Oregon · Northern Oregon Coast
COHO SALMON FISHING
IN LINCOLN CITY
Lincoln City 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 Lincoln City
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 — Lincoln City
Month-by-month availability for coho salmon in Lincoln City, OR.
How to Catch Coho Salmon in Lincoln City
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 Lincoln City
Top spots where local captains target coho salmon and other nearshore species.
Cascade Head Reef
Cascade Head north of Lincoln City is a dramatic basalt headland where rocky nearshore reefs hold lingcod, black rockfish, and cabezon in 30 to 80 feet of water. The head's protected status has allowed marine ecosystems to flourish, creating productive spillover fishing in adjacent waters.
Neskowin Reef
The rocky reef off Neskowin south of Lincoln City holds rockfish, lingcod, and greenling in nearshore structure accessible from the Neskowin beach launch or by boat from Lincoln City. Proposal Rock at the beach provides a landmark for locating the offshore reef.
Lincoln City Reef
The nearshore reef complex off Lincoln City holds black rockfish, blue rockfish, and lingcod in kelp-covered structure from 40 to 90 feet deep. Small boats launching from the Siletz Bay ramp access the reef for productive bottom-fishing on calm ocean days.
Siletz Bay Entrance
The entrance to Siletz Bay creates a channel where tidal currents attract lingcod, rockfish, and surfperch to the submerged jetty rocks and channel edges. The mixing of bay and ocean water concentrates baitfish that draw in nearshore predators.
Other Species in Lincoln City
More fish you can target while visiting Lincoln City.
Coho Salmon Fishing in Lincoln City — FAQ
The peak months for Coho Salmon fishing in Lincoln City are September. During these months, Coho Salmon are most active and abundant in the Lincoln City area.
Coho Salmon fishing charters in Lincoln City 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 Lincoln City, 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 Lincoln City, 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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