2026 Oregon Ocean Salmon Seasons

The Pacific Ocean off the Northern Oregon Coast provides a variety of salmon options from May through October. Whether you prefer Chinook, Coho, or are just looking for a fun day on the ocean, there are options to choose from. We’ll be offering guided fishing trips during the Oregon ocean salmon seasons out of Astoria and Tillamook. 

Update – Oregon Ocean Salmon Reopens for Holiday Weekend

August 31st, 2026:  Retention of hatchery Coho salmon will be allowed out of Astoria for 5 days over Labor Day weekend. The 2026 Astoria ocean salmon season was incredible, and August 24th was the last day we were able fish on the salt water. We had some amazing action and put some beautiful fish in the icebox and we’re excited that we’ve been given some more days to fish.

• August 25th-September 3rd: No ocean salmon retention out of Astoria.
• September 4th-8th: Retention of hatchery Coho only outside of the nearshore closure in Marina Area 1.
• beginning September 9th: No ocean salmon retention out of Astoria.

When the ocean is closed, we focus on Columbia River fall salmon, from Buoy 10 in Astoria to the Columbia River Gorge. Fall is a great time to chase salmon in the PNW. We’ll be fishing into October. It’s game on!

For the rest of the Oregon Coast, August 18th was the first day of a Chinook only fishery. Through August only hatchery fish can be retained. Beginning September 1st, we can keep any Chinook.

2026 Oregon Ocean Salmon Seasons

2026 Astoria Ocean Salmon Season

The Pacific Ocean Salmon season near Astoria opened on June 20th, 2026, and this year we again have an All Salmon Ocean season where we can chase both Chinook and Coho in the Astoria area. The daily bag limit is 2 adult salmon, only one of which can be a Chinook. Chinook must be at least 22” while Coho must have healed adipose fins (be hatchery salmon) and be at least 16” in length, although let’s all hope we’re not keeping 16” Coho! Ocean fishing will close once we hit our quotas, but until then we have options for fresh and salt water.

2026 Tillamook Ocean Chinook Salmon Season

In Tillamook, the Spring Chinook fishing season ran from March 15th through May 15th, 2026. There was a bag limit of 2 salmon with a minimum size of 24″ for Chinook and 20″ for steelhead. When the spring season finished up, we headed straight into Summer and Fall Chinook fishing in the Tillamook area and plan to continue fishing through the end of October. During September we’ll have an All Salmon season. You catch it, you keep it! Chinook or Coho. Native or hatchery. It’s a fisherman’s dream!

Tillamook has a daily bag limit of 2 salmon (1 adult chinook) per day. Minimum size is 24″ for Chinook, 16″ for Coho and 20″ for steelhead. As the fall chinook move from salt water to fresh water, we’ll follow them through the bays and up into the rivers, giving us almost 6 months of Chinook salmon fishing in Tillamook.

2026 Tillamook Ocean Coho Salmon Season

In Tillamook, the summer Coho salmon season will be open May 16th through July 15th. This is a mark-selective coho salmon, where only hatchery fish may be retained. These fin-clipped fish are known for being feisty and they can provide some nice action in the Tillamook area. Beginning September 1st, we’ll move into a non-mark selective coho season which allows anglers to retain both hatchery and native coho through September 30th. Minimum length for Coho is 16″.

2026 Newport Ocean Salmon Seasons

Newport, Oregon is a some anglers’ favorite town to launch from for ocean fishing and typically offers some incredible fishing during the year. It’s located about 70 miles south of Tillamook and will follow the same 2026 ocean salmon regulations as Tillamook.

Astoria Salmon

The timing of the Ocean Salmon season coincides with some of the best known fisheries that take place at the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria. From the end of June through July we’ll be offering combination trips, fishing for both Ocean Salmon and  bottom fish (rockfish and lingcod) when conditions allow. When we switch to the Buoy 10 Columbia River Fall Salmon season in August, we will fish either the ocean or the river, whichever one provides the best experience for the day. 

Tillamook Ocean Fishing

Tillamook is typically full of opportunities for ocean fishing from April through September. Our guided fishing trips can focus on Coho or Chinook Salmon, or we’re happy to get you out for a combination trip where we fish for salmon and bottom fish during the same trip. Combo trips are a favorite. Lots of fun to be had while chasing multiple species of fish, including lingcod and sometimes halibut. When we are able to, we throw in the crab pots to add some Dungeness Crab to the day’s haul. It can be a smorgasbord of seafood!

If you know our guiding philosophy, we follow the fish, wherever they may be. That means as they move into the bays and rivers in Tillamook, we do as well. This allows us to offer a season beyond the ocean season, and also allows us to fish on days when the ocean may be a little too rough to be enjoyable. We want you to have the best experience possible when you’re out with us. When it’s possible, we’re always happy to throw the crab pots out in addition to fishing. Who doesn’t like a fisherman’s feast?

The Northern Oregon coast provides a variety of Ocean Salmon opportunities from May through October. Whether you’re in Tillamook or Astoria, there are great places to eat, and lots of sights to see once you’re done fishing. We’re more than willing to discuss options with you to help come up with the perfect trip for you.

Please contact us with any questions or to book your trip. We’re always happy to help.