Willamette River Sturgeon Fishing with Captain Ej
Private Trip
River Fishing
Guided sturgeon fishing on Portland's Willamette River with Captain Ej.Catch-and-release trips accommodate up to four guests maximum capacity.Half-day and full-day options available May through August season.
When you're looking for a world-class sturgeon fishing experience right in Portland's backyard, Captain Ej Snyder's Willamette River charters deliver the goods. Running May through August when these prehistoric giants are most active, these guided trips put you face-to-face with some of the Pacific Northwest's most impressive fish. Whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, Captain Ej's personalized approach and deep river knowledge create fishing memories that'll have you planning your next trip before you even get back to the dock.
Your day starts early at Fred's Marina with a 6:00 AM departure, giving you prime access to the best fishing windows when sturgeon are actively feeding. Captain Ej runs a tight ship with a maximum of four guests, ensuring everyone gets hands-on instruction and personal attention throughout the trip. You can choose your adventure based on your schedule and budget - half-day trips run up to 4 hours for $280 total (that's just $140 per person for two anglers), while full-day expeditions stretch up to 8 hours for $560 ($280 per person for two). The intimate group size means you're not fighting for rod time or struggling to hear instructions over a crowded boat. Captain Ej focuses on creating a safe, educational experience where every angler learns something new about reading the river, understanding sturgeon behavior, and perfecting their technique. This is strictly catch-and-release fishing, so you're participating in sustainable angling while still getting that rush of battling these powerful fish.
Sturgeon fishing on the Willamette requires specialized techniques that Captain Ej has dialed in over years of guiding these waters. You'll be using heavy-duty rods and reels capable of handling fish that can exceed 100 pounds, with circle hooks and strong leaders designed for catch-and-release success. The captain provides all the gear you need, from rods to tackle to bait. Sturgeon are bottom feeders, so you'll be learning anchor fishing techniques using weighted rigs that keep your bait in the strike zone near the river bottom. Captain Ej knows the productive holes, current breaks, and seasonal patterns that put you on fish consistently. The Willamette's unique flow characteristics and structure create perfect sturgeon habitat, with deep pools and gravel bars that concentrate these fish during their feeding periods. You'll master the art of feeling the subtle taps and pulls that signal a sturgeon pickup, then learn proper hookset timing and fish-fighting strategies that protect both you and the fish during the battle.
Green Sturgeon represent the more acrobatic side of Willamette River fishing, typically ranging from 3 to 6 feet in length with their distinctive olive-green coloration and prominent scutes running along their sides. These fish are incredibly athletic, often launching themselves clear out of the water during fights, creating heart-stopping moments that'll have you whooping and hollering. Green sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they split time between saltwater and freshwater, and when they're in the river system during summer months, they're aggressive feeders. What makes them special is their fighting style - they don't just pull like a deadweight, they dance, jump, and run, testing your skills and adrenaline levels. The best action typically happens from June through early August when water temperatures hit their sweet spot.
White Sturgeon are the true giants of the Willamette, with fish commonly reaching 6 to 8 feet and occasionally much larger. These are some of the largest freshwater fish in North America, and hooking into a big white sturgeon is like being connected to a submarine. They're known for their incredible strength and endurance, often taking long, powerful runs that can last several minutes. White sturgeon can live over 100 years, so the fish you're catching might have been swimming these waters since the early 1900s. Their prehistoric appearance, with rows of bony plates and a shark-like tail, makes every encounter feel like a trip back in time. They're most active during the cooler parts of the day, which is why those early morning starts pay off big time. The satisfaction of successfully landing, photographing, and releasing one of these magnificent fish creates memories that last a lifetime.
Captain Ej's Willamette River sturgeon charters offer something you won't find everywhere - a chance to target truly massive fish right in Portland's urban waters. The combination of expert guidance, top-notch equipment, and productive fishing grounds makes this a customer favorite among both locals and visiting anglers. With the season running only May through August, prime dates fill up quickly, especially weekend slots and peak summer weeks. The personalized attention you get with small group sizes means you're not just another face on a crowded charter boat - you're getting a customized fishing education from someone who knows these waters inside and out. Whether you choose the half-day option to get a taste of sturgeon fishing or commit to the full 8-hour adventure, you're investing in more than just a fishing trip. You're getting access to decades of local knowledge, professional-grade equipment, and the kind of hands-on instruction that turns good anglers into great ones. Book your Willamette River sturgeon charter today and discover why this top-rated Portland fishing experience keeps anglers coming back season after season.
Hit the Willamette River aboard our 2020 Alumaweld Blackhawk 180, a solid fishing platform built for chasing Portland's legendary sturgeon. This 18-foot aluminum hull cuts through river currents with ease, powered by twin 90 HP Yamaha engines that'll get you to the hot spots quickly. The boat's wide beam keeps things steady when you're fighting a big fish, and there's plenty of room for two anglers to work without getting tangled up. Our fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating sturgeon holding areas, while the GPS keeps us on the productive stretches of water. The built-in icebox keeps your drinks cold during those long battles with river monsters. Captain Ej knows exactly where these ancient fish like to hang out, and this boat gives us the mobility to follow the bite from Milwaukie down to the Columbia confluence. Whether you're a first-timer or seasoned angler, this rig handles the Willamette's changing conditions with confidence.
Acipenser MedirostrisGreen sturgeon are living fossils that've been around since dinosaur times. These prehistoric-looking fish average 4-6 feet but can hit 7 feet and 350 pounds. You'll find them in deeper holes along the Willamette, usually 15-30 feet down near rocky bottoms where they vacuum up crawfish, shrimp, and small fish with their sucker mouths. Best fishing runs May through August when they move upriver. What makes them special is that armor-plated skin, the olive green coloring with white racing stripes, and those whisker-like barbels they use to hunt. The fight is steady and strong - not crazy jumps but serious pulling power. Since they're protected, it's all catch-and-release, but landing one feels like connecting with ancient history. My tip: when you feel that gentle tap-tap-tap, don't set the hook yet. Let them mouth the bait for 30 seconds before you strike.
Acipenser TransmontanusWhite sturgeon are the giants of the Willamette - North America's largest freshwater fish. These monsters average 4-8 feet but can push 12 feet and over 1,000 pounds. They cruise deep channels and holes, typically 20-40 feet down, using those barbels under their pointed snouts to hunt along rocky bottoms. Peak season here is May through July when they're most active in our stretch of river. What draws people is the sheer size and that prehistoric feel - cartilage bones like sharks, bony plates instead of scales, and they can live 100+ years. The fight is legendary: long, powerful runs that'll test your gear and patience. They're vacuum feeders, sucking up salmon, herring, and squid. Here's the key trick most folks miss: when you feel that first gentle nibble, resist the urge to set the hook. They mouth bait for minutes before committing, so wait for that solid pull before you strike hard.
Portland, Oregon