Tillamook Combo Bottom Fishing and Crabbing
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
7-9 hour combo trip targets bottom fish and crabCaptain provides all gear for up to six guestsMorning departure at 6 AM for optimal conditions
When you want to fill the cooler and make memories that stick, this combo trip delivers exactly what serious anglers are looking for. Pro Fish Guide's 7-9 hour adventure combines the best of Oregon's coastal fishing with hands-on crabbing action, giving your crew of up to six people plenty of time to work the water right. Starting at 6 AM, you'll beat the crowds and catch the morning bite when fish are most active and the water's still cooperative. Your captain knows exactly where the productive structure holds fish like Lingcod and Rockfish, plus you'll be pulling crab pots throughout the day for a seafood haul that'll make your neighbors jealous.
This isn't your typical half-day rush job - you've got real time to fish properly and enjoy the process. The morning departure gets you out while conditions are typically calmer, which means more comfortable fishing and better access to the spots that produce. Your captain will position the boat over structure where bottom fish congregate, and you'll drop lines using the provided gear to target species that fight hard and taste even better. The crabbing portion breaks up the day nicely, giving everyone a chance to get hands-on with checking pots and sorting through your catch. There's something satisfying about pulling up a pot full of keepers that adds a different kind of excitement to the day. With no meal service, you'll want to pack snacks and drinks to keep your energy up during the long day on the water, plus layered clothing since morning starts can be chilly even when afternoon temps warm up.
Bottom fishing around Tillamook means working structure where fish hold tight to rocks, ledges, and underwater features that provide cover and food sources. Your captain will supply all the terminal tackle and rods you need, rigged specifically for the depths and species you're targeting. Expect to use heavier weights to get your bait down and keep it in the strike zone, with techniques focusing on presenting natural baits near the bottom where Lingcod and Rockfish feed. The crabbing side involves checking pre-set pots that have been soaking, giving crabs time to find the bait and get trapped inside. You'll learn to identify legal-sized keepers, handle crabs safely, and understand the regulations that keep this fishery sustainable. The combination keeps things interesting throughout the long day, switching between active fishing and the anticipation of checking pots to see what's waiting inside.
Lingcod are the prize fighters of Oregon's bottom fishing scene, with their massive mouths and aggressive strikes making every hookup memorable. These ambush predators can reach impressive sizes, often weighing 10-20 pounds with larger specimens pushing even bigger numbers. They hold tight to rocky structure and strike hard when the right bait passes by, giving you a solid fight on the way up. Spring through fall offers the best action, with fish actively feeding and more willing to bite. What makes Lingcod special is their pure aggression - they'll hit bait, lures, even other fish you're reeling up, making them one of the most exciting bottom species to target.
Chinook Salmon represent the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest fishing, with their powerful runs and incredible table fare making them the most sought-after species in these waters. When you hook into a mature Chinook, you'll know immediately from the heavy headshakes and long runs that strip line off your reel. These fish can range from smaller residents around 8-12 pounds up to massive ocean-bright specimens exceeding 30 pounds during peak runs. The best action typically happens during spring and fall migrations, when fish are moving through coastal waters in good numbers. Chinook fight like they mean it, using their size and strength to test your drag system and technique throughout the battle.
Pacific Halibut are the barn doors of the bottom fishing world, with their flat profile and incredible size potential making every bite a potential trophy. These bottom dwellers can live for decades and reach weights that'll have you questioning your back-lifting technique, with fish over 100 pounds caught regularly in Oregon waters. Summer months typically provide the most consistent action, when Halibut move into shallower feeding areas and become more active. What makes Halibut fishing special is the surprise factor - you never know if that thump on the bottom is a 15-pound chicken or a 50-pound beast that'll give you a workout you won't forget.
Black Sea Bass offer consistent action and excellent eating, with their schooling behavior often providing multiple hookups once you locate a group. These fish typically run 2-5 pounds, making them perfect for lighter tackle and steady action throughout the day. They hold around rocky areas and structure, feeding actively during daylight hours when visibility allows them to hunt effectively. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, when warmer water temperatures bring better feeding activity. Black Sea Bass are perfect for keeping the action going between shots at larger species, and their mild, flaky meat makes them a favorite for the dinner table.
Black Rockfish round out the mix with their reliable presence around structure and willingness to bite when conditions are right. These fish typically range from 1-3 pounds, providing steady action and filling out the cooler nicely when larger species are being finicky. They school around rocky areas and underwater structure, often holding in the same spots year after year. Black Rockfish are available most of the year, with spring and summer offering the most consistent fishing as they move into shallower feeding areas. While they may not provide the trophy potential of Lingcod or Halibut, their consistent bites keep rods bent and spirits high when the fishing gets tough.
This combo trip gives you the complete Oregon coastal fishing experience in one well-planned day, combining bottom fishing action with crabbing success for a cooler full of fresh seafood. With only six spots available, you're getting personalized attention from your captain and plenty of
Your day on the Tillamook waters starts aboard a sturdy 32' Defiance sportfisher designed to handle Oregon's coastal conditions with ease. This well-equipped boat comfortably accommodates up to six anglers and comes loaded with everything you need for productive bottom fishing and crabbing. The spacious deck gives everyone room to work while the fish finder helps locate those rocky structures where lingcod and rockfish like to hide. When it's time to check crab pots, the open layout makes it easy to sort your catch together. Modern conveniences include GPS navigation, radar for those foggy morning starts, an icebox to keep your drinks cold and catch fresh, plus an onboard toilet so you can stay focused on fishing all day. The boat's stable design keeps you comfortable whether you're dropping lines on productive bottom structure or hauling in crab pots loaded with fresh Dungeness.
Sebastes MelanopsBlack rockfish are aggressive feeders that make our bottom fishing trips productive and fun. These dark, bass-shaped fish typically run 2-5 pounds and live around rocky reefs, jetties, and structure from 30-200 feet deep. They're available year-round, but spring through fall gives you the most consistent action when they're actively hunting. What guests appreciate is how willing they are to bite - they'll hit jigs, bait, pretty much anything that looks like food. The meat is solid too, with a mild, flaky texture that's great eating. Fair warning though - those dorsal spines are mildly venomous, so handle them carefully. They often school with other rockfish species, so when you find one, there's usually more below. My trick is to use a sensitive rod tip - these fish can be subtle biters despite their aggressive reputation.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are scrappy little fighters that punch above their weight class. Most run 1-4 pounds, but they're built thick and stubborn, making every hookup feel bigger than it is. You'll find them around structure - wrecks, rocky bottom, and jetties - usually in 30-120 feet of water. Late spring through summer is prime time when they gather close to shore to feed and spawn. What guests love about these fish is how willing they are to bite and how good they taste - sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're curious fish that'll hit almost anything you drop down, from jigs to cut bait. Here's the thing most people don't know: the bigger fish are usually the males, and during spawning season they turn bright blue with a pronounced hump on their heads. Use a two-hook rig with squid strips for consistent action.
Oncorhynchus TshawytschaKing salmon are the heavyweight champions of the salmon world, averaging 15-25 pounds with some monsters pushing 40+ pounds. These silver-sided beauties with black-spotted fins are built for power and put up fights that'll test your gear. They're most active in our waters during spring and early summer runs, preferring cooler temperatures and deeper channels. What makes them special isn't just the battle - the rich, orange-pink meat is absolutely premium table fare. We target them early morning when they're feeding near the surface, though they'll dive deep when the sun gets bright. Unlike bottom fish, these are constantly moving, following bait schools and current breaks. My go-to trick is keeping your bait moving naturally with the current - dead-drifting herring or anchovies often triggers strikes when nothing else works.
Ophiodon ElongatusThese gnarly-looking predators are some of the most aggressive fish you'll find in our waters. Lingcod typically run 8-15 pounds, though we see plenty of 20+ pounders hiding in the rocky structure between 30-200 feet. Despite their name, they're actually greenlings with massive heads, razor-sharp teeth, and mottled coloring that helps them ambush prey. They're territorial homebodies that would rather fight than flee, making them exciting to hook but surprisingly easy to land once you pull them off the bottom. The meat is excellent - firm, white, and mild. They bite year-round, but spring through fall gives you the best action when they're actively feeding. Pro tip: once you hook one, reel steady and fast to get them away from the rocks before they can wrap you up in their lair.
Hippoglossus StenolepisPacific halibut are the barn doors of the Pacific - these massive flatfish can stretch over 6 feet and weigh 100+ pounds, though most we catch run 20-50 pounds. They're bottom huggers living in 150-400 feet, using their diamond-shaped bodies to blend into sandy and muddy floors near rocky structure. Summer months are prime time when they move into shallower feeding areas and become more active. What draws people to halibut fishing is the pure size potential - you never know if the next bite is a "chicken" or a true giant. The meat is fantastic too - firm, white, and sweet. These fish are patient hunters, so expect a waiting game. They use scent more than sight in deeper water, so fresh bait like salmon heads or herring works best. Keep your bait moving occasionally to create some action.
Tillamook, OR