Half Day Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing
Shared Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target coho and chinook salmon in worldclass Columbia River runsFish both river and Pacific Ocean waters in single tripSmall group experience with maximum 2 guests per charter
When it comes to world-class salmon fishing, few places can match the raw power and productivity of the Columbia River's Buoy 10 fishery. This half-day adventure puts you right in the heart of one of the Pacific Northwest's most legendary fishing grounds, where the mighty Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean. You'll be targeting both coho and chinook salmon as they stage up for their epic upstream journey. With just two anglers aboard, you get personalized attention and prime real estate at the rod holders. Fair warning though – Buoy 10 trips book up fast, so don't sleep on securing your dates.
The Buoy 10 fishery is where the Columbia River dumps into the Pacific, creating a unique mixing zone that salmon absolutely love. This isn't your typical river fishing – you're dealing with ocean swells, changing tides, and currents that can shift the bite from slow to red-hot in minutes. The area gets its name from the navigation buoy that marks this legendary fishing zone, and during peak season, you'll see boats from all over the region converging on these productive waters. Expect to start early – most successful trips launch at first light when the salmon are most active. The intimate two-person capacity means you won't be fighting for space or waiting your turn when the fish are biting. Weather can change quickly out here where river meets ocean, so come prepared for everything from calm mornings to choppy afternoon conditions.
Buoy 10 fishing is all about trolling with the right gear at the right depth. Your guide will have you rigged up with downriggers to get your offerings down into the strike zone, typically anywhere from 15 to 40 feet depending on where the fish are holding. The go-to setup usually involves flashers and hoochies, though cut-plug herring can be deadly when the salmon are being picky. You'll be running multiple lines at different depths until you dial in the pattern. The key is covering water and staying mobile – what worked yesterday might not work today, and your guide knows how to read the signs. Expect to use medium-heavy tackle that can handle both the smaller coho and the bruiser chinook that this area is famous for. The trolling speed is critical here, usually between 2.5 and 4 mph, and your guide will constantly adjust based on fish activity and current conditions.
The chinook salmon in these waters are absolute tanks, and catching one is like hooking into a freight train. These fish typically run anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds, with the occasional monster pushing 50-plus. They're built for the long haul upstream and fight accordingly – expect drag-screaming runs and powerful headshakes that'll test your gear and your nerves. Peak chinook action usually happens from mid-August through September when these bruisers are staging before their spawning run. What makes them special here is their incredible strength from feeding in the rich Pacific waters. They've been bulking up on anchovies, sardines, and krill, putting on the weight they'll need for their upstream journey.
Coho salmon bring a completely different game to the table – they're the acrobats of the salmon world. These silver bullets typically range from 8 to 15 pounds but make up for their smaller size with spectacular aerial displays. When a coho hits your line, get ready for jumps, tail walks, and high-speed runs that'll keep you on your toes. They're incredibly aggressive feeders during their ocean phase, which makes them prime targets for trolling. Coho fishing really fires up in late August and runs strong through September. What anglers love about these fish is their unpredictability – you never know if that screaming reel means a coho is about to launch three feet out of the water or peel line on a blistering surface run.
The Buoy 10 season is short but sweet, and this half-day format gives you the perfect taste of what makes this fishery so special. You're getting access to some of the most productive salmon water on the West Coast with a guide who knows every current break, structure, and holding area that matters. The two-angler limit means you're not just another face in the crowd – you're getting the full attention and local knowledge that can make the difference between a good day and an epic one. Remember, successful Buoy 10 trips book months in advance, especially during peak season. Don't wait until the last minute to secure your spot on these legendary waters where the Columbia River's salmon runs converge for one of nature's most impressive spectacles.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKings are the heavyweights of salmon fishing here on the Columbia. These bruisers typically run 15-30 pounds, with some monsters pushing 40+. They've got that distinctive black mouth and gums, plus silver sides with dark spots scattered across their backs and tails. What makes targeting them so rewarding isn't just their size - it's the way they fight deep and strong, using that bulk to their advantage. Kings like to stay down in the water column, especially during bright conditions, so we'll be running weighted gear to get down where they're holding. The meat is rich and buttery, that classic salmon orange color that tastes as good as it looks. Pro tip: when you hook into one, keep steady pressure but don't horse them - let that fish tire itself out on those initial runs.
Oncorhynchus KisutchSilver salmon bring the acrobatics to our Buoy 10 trips. These athletic fish average 8-12 pounds and are absolute rockets when hooked - they'll jump clear out of the water and put on a show that gets everyone on the boat excited. Coho have that classic silver look with dark blue-green backs and just a few black spots on their tails. They're more willing to come up in the water column than kings, making them great targets for various techniques. The fight is what really sets them apart - they're scrappy and unpredictable, changing direction and going airborne when you least expect it. Their bright orange meat is top-shelf eating too. Here's a local trick: when a coho jumps, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward the water. It keeps tension on but gives them slack during the jump so they can't throw the hook.
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