Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Astoria, OR (Complete Guide)
Astoria is home to some of the best salmon, trout, and halibut fishing in Oregon. Knowing the best time of year to fish these rich waters can make a huge difference.
The best times to fish near Astoria is from May through early September for salmon, steelhead, lingcod, and Pacific halibut. There are various salmon and steelhead runs during this window.
Located on the Columbia River, Astoria is a coastal city very well known for its fishing. Most of the fishing in the area is done either on the Columbia River or in the Pacific. Some of the best fishing are the salmon runs, but offshore fishing can also be great in Astoria. In the river and inshore fishing, you’ll mainly find salmon, but as you move out deeper, you’ll find halibut and lingcod.
Best Time to Fish near Astoria, OR
If you’re targeting salmon, your best bet is to try to time the runs. Salmon runs are when pacific salmon swim upstream in the river and spawn in the river. Salmon runs can have millions of fish in a concentrated area, making it a great time to catch some fish. If you’re going offshore, fishing in the summer will give you a good chance of getting halibut and lingcod.
If you are going to be going both in and offshore, a trip in August would be a good plan. August is too early for any major salmon runs, but the fish will be preparing to go on their runs, so they may be closer to shore making them easier to track and catch.
Astoria, OR Species Breakdown: Best Time
Steelhead
Steelhead are a species of trout that live in the rivers and spawn in the ocean nearby. Steelhead are available year-round, but their peak season is generally in the fall and winter when they tend to spawn. The best spots for steelhead are the Columbia River and its tributaries. Steelhead will bite all day but are usually more active during the morning.
Halibut
Halibut are almost always found offshore and are targeted for their size and taste. Halibut can be found near offshore rocky reefs and offshore sand reefs. Time of day affects halibut less than other fish, but they are generally most active during the late morning and during high tide.
Their peak season runs from May through August, and the season is closed the rest of the year. In Astoria, you will have to head out into the Pacific to catch Halibut.
Salmon (Silver & Chinook)
Salmon are the main species that are targeted in Astoria. They will run to the rivers from August through October and can be found out in the ocean during other times. Salmon will be active all day but will be most active in the morning.
River fishing is the most popular way to catch them, but ocean fishing for salmon can be productive as well. The main place to catch salmon is the Columbia River.
Lingcod
Lingcod, like halibut, are found on offshore reefs. Lingcod feed on the bottom and live in extremely deep water. They are available year-round and are also active year-round.
This makes it the only fish other than steelhead that you can target during the winter. When targeting lingcod, you may come up with a halibut as well. The best time to fish for lingcod is usually in the late morning.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon are also a very popular fish to target in Astoria, but they are only in season from May through July. This is an attempt to preserve the sturgeon population in the river. Astoria offers world-class sturgeon fishing and is a popular destination for anglers targeting them.
They are mainly found in the Columbia River and some of the smaller rivers around it. Sturgeon are most active during the night, but the river is closed. So, you should try to target them in the morning or evening, or during the afternoon if it’s foggy or cloudy. Sturgeon have sensitive eyes, so the less light the better.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Astoria
These Astoria-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Obsession Fishing – Oregon Coast | Astoria, OR |
| Pacific Roots Adventures | Nehalem, OR |
| Black Dogg Guide Service | Warrenton, OR |
| Reel Em Up Fishing – Astoria | Warrenton, OR |
| Corkem Fishing Northwest – Columbia | Warrenton, OR |
| RiverTrek NW – Buoy 10 | Astoria, OR |
| 2 Net Fishing Guide LLC – Astoria | Astoria, OR |
| Woodys Northwest Fishing & Fun – Astoria | Warrenton, OR |
| Play N Hooky Guide Service – Astoria | Warrenton, OR |
| BJ’s Guide Service | Warrenton, OR |
| Caleb’s Guide Service – Astoria | Astoria, OR |
| Pacific Roots Adventures B10 | Astoria, OR |
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Best Time of Day to Fish near Astoria
As with most areas, the best time to fish in Astoria is during the morning and evening. Most of the fishing done here is in the summer and fall, so the water will still be warm enough for the fish, making them much more active.
During the winter, the main species that will be available will be steelhead, they will usually be more active in the late morning or afternoon, because they will be waiting for the water to warm up some before they start to feed.
Astoria Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tides can play a big role in how your fishing day goes. It is important to pay attention to the tides because of the drastic effects they can have on your day. During low tide, fish will scatter and move into deeper water, making them harder to find.
You will also have to go out much further during low tide. During high tide, there will be a constant stream of food and clean water moving into the area, which will make fish much more active. Tides will affect the Columbia River as well, but not as much as the ocean is affected by tides.
Is Winter Fishing Bad in Astoria, OR?
Steelhead and lingcod are the only options that you have for winter fishing in Astoria. Lingcod will be biting, but ocean conditions may not be good enough to get out to where they are. Steelhead will be very active during the winter, mainly in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Steelhead usually spawn in the winter and spring. Steelhead can be caught both from the boat and from shore. All in all, winter fishing isn’t great in Astoria, unless you are exclusively targeting steelhead.
Top 5-10 Fishing Spots in Astoria
Youngs Bay
Youngs bay is located just west of the mouth of the Columbia River and is a relatively large bay found in the Columbia River. The bay is fed by the Youngs River, which is also a great fishing spot for salmon and steelhead. Youngs Bay, like much of the rest of the Columbia River, also holds a healthy population of sturgeon. You can fish this bay from a boat or shore and expect to catch fish.
Baker Bay
Baker Bay is located on the Washington side of the Columbia River, on the edge of the mouth of the river. Out here you will find a lot of salmon, especially right before they make their runs further into the river. The bay is protected from big waves and winds by East Sand Island, making it a solid spot for days with unfavorable weather.
Fort Stevens State Park
Fort Stevens is located directly across the river from Baker Bay. There are shore fishing opportunities here for both the river and the ocean. You can also fish around the peninsula that the park is located on by boat. There are plenty of spots within the park that will produce both salmon and sturgeon.
Main Columbia River
The main river is the most popular area to fish for salmon and sturgeon. Every year, salmon will run into the river from August through October, and sturgeon are available to catch during most of the year.
The Columbia River has one of the healthiest populations of sturgeon and salmon in the country, and there is plenty of room for everyone to be able to fish comfortably. The main river is where you will find a lot of fish, but the bays mentioned before will also have great fishing.
Buoy 10
Buoy Ten is an area well known to locals. It’s the area just south of Sand Island and is known as one of the best fishing spots in the area for both salmon and sturgeon. This spot is so good because it’s close to the main water but also has an island there.
The island serves a couple of purposes, it redirects water, changing the flow of water, and it offers protection for fish to hide behind if the wind and waves pick up.
John Day River
The John Day River is located southeast of Astoria and offers great steelhead and smallmouth bass fishing. This is one of the only areas along the Columbia River this close to the ocean where you’ll find a smallmouth population like this.
Smallmouth fishing on this river is usually the best in the summer, while steelhead fishing picks up in the fall and winter. The river connects with the Columbia River directly in front of Lois Island, which makes for a great fishing spot along the river as well.
Booking Guides & Charters in Astoria, OR
–Best Season to go
Charter fishing is a very popular way to get the most out of your trip to Astoria. There are charters that will go offshore, inshore, and in the Columbia River. If you’re going offshore, a summer trip would suit you best, halibut are in season and lingcod are available year-round.
This would also be a good time to target sturgeon in the river as well. Salmon will be a bit later in the year, usually from August through October. The charters are very busy during the salmon runs, so it’s a good idea to book ahead.
They will be busy throughout the summer as well, but not nearly as busy as they are during salmon runs. There are a few opportunities for winter fishing, mainly for steelhead in tributaries to the Columbia River.
–Morning vs. afternoon (pro/con for each time of day when going on charter)
Fishing in the morning is going to be better when you are fishing in the summer. The water will be warm enough in the morning for fish to be active. In the spring and fall, an afternoon trip may be better for offshore fishing, mainly because of how long it will take the water to warm up.
With that being said, morning trips for salmon in the early fall during the salmon runs are the better option. If you are fishing offshore, time of day matters less than it would if you were fishing in the river or inshore.
-1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters (pro/con benefit for each type of trip)
The main differences between half, full, and multi-day charters are the opportunities to catch fish. The longer you’re out on the water, the more opportunities you’ll have to catch fish. A half-day trip may be a better idea for fishing salmon runs, there will be a ton of fish to catch either way, and it will be a much more relaxing day than a full day of fishing.
A full-day trip would produce more fish, and there is the possibility of targeting multiple species in a day. The same goes for multi-day trips, but multi-day trips can be very expensive.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Oregon, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best salmon fishing in Oregon, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Portland, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in San Francisco, please check out this helpful guide.
