Astoria Summer Fishing – Options Galore!
As the daily temps begins to rise and we start to see more sun than rain in the Pacific Northwest, I can’t help but think of the plethora of fishing options Astoria offers all summer long. Salmon, sturgeon, and bottom fish are available in Astoria, and sometimes multiple species on the same day. We’ll start running fishing charters for halibut and/or bottom fish in May. Trophy sturgeon takes center stage in the Columbia River in June and July. Astoria salmon fishing starts in the ocean in late June, followed by Buoy 10 when the river opens in August. With multiple species, we’ll fish through September. Our goal is to run the very best fishing guide service in Astoria, and we’d love to have you.
Ocean Salmon Fishing
We really have two salmon seasons in Astoria: one is the ocean salmon fishery, where we target fall chinook and coho off the mouth of the Columbia, and the other is Buoy 10, where we target these chinook in the estuary itself. Because of the magnitude of the Buoy 10 fishery, I will save the details of how to target salmon inside the Columbia River Bar for another post.
ODFW still has to finalize the season, but this year we are slated to have our ocean salmon season open on June 20th for Chinook and Coho salmon. These are the same fish we target in August and September in the Columbia River. This ocean season, however, allows us to get after them early, while they’re on the feed. There should be some nice opportunities available to target salmon off the mouth of the Columbia.
Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing
Arguably the most famous salmon fishery in the entire Northwest, Buoy 10 in Astoria attracts anglers from all over, and for good reason: lots of fish! We’re still waiting to hear the final dates and details for 2026, but from what we hear we’re going to have some good opportunities to target both Chinook and Coho at Buoy 10 this year. It looks like the Columbia River will open for salmon retention on August 1st. Stay tuned for all of the info. We’ll announce it as soon as it’s official. This is one of our favorite times of the year as the culture in Astoria changes when thousands of fishermen and woman head into Astoria to partake in this world-class fishery. It’s great food, great weather, great atmosphere, and great fishing!
Astoria Sturgeon Fishing
Our catch and release fishery in June and July is truly world-class. Big fish in the 4-8 foot range are common, with even larger fish available. The Estuary sturgeon fishing in Astoria is amazing. Come hang out for a day and see what it’s all about!
Everyone asks why late June and July are the best time to sturgeon fish in Astoria. The first thing is water temperature. As the summer goes on, water temperatures in the Columbia River go up. When the water temps go up, the anchovies come into the river. The sturgeon come into the estuary to feed on anchovies and sand shrimp and often times we’ll find fish in shallow water. Shallow water means a few things: willing biters, lots of fish, and incredible battles! Many times we catch these sturgeon in only a few feet of water and as a result they go “acrobatic,” often coming to the surface and jumping, only to then peel off a couple hundred feet of line! We get people that come from all over the world to experience this world-class fishery, so join us!
Astoria Bottom Fishing
While salmon and sturgeon definitely get most of the press in the Northwest, there are other species to target during our guided fishing trips. Halibut, ling cod, black bass, and many other species offer tasty white meat and are readily available in spring and summer. This fishing is most productive around the sunken jetties at the mouth of the Columbia, and can sometimes offer a tasty compliment to a day of sturgeon or salmon fishing. We have options on both our classic sled boats and our 34′ boat, Legion’s Mercy, giving our customers a variety of trips to choose from.
One thing is for sure: there is no lack of fishing opportunity in Astoria during the summer!
For questions or booking information, feel free to contact us! We can even guide you in the right direction with places to stay, things to do and places to eat during your visit.