Fishing at the Mouth of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is known worldwide for its fishing opportunities, and these activities are certainly not limited to freshwater lakes and streams. Washington and Oregon are divided by the Columbia River, and there are many wonderful places to hook a keeper at the point where this massive river enters the Pacific Ocean.

Salmon, trout and steelhead are often sought after by fishermen (and women!) in this region. The estuary (brackish water near the ocean) and Columbia River bar offer a splendid selection of fishing holes. Many salmon fishermen hit this area during the time when the salmon are in season, and it can get especially crowded, with salmon boats jockeying for position in the large river. Trout and steelhead are more commonly caught further upriver, away from mouth, but they are still sometimes caught here as well. Buoy 10 is one of the markers used by the salmon fishermen, and they tend to congregate in this salmon hotspot. Many anglers also try to lure the tasty salmon from the bank, with long poles and an assortment of attractors.

The mouth of the Columbia and the Pacific Ocean hold many opportunities for bottom fish, rock fish, halibut, and an assortment of other different salt water species. If you are interested in these catching a few of these interesting specimens, check out the charter boat services that operate out of Astoria and, best of all, Ilwaco. Ilwaco is right on the mouth of the Columbia, and basically a town devoted to fishing. Further up the road, you'll find Long Beach, Washington, which is one of the longest continuous beaches in the world. If you want to skip the charter boat idea, and would rather fish from land, you can either surf fish or fish from North Jetty at Fort Canby Park.