Oregon · Northern Oregon Coast
COHO SALMON FISHING
IN GARIBALDI
Garibaldi 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 Garibaldi
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 — Garibaldi
Month-by-month availability for coho salmon in Garibaldi, OR.
How to Catch Coho Salmon in Garibaldi
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 Garibaldi
Top spots where local captains target coho salmon and other nearshore species.
Tillamook Bay Jetties
The rock jetties at Tillamook Bay's entrance create nearshore structure where lingcod, rockfish, greenling, and cabezon hold along the submerged rocks. Shore anglers fish from the North and South Jetties for accessible catches, while the channel between holds salmon staging before entering the bay.
Cape Meares Reef
Cape Meares south of Garibaldi features dramatic rocky reefs and kelp beds where lingcod, black rockfish, blue rockfish, and cabezon hold in 30 to 80 feet of nearshore water. The cape's exposed position catches upwelling currents that support dense baitfish schools.
Three Arch Rocks
Three Arch Rocks off Oceanside south of Garibaldi are massive sea stacks surrounded by productive nearshore reef structure holding lingcod, rockfish, and cabezon. Fishing the adjacent waters outside the wildlife refuge boundary is productive as fish spill over from the protected area.
Bay City Surf Zone
The surf zone along the beaches south of Garibaldi toward Bay City produces redtail surfperch, flatfish, and striped perch from sandy shoreline accessible to wade-fishers. The beach's gentle slope creates productive troughs between sandbars where perch school in fishable concentrations.
Other Species in Garibaldi
More fish you can target while visiting Garibaldi.
Coho Salmon Fishing in Garibaldi — FAQ
The peak months for Coho Salmon fishing in Garibaldi are September. During these months, Coho Salmon are most active and abundant in the Garibaldi area.
Coho Salmon fishing charters in Garibaldi 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 Garibaldi, 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 Garibaldi, you may also catch Rockfish, Chinook Salmon, Lingcod, Dungeness Crab, Pacific Halibut. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
Ready to Catch Coho Salmon in Garibaldi?
Compare verified charter captains, check availability, and book your coho salmon fishing trip today.
Get Charter Quotes