Willamette River Sturgeon Fishing Charter
Private Trip
River Fishing
Target sturgeon on Willamette River with expert Captain Ej Snyder guidance.Fullday and halfday charters available May through July seasons.All equipment, licensing, and safety gear included for complete experience.
Captain Ej Snyder knows the Willamette River like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on some serious sturgeon action right here in Portland. From May through July, when these ancient fish are most active, you'll experience some of the best sturgeon fishing the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Whether you're a complete rookie or you've been working these waters for years, this charter delivers the kind of hands-on learning and river knowledge that makes all the difference between going home empty-handed and landing the fish of a lifetime.
Your day starts early at Fred's Marina with a 6:00 AM departure – trust me, the early bird catches the sturgeon. Captain Ej runs a tight ship with a maximum of four guests, so you're getting personalized attention, not the cattle-boat experience you'll find elsewhere. Choose between a half-day trip (up to 4 hours, perfect for testing the waters at $140 per person) or go all-in with a full 8-hour adventure for $280 per person. The Willamette's sturgeon grounds are surprisingly close to downtown Portland, so you'll spend more time with lines in the water and less time burning fuel to reach the fishing grounds. Captain Ej handles all the licensing headaches and safety requirements, plus he's got the local river knowledge that separates the weekend warriors from the guys who consistently put fish in the boat. These trips focus on technique, learning, and giving you the skills to become a better angler – not just getting lucky for a day.
Sturgeon fishing is all about patience, proper presentation, and reading the river's mood. Captain Ej specializes in bottom fishing techniques using heavy tackle that can handle these prehistoric giants – we're talking rods with serious backbone and reels loaded with heavy braid. The key is getting your bait down to where sturgeon cruise along the bottom, using enough weight to stay put in the Willamette's current while still detecting those subtle bites. Fresh bait is crucial, and Captain Ej knows exactly what these fish want and when they want it. He'll teach you how to feel the difference between a sturgeon mouthing your bait and just river debris, plus the proper technique for setting the hook on fish that can easily top 6 feet. The Willamette has plenty of structure and depth changes that hold fish, and Captain Ej's GPS marks from years of fishing these waters mean you're always fishing the most productive spots. You'll learn anchor positioning, bait presentation, and how to read the electronics – skills that'll make you a better angler long after your trip ends.
White Sturgeon are the main attraction on these Willamette River charters, and for good reason – these are some of the largest freshwater fish you can target in North America. White sturgeon are true river monsters that can live over 100 years and reach lengths of 12 feet or more, though the fish you'll encounter typically range from 3 to 8 feet. They're bottom feeders with an incredible sense of smell, using their barbels to locate food along the river floor. May through July is prime time because water temperatures are perfect and these fish are actively feeding after their spawning period. What makes white sturgeon so exciting to catch is their raw power – when a big sturgeon decides it doesn't want to come to the boat, you're in for a serious battle that can last 20 minutes or more. They're prehistoric survivors that have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years, making every encounter feel like you're connecting with ancient history. Remember, all sturgeon are catch-and-release only, so you're fishing for the experience and bragging rights, not the dinner table.
Green Sturgeon also call the Willamette home, though they're less common than their white cousins. These fish are typically smaller than white sturgeon, usually ranging from 3 to 5 feet, but they're scrappy fighters that make up for size with attitude. Green sturgeon have a more pointed snout and distinctive scutes (bony plates) running along their body, making them easy to identify once you know what to look for. They prefer slightly different habitat than white sturgeon, often hanging around rockier areas and faster current breaks. Green sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they split time between freshwater and saltwater, so the ones you'll encounter in the Willamette are often fish that have traveled hundreds of miles from the ocean. They're listed as a threatened species, making every catch even more special – you're interacting with fish that conservation efforts are working hard to protect. Captain Ej has the experience to target areas where green sturgeon are most likely to be found, and he'll help you identify the species so you know exactly what you've caught.
Portland's sturgeon season is short but sweet, and Captain Ej's calendar fills up fast once word gets out about the bite. This isn't your typical tourist fishing trip – it's a world-class fishing experience that happens to be right in your backyard. The Willamette River sturgeon fishery is one of the top-rated urban fishing opportunities in the country, and you're getting access to it with a captain who's spent years mastering these waters. Whether you book the half-day to get your feet wet or commit to the full 8-hour experience, you're investing in more than just a fishing trip – you're gaining skills, knowledge, and memories that'll last long after the season ends. Plus, with Chinook salmon limits following ODFW regulations (two per person per day), you might just double up on species during your trip. Don't let another season slip by wondering what you missed out there – give Captain Ej a call and get your name on the boat for some of the best fishing Oregon has to offer.
Our 2020 Alumaweld Blackhawk 180 cuts through the Willamette River's currents with confidence, powered by twin 90 HP Yamaha engines that get us to the best sturgeon holes quickly. This 18-foot aluminum boat handles Portland's river conditions like a champ, staying stable when those massive fish start pulling drag. The spacious layout gives you plenty of room to fight fish without bumping elbows, while the built-in fish finder helps us locate sturgeon hiding in the deeper channels. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold during those long summer days on the water. With comfortable seating for up to 5 anglers and GPS navigation to mark productive spots, this boat is built for serious sturgeon fishing. The shallow draft design lets us access areas bigger boats can't reach, putting you right where the big fish are feeding.
Acipenser MedirostrisGreen sturgeon are true living fossils - they've been around since dinosaur times and can live up to 70 years. These olive-green beauties with distinctive white side stripes typically run 4-6 feet in the Willamette, though monsters over 7 feet exist. They're bottom feeders with vacuum-like mouths, using barbels to feel around for shrimp, crabs, and small fish in deeper holes and current breaks. Our May through July season hits their spawning migration perfectly when they move up from the ocean. What makes them special is the fight - pure raw power combined with their prehistoric presence. All green sturgeon are catch-and-release since populations are critically low. My tip: when you feel that gentle tap, don't set the hook right away. Let them mouth the bait for a few seconds, then lift firmly. They're surprisingly delicate biters for such powerful fish.
Acipenser TransmontanusWhite sturgeon are North America's largest freshwater fish and the real prize of the Willamette. These giants typically range 3-8 feet but can reach massive sizes - the record was over 12 feet and 1,100 pounds. They're bottom dwellers with armor-like scutes instead of scales, using their barbels to hunt in deeper pools and along current edges. Spring through early summer is prime time when they migrate from the ocean to spawn. What draws anglers is the combination of size, strength, and that prehistoric feel - plus they're actually quite good eating when legal to keep. The tricky part is their bite - they're gentle nibblers despite their size. Here's the key: when you feel that first soft tap, resist the urge to set immediately. Keep steady pressure and wait for a solid pull before driving the hook home. Patience wins with these ancient warriors.
Portland, Oregon