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Oregon Coast Fishing Report for September 28, 2025: Lingcod, Rockfish, and Salmon Highlights
Published 7 months ago
Description
Artificial Lure with your September 28th, 2025 Pacific Ocean Oregon coast fishing report.
Sunrise hit at 7:09 this morning, with sunset coming up at 7:02 tonight. Anglers headed out early got to take advantage of a mild high tide around 6:18 AM at Pacific City, peaking at 5.2 feet, followed by the low dropping close to midday. Water clarity improved after a brisk round of late-summer storms, and the wind has been light enough for comfort, but rough ocean conditions over the past couple days meant most folks targeted protected spots or waited for windows, according to Dockside Charters out of Depoe Bay.
Lingcod are the hot ticket—Dockside Charters just kicked off their new live bait Ling trips, and the boats have been stacking up quality keepers using sanddab for bait. Sanddabs are easy to jig up on the bottom, with three at a time not unusual, and they’re pure candy to big lings. Live bait’s been almost unbeatable, but those working jigs have had luck with large white swimbaits or chartreuse curly-tails bounced close to rocky structure. Remember that the Lingcod bag limit dropped to 2 per angler, minimum size 22 inches, just this past week. Rockfish bite has been fair; blues and blacks are always on tap, with an occasional canary sneaking into the bags—still, only one canary allowed as your sub-bag. Cabezon remains closed until July 1. Flatfish, especially sand sole and starry flounder, remain plentiful offshore, with a 25-fish bag limit keeping things interesting for bottom bouncers.
Halibut season is closed—both inshore and offshore quotas have wrapped until 2026, so keep to groundfish and salmon. Word from the local docks is that salmon fishing has been up and down. Most success came at first light, with coho outnumbering chinook, and best bites right at the tide switch. Anchovies or herring trolled behind short flashers got the nod, with hoochies in pink or purple landing bonus strikes. Spinners in chartreuse or copper are another local favorite.
This time of year, surf and jetty fishing can light up with incoming tides. Kelp greenling, striped perch, and even the occasional late-run searun cutthroat can be found near rocky outcroppings. Berley up with shrimp bits or clam necks, tossed toward the rocks, and keep a stout leader rigged. Top lures remain smaller swimbaits, 1 to 2 ounces, in motor oil or root beer color.
Fly anglers working estuaries like Nestucca Bay have reported solid cutthroat trout action using soft hackle nymphs and olive woolly buggers. October caddis are starting to show, so bigger orange dries could start drawing topwater eats soon—look for that bite to pick up as nights get cooler.
For the best current action, two hotspots stand out:
- **Depoe Bay reefs:** Just off the heads are proven for both lings and big black rockfish. Hit the slack before the tide turns for your best chance to avoid the current and work close to structure.
- **Nestucca Spit and the river mouth:** Early-morning tides have been seeing coho move in, and the outgoing tide offers solid perch and greenling fishing for those working the sand and rocks.
A reminder on regs: yelloweye and quillback rockfish must be released immediately, keep up with ODFW postings, and use descending devices for deep-caught rockfish to ensure survival.
Thanks for tuning in to this report. For the latest on conditions, check with your local harbor before heading out. Be safe, keep your lines tight, and remember—subscribe for more up-to-date fishing reports and tips from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Sunrise hit at 7:09 this morning, with sunset coming up at 7:02 tonight. Anglers headed out early got to take advantage of a mild high tide around 6:18 AM at Pacific City, peaking at 5.2 feet, followed by the low dropping close to midday. Water clarity improved after a brisk round of late-summer storms, and the wind has been light enough for comfort, but rough ocean conditions over the past couple days meant most folks targeted protected spots or waited for windows, according to Dockside Charters out of Depoe Bay.
Lingcod are the hot ticket—Dockside Charters just kicked off their new live bait Ling trips, and the boats have been stacking up quality keepers using sanddab for bait. Sanddabs are easy to jig up on the bottom, with three at a time not unusual, and they’re pure candy to big lings. Live bait’s been almost unbeatable, but those working jigs have had luck with large white swimbaits or chartreuse curly-tails bounced close to rocky structure. Remember that the Lingcod bag limit dropped to 2 per angler, minimum size 22 inches, just this past week. Rockfish bite has been fair; blues and blacks are always on tap, with an occasional canary sneaking into the bags—still, only one canary allowed as your sub-bag. Cabezon remains closed until July 1. Flatfish, especially sand sole and starry flounder, remain plentiful offshore, with a 25-fish bag limit keeping things interesting for bottom bouncers.
Halibut season is closed—both inshore and offshore quotas have wrapped until 2026, so keep to groundfish and salmon. Word from the local docks is that salmon fishing has been up and down. Most success came at first light, with coho outnumbering chinook, and best bites right at the tide switch. Anchovies or herring trolled behind short flashers got the nod, with hoochies in pink or purple landing bonus strikes. Spinners in chartreuse or copper are another local favorite.
This time of year, surf and jetty fishing can light up with incoming tides. Kelp greenling, striped perch, and even the occasional late-run searun cutthroat can be found near rocky outcroppings. Berley up with shrimp bits or clam necks, tossed toward the rocks, and keep a stout leader rigged. Top lures remain smaller swimbaits, 1 to 2 ounces, in motor oil or root beer color.
Fly anglers working estuaries like Nestucca Bay have reported solid cutthroat trout action using soft hackle nymphs and olive woolly buggers. October caddis are starting to show, so bigger orange dries could start drawing topwater eats soon—look for that bite to pick up as nights get cooler.
For the best current action, two hotspots stand out:
- **Depoe Bay reefs:** Just off the heads are proven for both lings and big black rockfish. Hit the slack before the tide turns for your best chance to avoid the current and work close to structure.
- **Nestucca Spit and the river mouth:** Early-morning tides have been seeing coho move in, and the outgoing tide offers solid perch and greenling fishing for those working the sand and rocks.
A reminder on regs: yelloweye and quillback rockfish must be released immediately, keep up with ODFW postings, and use descending devices for deep-caught rockfish to ensure survival.
Thanks for tuning in to this report. For the latest on conditions, check with your local harbor before heading out. Be safe, keep your lines tight, and remember—subscribe for more up-to-date fishing reports and tips from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.