fishing will give plenty of time with the boat anchored and no motor noise to interfere. Typically the action is a bit faster though, and the fights last longer. Bringing a large sturgeon to the boat will give you plenty to talk about!