Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing

Columbia River Sturgeon fishing offers an amazing combination of scenic beauty with the ability to catch huge fish. We guide Sturgeon fishing charters in the lower 200 miles of river from the mouth in Astoria, Oregon, to above Bonneville Dam. Opportunities are seasonal and each location offers a different experience. Take a look around and contact us on our Questions & Reservations page or give us a call to allow us to help guide you in the right direction for your Columbia River Sturgeon fishing trip.

*Update: Columbia River Keeper Sturgeon*

March 4th, 2026: Yesterday was the final day of sturgeon retention of 2026 Columbia River sturgeon. We had a handful of keeper sturgeon dates in the Columbia River Gorge, in Bonneville and The Dalles Pools. While it’s always nice to fill the freezer with fresh sturgeon, catch-and-release sturgeon fishing typically brings even more fish to the boat. We’re currently wrangling big fish in the Portland area and will continue to do so throughout the spring chinook season. Book a trip to join us for some action-packed fishing during the first half of 2026. After that it’s game on in June and July for trophy sturgeon action in Astoria.

Portland Area Sturgeon Fishing: November – June

Sturgeon are available in both the Columbia and Willamette throughout the winter and clear through the first half of the calendar year. This fishery is catch and release and typically provides some great action. During Springer season, we often fish for both species during the same trip.

Columbia River Trophy Sturgeon: May – July

The Columbia River is famous for its oversize sturgeon. Some of these fish will weigh in excess of several hundred pounds, while a typical fish is in the 125 pound class. These fish have mouths the size of hubcaps and as you can imagine, can really pull. Fighting belts and big time gear is the only way to take on these fish. I have people come from all over the country to test their metal against these trophy size sturgeon and have yet to see anyone less than impressed upon seeing these giants for the first time.

Astoria Estuary Sturgeon: June – July

The Columbia River estuary in Astoria provides sturgeon anglers with some of the best sturgeon fishing of the year. The estuary sturgeon provide fishermen with the opportunity to catch fish in as little as a five feet of water as they move up on flats in search of clams. An incredible amount of water is available and often you’ll hook numbers of fish with no other boats in sight. We’ll regularly hook fish 6, 7, and 8 feet long. For more on this great fishery, please visit my Astoria Estuary Sturgeon Fishing page.

Bonneville Sturgeon: October – November

For a period of about a month, the area below Bonneville opens again and fishing can be borderline clinical. Many of these fish haven’t seen baits in months due to the summer closure and have flocked to the area to feed on the dying Columbia River Salmon. Because of the brief window, this isn’t as popular of a fishery, but can be just as productive as any of the year’s sturgeon fisheries.

For any questions you might have, or to simply book a trip, feel free to contact us on our questions & reservations page.