Oregon · Northern Oregon Coast
COHO SALMON FISHING
IN DEPOE BAY
Depoe Bay is a solid destination for coho salmon fishing, with peak season in September and good catches in August, October. Book a charter and target coho salmon with local experts.
About Coho Salmon Fishing in Depoe Bay
Silver salmon are legendary fighters known for explosive surface strikes and aerial acrobatics. Coho run from midsummer through fall along the entire Pacific coast, from California's Smith River to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Bright chrome ocean fish are prized for both sport and table quality.
Coho Salmon — also called Silver Salmon — are prized for their aggressive surface strikes and spectacular aerial acrobatics. Averaging 8-12 pounds, they are smaller than kings but pound-for-pound are considered harder fighters. Ocean-phase coho are brilliant chrome-silver with small black spots confined to the upper lobe of the tail and the back above the lateral line. Spawning males turn deep red on the sides with a dark green head and develop a dramatic hooked jaw. Females become darker but retain more of their shape.
Scientific name: Oncorhynchus kisutch
Coho Salmon Seasonal Calendar — Depoe Bay
Month-by-month availability for coho salmon in Depoe Bay, OR.
How to Catch Coho Salmon in Depoe Bay
Techniques & Bait
Ocean trolling with herring, hoochies (plastic squid lures), or spoons behind flashers at 15-60 feet is the primary technique. Coho often feed higher in the water column than kings, so shallower presentations work well. Casting buzz bombs, Crippled Herring spoons, and spinners into surface-feeding schools produces explosive strikes. In rivers, casting spinners (Blue Fox, Panther Martin), drifting roe under a float, or swinging flies on a sink-tip line are all effective. Coho are aggressive and respond well to fast-moving presentations.
Recommended Tackle
Ocean: 7-8'6" medium rod, level-wind or spinning reel, 15-20 lb mono or 30 lb braid. River: 8'6"-9'6" medium rod, spinning reel, 10-15 lb line, 8-12 lb fluorocarbon leader. Fly: 7-8 weight rod, sink-tip line, bright patterns (Clouser, Bunny Leech, Egg-Sucking Leech).
Best Nearshore Fishing Spots in Depoe Bay
Top spots where local captains target coho salmon and other nearshore species.
Depoe Bay Reef
The rocky reef complex directly offshore of Depoe Bay holds black rockfish, blue rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon in kelp-covered structure from 40 to 100 feet deep. Depoe Bay's charter fleet accesses these productive reefs within minutes of clearing the harbor entrance.
Whale Cove Reefs
Whale Cove south of Depoe Bay features rocky nearshore reefs where rockfish and lingcod hold in protected cove structure. The cove's semi-sheltered waters provide fishable conditions when the open coast is rough, and the reef's proximity makes it accessible for short trips.
Otter Rock Reef
The rocky reef structure off Otter Rock south of Depoe Bay holds lingcod, cabezon, and multiple rockfish species in 30 to 80 feet of nearshore water. The reef's position along the open coast catches upwelling currents that support productive ecosystems close to shore.
Cape Foulweather
Cape Foulweather's dramatic headland south of Depoe Bay features deep nearshore reefs where lingcod, black rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish hold in 50 to 120 feet of water over rugged volcanic bottom. The cape's extreme exposure creates productive but weather-dependent fishing.
Other Species in Depoe Bay
More fish you can target while visiting Depoe Bay.
Coho Salmon Fishing in Depoe Bay — FAQ
The peak months for Coho Salmon fishing in Depoe Bay are September. During these months, Coho Salmon are most active and abundant in the Depoe Bay area.
Coho Salmon fishing charters in Depoe Bay are typically nearshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Ocean trolling with herring, hoochies (plastic squid lures), or spoons behind flashers at 15-60 feet is the primary technique. Coho often feed higher in the water column than kings, so shallower presentations work well. Casting buzz bombs, Crippled Herring spoons, and spinners into surface-feeding schools produces explosive strikes. In rivers, casting spinners (Blue Fox, Panther Martin), drifting roe under a float, or swinging flies on a sink-tip line are all effective. Coho are aggressive and respond well to fast-moving presentations.
No — when you book a charter in Depoe Bay, your captain provides all required Oregon fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Coho Salmon regulations in Oregon include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Coho Salmon in Depoe Bay, you may also catch Rockfish, Lingcod, Chinook Salmon, Dungeness Crab, Pacific Halibut. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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