Oregon Ocean Coho?

I’m thinking of trying my luck off the southern Oregon coast for coho salmon this summer. Anyone tried off the yak in Oregon for coho? I’m looking for spots between Brookings and Coos bay.

Any tips on good ports/fisheries in this zone would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Max

I live in Newport on the central Oregon Coast. Ocean coho are a blast. When conditions are right, it usually means lots of action! I know guys launch kayaks from Sunset Bay (by Coos Bay) and get into them at times. I just fish them out of Newport and Depoe Bay since that's my backyard.

The vast majority of the clipped (hatchery) coho off the Oregon coast are headed for the Columbia River. They typically hit the southern Oregon coast first, then work their way north along the coast til they reach the Columbia. So your odds of catching keeper (hatchery) coho south of Coos Bay during the mark-select season are much better in July vs August. Of course, this won't be an issue during the non-mark selective season in September when you can keep wild coho.

Most of the coho are within the top 30 feet of the water column. I like trolling a Brad's Cut Plug behind a triangle flasher, and a 10 oz cannonball. I typically vary between 10 to 60 ft of line out, adjusting depths until I start hitting fish. Look for birds, bait, trash lines, rips, etc. I usually just start trolling west until I hit fish or good sign. You can troll bait for coho too, but you'll be burning through a LOT of it and coho are notorious short-strikers. I personally never find a need to use bait when targeting ocean coho. Bring a handful of different colored lures...coho can be picky on colors at times.

Good luck on your search! Really solid coho forecast this year, so I expect the fishing to be good.

Thanks for all of the great detailed information Clayman! And for the tip on bait. The cut-plug lures were my go-to for ocean Chinook out of Shelter Cove for a good while, due to the bycatch. Great action.

Looks like I will give it a go this year with my buddy and fellow NCKAer fishloomis.

I thought Oregon ocean salmon was closed this year?
 Edit:  only chinook are closed, you guys are talking coho [emoji1688]

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“I typically vary between 10 to 60 ft of line out…”

Just curious about that. I’d have thought that 50 to 60 feet of line would be about the minimum. Also, if you were to use a downrigger, what sort of setback do you think would be appropriate?

“I typically vary between 10 to 60 ft of line out…”

Just curious about that. I’d have thought that 50 to 60 feet of line would be about the minimum. Also, if you were to use a downrigger, what sort of setback do you think would be appropriate?

Coho tend to run much closer to the surface than Chinook. I can't count the number of times where I hooked a coho while I was letting line out. I'll have like 5 ft of line out on the line counter, and the rod loads up with a fish! Sometimes, they're concentrated in the top 10 feet of the water column. If your gear is below 10 ft, you might not even get a bite. Coho aren't boat-shy, they'll swim right on up to you to grab anything that looks edible.

If you use a downrigger, any length of setback will do. But given the abundance of short-strikers that could potentially pull the line out of the DR clip, I recommend just trolling with a lead cannonball when targeting coho. You'll lose a lot of fish--coho are magicians at shaking off barbless hooks. Just rolling with a cannonball makes everything easier.

“I typically vary between 10 to 60 ft of line out…”

Just curious about that. I’d have thought that 50 to 60 feet of line would be about the minimum. Also, if you were to use a downrigger, what sort of setback do you think would be appropriate?

Coho tend to run much closer to the surface than Chinook. I can't count the number of times where I hooked a coho while I was letting line out. I'll have like 5 ft of line out on the line counter, and the rod loads up with a fish! Sometimes, they're concentrated in the top 10 feet of the water column. If your gear is below 10 ft, you might not even get a bite. Coho aren't boat-shy, they'll swim right on up to you to grab anything that looks edible.

If you use a downrigger, any length of setback will do. But given the abundance of short-strikers that could potentially pull the line out of the DR clip, I recommend just trolling with a lead cannonball when targeting coho. You'll lose a lot of fish--coho are magicians at shaking off barbless hooks. Just rolling with a cannonball makes everything easier.

Thanks for the additional info. It makes perfect sense, but I really like catching fish on the DR, as you get to fight the fish, rather than the 10 oz sinker, or whatever…

Nice fish Chris!

Thanks for the additional info. It makes perfect sense, but I really like catching fish on the DR, as you get to fight the fish, rather than the 10 oz sinker, or whatever…

I hear that. Since Chinook are off the table this summer, I plan on mixing it up a bit for coho. Thinking spinning rod+jerkbait toplining...or maybe a spoon behind a smaller in-line sinker. Should be fun!

Here's a good pic from last summer of my typical coho rig. I fill the Brad's either with canned tuna or chopped-up herring. This fish ended up in the bag a minute later  .