Ocean Salmon Guide
Every time I cross the Columbia River Bar to chase ocean salmon I know I’m in for a treat. The tidal dance between the river and ocean creates a network of current seams. These gather bait fish and provide final feeding frenzy for these salmon before they begin their epic trek upriver.
Table of Contents
Basic Ocean Chinook and Coho Techniques
Ocean salmon is one of the most straightforward fisheries in our area. Unlike salmon in the river, these fish are actively feeding. Ocean salmon are primed to bite and the key is to get near them with a good presentation. With that said, doing those two things can sometimes be easier said than done.
What Lures and Baits do I use in Ocean Salmon Fishing?
Ocean Chinook and Coho are generally feeding on Herring and anchovies. This creates a great option for “matching the hatch”. Pay attention to any bait balls that you see around. If you have something that matches the size of the bait you will do better. Generally “red label” size herring rigged whole will trigger bites. No need to use brine if you keep them whole. While cut-plugs are popular when using triangle flashers. For the heavy action of a 360, use a helmet or keep the head on. Your bait will last longer.
Stuffer baits such as Brad’s Original Super Baits, Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish, and Brad’s cut plugs provide good options. You can load them with your favorite bait or a sponge with scents. These have the advantage of leaving a scent trail and not needing to be replaced after every bite.
By far my favorite presentation is a 3.5 spinner blade with a hoochie behind it. I prefer a “soft spinner” rather than a “hard spinner. Using the leader rather than a wire seems to let everything stay lined up better. Patterns with lots of metallic flash seem to do best. These little guys are deadly and you can customize with different blade patterns, beads, and hoochies.
What flashers do you use for Ocean Coho and Chinook?
When it comes to flashers, the deep ocean water provides ample opportunity to deploy 360 flashers. I prefer the ProTroll in an 11″ but have used plenty of Shortbus and even the new Brad’s ones. I use the ones with the fins and the e-chip. The wide swing of a 360 covers a broad range of depth and gets in front of more fish. The 360 is designed to mimic a salmon striking at your lure. This triggers other fish to also try to bite.
Triangle flashers are also popular although I don’t use them as much as I probably should. Because they travel in a straight line they provide less resistance which allows less lead and softer rods. You can also use cut plug herring and not worry as much about your bait getting torn up. They are particularly effective if the fish are running at a specific depth. Their pattern in the water lets you stay in front of the fish.
Where do you fish for Ocean Salmon?
Ocean Coho like to be near noise and the surface, full stop. These fish are constantly looking for their next meal and when in the ocean seem to be permanently caffeinated. I leave the gear no deeper than 30 feet on the line counter with about a 12 ounce cannonball weight. Don’t worry about kicker noise or anything like that. Plenty of Coho have found their end just past wash from a propeller. Searching for birds over bait can often be a shortcut to a school of Ocean Coho.
Ocean Chinook on the other hand can cruise anywhere from 10 to 120 feet below the surface. They generally prefer to be underneath the coho when in combined schools. A good bet to start is at about 40-50 feet deep, watch your electronics and adjust. The deeper you go, the more you risk the occasional thresher shark attacking and cutting your line.
Most ocean salmon will follow the current seams. These are spots where faster and slower currents meet. These seams collect plankton which is food for bait fish. The salmon seek out the bait fish and congregate in these ribbons. If a seam doesn’t have fish in it I generally move to the next one over until I find them.
What to Bring
Ocean days in the summer can be all over the map. One day the water will be flat, the sky clear, and you’re looking for shade. The next can be socked in with fog. The day after that can be overcast and a bit breezy. Always check the weather forecast ahead of time and dress in layers. It is usually fairly cool in the mornings, warms up around noon and then gets breezy and cool again in the afternoon. Having something to keep the wind off of you is always a good idea. Choppy seas and wind in the afternoon can throw spray, so a light rain jacket is generally recommended. A hoodie or sweatshirt over a t-shirt is ok for general wear most days. Lotion type sunscreen is definitely recommended. Sun-shirts are also a great option.
If you know that you get seasick, think you might get seasick, or have ever thought about the idea that you can get seasick, make sure to take meclizine one hour before we leave the dock. This is also known as “Less-Drowsy Dramamine<®>”. Once we get to the ocean it’s generally too late to turn around and come back. Also, make sure that you are well hydrated prior to the trip and bring water or other hydrating beverages along with you.
As usual, bring snacks and any meals you might want to eat while we are on the water. Keep in mind the boat does not have a microwave so things that you can eat cold are a better choice.
Setting Expectations
Coho rodeos are the goal for these trips. We may troll for a little bit and then find ourselves in the middle of a pack of ocean Coho. Rods will sometimes go down as fast as we can reel them in and get them out again. With that said, there are still “off days”. Early ocean Coho are often plentiful but not very large (usually in the 5-10 lb range). Wild Coho almost always have to be released. These fish continue to size up during the season. The later you go, the better the chance of larger fish.
Ocean Chinook are more spread out. These ocean kings have already done most of their growing before getting to the mouth of the river. These fish can average in the 18-25 lb range depending on the year. Trophy size fish being caught every year. The limit is usually two salmon, one of which can be Chinook. Wild Chinook are generally OK to keep. This makes this one of the best opportunities to catch and keep a naturally spawned Chinook.
Keep in mind that ocean and bar conditions can change quickly. I will be in touch with you the day before your trip if there is a concern with the forecast. Some times a bad forecast can mean adjusting our departure and return times to avoid poor bar conditions. Other times it may mean offering an alternative trip or rescheduling.