A large chinook salmon, appearing fresh from the ocean, is snagged in the Lower Columbia River near Astoria. Capt. Hugh Harris, True North Outdoors.
Capt. Hugh Harris from True North Outdoors in Portland tells me that a chinook salmon can detect a single drop of its home river in 50 gallons of water. In the Columbia River, Harris’s local waters, chinook may pick up that scent while the tides carry them from the ocean to the river at the start of the season. During summer, many fish wait in the ocean close to the Columbia River’s mouth before making their way upriver past Buoy 10. In the warming river waters of summer, they find cool spots. Late summer rains introduce the scent of their home rivers into the water, guiding the salmon back to their upstream spawning areas. Throughout the seasons, Capt. Harris targets chinook and coho salmon as they navigate from nearshore beach waters to the swift currents around Buoy 10 and upstream cold-water areas.
Kayak Fishing for Salmon off Oregon Beaches
Capt. Hugh Harris successfully nets a nice chinook right off the Oregon coast, showcasing his safety gear, including a life vest and VHF radio. Capt. Hugh Harris, True North Outdoors.
Before he was a charter fisher, Capt. Harris was an experienced kayaker, and his preferred beaches for kayak fishing along the coast include:
- Pacific City (north coast)
- Depoe Bay (central coast)
- Seaside (north coast)
- Social Security Beach (mouth of the Columbia River, north coast)
- Long Beach, Washington (southern WA coast)
- Sunset Bay (southern Oregon)
“Ocean salmon off the Oregon coast tend to feed aggressively. They’ll bite various offerings if presented properly,” Harris explains. “When I head out, I look for temperature shifts, aiming for around 50 to 55 degrees F, changes in salinity, and currents that gather schools of prey fish for the predators. Rips, slicks, variations in the water’s surface, and feeding birds all get my heart racing.”
Harris believes that using a properly cured or partially frozen anchovy or herring as bait that spins tightly “is essential.” He emphasizes the importance of keeping the bait’s scales intact and ensuring it remains firm to mimic an injured fish. He advises using an anchovy or herring helmet to prolong the bait’s life without “blowing out” and affecting its roll, especially in rapid trolling conditions.
“My second go-to rig is a hoochie spinner with a small piece of bait (herring, sardine, or anchovy) on the hooks. Position a dodger or flasher 24 to 40 inches above the bait to catch fish’s attention and add some action,” Harris says. Besides targeting salmon, kayak fishermen off Oregon’s coast also pursue Dungeness crab, halibut, greenling, flounder, cabezon, sablefish, ling cod, and rockfish, among others.
One should never underestimate the risks of kayaking in cold ocean waters. Despite his extensive safety equipment, knowledge, and precautions, Harris has faced storms far offshore that had him riding swells. Even though he still kayaks, his focus shifted to spending time on the water with family and friends after starting a family, now using his 26-foot aluminum River Wild sled, which was built in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Buoy 10 for Chinook and Coho Salmon
On calm summer days, some captains like Hugh Harris navigate outside the bar to catch chinook salmon in the ocean. Capt. Hugh Harris, True North Outdoors.
The renowned Buoy 10 fishery spans a 40-square-mile estuary at the entrance to the Pacific Ocean. Buoy 10 serves as the boundary for recreational fishing at the mouth of the Columbia River. Beyond this point lies about six miles of jetty, marking one of the world’s most perilous waterways.
Buoy 10’s fishing season typically starts around August 1 and lasts into early September, though this may vary based on state regulations and salmon return predictions. Early August sees mostly chinook salmon, with cohos (silvers) arriving later in August and September, extending salmon fishing into the fall. For the 2024 season, the current limits appear to be one hatchery chinook and one hatchery coho per person, though local regulations should be verified.
“Last year, the ocean conditions were favorable at the season’s start, so I crossed the bar where most fish were staging,” Capt. Harris noted. “In good conditions, you have that option. You might limit the boat in just an hour; it’s truly that advantageous. Buoy 10 offers numerous fishing opportunities.”
Navigating the Buoy 10 area can be challenging due to its strong tidal movements over a shallow riverbed. Rapidly fluctuating currents and heavy boat traffic create dynamic conditions.
“When a boat captain understands the tidal influences within the river’s structure, avoids crowded areas, and is aware of the dangers of hydrokinetics over shallow waters,” Hugh advises, “they can minimize the risks present in this fishery. There are fish available throughout the entire system, and stepping away from the herd mentality can improve both safety and success.”
Harris uses Talon Rods, handcrafted in Woodland, Washington. He prefers rods measuring 9 to 10.5 feet long, rated for a 10- to 40-pound test line with parabolic action, a forgiving tip, and a robust backbone for setting hooks and sustaining heavy trolling weights. For reels, he chooses Okuma Coldwater SS Low Profile Line Counters and Daiwa Lexa 300 Line Counters. He spools 60-pound braid for the mainline and 40- to 50-pound Maxima Ultragreen mono for leaders.
Fishing Techniques for the Columbia River Tide
Anglers should be ready to use large nets for substantial salmon, especially if they are meant for release. Capt. Hugh Harris, True North Outdoors.
“The key to success at Buoy 10 is to grasp where the fish hold within the tidal flow,” Harris says. “Thousands of fish pass through, but understanding the tide and current is crucial for safety and getting your gear in front of the fish.”
“During high slack tide, we can target fish either suspended or just off the bottom by mooching bait while drifting at the current’s pace. The angler creates tight spinning action by slightly lifting and lowering the rod’s tip. This active fishing technique is exhilarating when setting the hook on a big catch.”
In another approach, anglers present their gear slightly off the bottom during a strong ebb tide on days with significant tidal exchanges. Harris notes that during a powerful outgoing ebb, the boat and presentation can move too quickly at 4 to 5 mph over ground.
“Boat maneuverability is essential, as you need to move at the slowest speed possible to maintain gear on the bottom while still being productive. The warmer fresh river water is rushing out alongside the boat, while the colder, denser saltwater flows more slowly at depths of around 20 feet. Initially, the angler’s line may drop rapidly and tangle since it gets pushed along with the outgoing fresh water. However, if painstakingly deployed at a foot per second or slower, the line will begin to angle away from the boat as it reaches the cooler ocean water underneath. The captain angles the boat against the current to help slow the drift and match the current’s speed. Anglers position their rods on the upstream side of the boat, strike the bottom, and reel up once. The captain ensures the boat’s position aligns with the current’s pace. This technique is particularly effective when maintaining a trolling speed below 3.5 mph SOG (Speed Over Ground) even when the trolling motor is idling.”
This careful approach leads to successful fish capture in vast waters.
Summertime at the Columbia River
Summer salmon fishing intensifies on the Columbia River during July and August. Capt. Hugh Harris, True North Outdoors.
It’s about a two-hour drive from Portland’s airport (PDX) to the Lower Columbia River region. Harris docks his boat in Warrenton. Other nearby towns at the Columbia’s mouth include Astoria and Hammond in Oregon, and Ilwaco and Chinook in Washington. The summer scene is vibrant, teeming with seafood, fresh produce, sunshine, and numerous off-water attractions. Early reservations for lodging are recommended, as options are limited during the busy fishing season.
Astoria is rich in nautical history, with nearby state parks like Fort Stevens and Fort Canby, and scenic landmarks such as the Peter Iredale shipwreck at Sunset Beach, Oregon. Ilwaco is a thriving commercial fishing marina at the Pacific Ocean’s entrance, offering abundant fresh seafood options.
Harris recommends climbing the Astoria Column stairs: “to appreciate the area’s history while enjoying a stunning view of the Columbia River estuary. There are local breweries, like Fort George Brewery and Buoy Brewery, excellent restaurants, and unique shops. The Maritime Museum provides fascinating insight into the region’s Coast Guard and maritime history. All in all, it’s the essence of our Pacific Northwest fishing culture.”