Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Pacific Coast Fishing Report: Salmon Surge, Steelhead Stir, and Trout Temptation
Published 6 months, 1 week ago
Description
This is Artificial Lure with your Pacific Oregon coast fishing report for Friday, October 17, 2025.
Sunrise hit at 7:34 am with sunset set for 6:27 pm today, giving us a cool, crisp fall window for your casts. Tides on the central coast are prime for morning action—Newport’s first low tide rolled in at 4:12 am at 0.75 feet, topping out with a 7.5-foot high tide at 10:47 am. Expect falling water through midday and a moderate low arriving just before 5 pm. That tidal swing should move bait and stir things up for inshore species according to Tide-Forecast.com.
Weatherwise, it’s a mixed bag out there. According to the National Weather Service and Ocean Prediction Center, we’ve got a high pressure ridge sliding over offshore waters this morning, but keep an eye out for a cold front pressing through by tonight, bringing building surf and wind. Seas are rough offshore—some swells have been forecast over 12 feet. Plus, Tillamook County Pioneer has issued a beach hazard for sneaker waves from noon today through Sunday. If you’re on the jetty or surf, watch those incoming sets—safety first.
Fall Chinook are the big deal right now. The Northwest Zone Recreation Report from ODFW says salmon fishing is in full swing on the North Coast, especially in the bays—Nestucca, Tillamook, and Nehalem all have fish being caught consistently in tidewater, though numbers in the rivers are just starting to tick up with rain pushing some fresh fish in. Regulations are tightened—one wild fall Chinook limit per day, and do check for updates on wild coho retention days, which are Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 26.
Wild coho have been lively in Nehalem and Tillamook bays last week but slowed over the past weekend. There’s still solid opportunity as more fish trickle in, particularly on open harvest days. Summer steelhead are present in the Nestucca and Wilson rivers, with dropping water temps getting them more active and making for good drift-fishing.
For the inshore crew, trophy-sized trout (2–4 pounds) were recently stocked in local lakes like Cape Meares and Town Lake, and there’s still a mix of brook trout and cutthroat to be had if you want something different from the main bay scene.
Best lures and baits right now:
- For Chinook, trolled plug-cut herring, large spinners (chartreuse or copper blade), and Kwikfish with sardine wrap are money.
- Coho have been hitting on smaller spinners and Brad’s Super Baits trolled behind short flashers.
- Steelhead respond to soft beads, pink worms, and #4–#5 spinners, with drift bobbers working during lower light.
- In the lakes and for trout: PowerBait, natural-scented doughs, and small spoons are producing.
Hot spots this week:
- Tillamook Bay: Pulling in both kings and coho, especially around the Ghost Hole and Bay City areas.
- Nestucca Bay: Good catches reported near the mouth on a moving tide—look for Chinook close to the bar on the morning incoming tide.
- Cape Meares Lake: Recent trout stocking makes this a sleeper pick for the weekend if the wind blows you off the salt.
Despite those waves and shifting weather, fishing’s absolutely worth a go if you plan ahead and fish the tide changes. That last push of high water in the late morning is looking especially juicy for salmon. Remember, check those local regs and watch the beach conditions—safety comes first with rising surf and sneaker wave warnings.
That’s the scoop for today along the Pacific: salmon in the bays, steelhead getting feisty, and plenty of reasons to hit the water. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe and keep your line tight. 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
Sunrise hit at 7:34 am with sunset set for 6:27 pm today, giving us a cool, crisp fall window for your casts. Tides on the central coast are prime for morning action—Newport’s first low tide rolled in at 4:12 am at 0.75 feet, topping out with a 7.5-foot high tide at 10:47 am. Expect falling water through midday and a moderate low arriving just before 5 pm. That tidal swing should move bait and stir things up for inshore species according to Tide-Forecast.com.
Weatherwise, it’s a mixed bag out there. According to the National Weather Service and Ocean Prediction Center, we’ve got a high pressure ridge sliding over offshore waters this morning, but keep an eye out for a cold front pressing through by tonight, bringing building surf and wind. Seas are rough offshore—some swells have been forecast over 12 feet. Plus, Tillamook County Pioneer has issued a beach hazard for sneaker waves from noon today through Sunday. If you’re on the jetty or surf, watch those incoming sets—safety first.
Fall Chinook are the big deal right now. The Northwest Zone Recreation Report from ODFW says salmon fishing is in full swing on the North Coast, especially in the bays—Nestucca, Tillamook, and Nehalem all have fish being caught consistently in tidewater, though numbers in the rivers are just starting to tick up with rain pushing some fresh fish in. Regulations are tightened—one wild fall Chinook limit per day, and do check for updates on wild coho retention days, which are Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 26.
Wild coho have been lively in Nehalem and Tillamook bays last week but slowed over the past weekend. There’s still solid opportunity as more fish trickle in, particularly on open harvest days. Summer steelhead are present in the Nestucca and Wilson rivers, with dropping water temps getting them more active and making for good drift-fishing.
For the inshore crew, trophy-sized trout (2–4 pounds) were recently stocked in local lakes like Cape Meares and Town Lake, and there’s still a mix of brook trout and cutthroat to be had if you want something different from the main bay scene.
Best lures and baits right now:
- For Chinook, trolled plug-cut herring, large spinners (chartreuse or copper blade), and Kwikfish with sardine wrap are money.
- Coho have been hitting on smaller spinners and Brad’s Super Baits trolled behind short flashers.
- Steelhead respond to soft beads, pink worms, and #4–#5 spinners, with drift bobbers working during lower light.
- In the lakes and for trout: PowerBait, natural-scented doughs, and small spoons are producing.
Hot spots this week:
- Tillamook Bay: Pulling in both kings and coho, especially around the Ghost Hole and Bay City areas.
- Nestucca Bay: Good catches reported near the mouth on a moving tide—look for Chinook close to the bar on the morning incoming tide.
- Cape Meares Lake: Recent trout stocking makes this a sleeper pick for the weekend if the wind blows you off the salt.
Despite those waves and shifting weather, fishing’s absolutely worth a go if you plan ahead and fish the tide changes. That last push of high water in the late morning is looking especially juicy for salmon. Remember, check those local regs and watch the beach conditions—safety comes first with rising surf and sneaker wave warnings.
That’s the scoop for today along the Pacific: salmon in the bays, steelhead getting feisty, and plenty of reasons to hit the water. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe and keep your line tight. 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