Fishing report for 

August 26-September 1

Salmon season ends – in-river coho season approved

Fishermen who were sweating bullets last week worrying about high winds ruining the Slam’n Salmon Derby can now breathe a sigh of relief. A change in the forecast of the National Weather Service is now predicting abating winds and progressively calmer seas for this weekend.

Saturday is predicted to have NNE winds between 6 and 11 knots, becoming 5 knots or less in the afternoon, while Sunday’s weather is looking even more promising, with variable winds of 5 knots or less, a great day for ending up the final day of the derby. Labor Day’s weather should be about the same as Sunday, possibly even calmer.

As a result, almost everyone should be able to troll the big pond outside the jetty jaws of the Chetco.

Ray Weatherford and Maili Smithson clocked these Pacific halibut last week while fishing out of the Port of Brookings. The Pilot/Larry Ellis

Don’t forget that the ocean salmon season from the California/Oregon border to Humbug Mountain will come to a close one hour after sunset on Labor Day, September 5.

For a change of pace – troll for bottomfish

Bottomfishing was on the slow side last week for just about everyone, most likely due to the extreme high and minus tides coinciding with the new moon. Large tidal exchanges are also being predicted this week as well, but with ideal weather conditions and a first quarter moon, anglers should be able to bring plenty of lingcod and rockfish fillets home for the clan.

I fished one day last week with a good friend and we nearly limited out on the bottom-grabbers by trolling 2-ounce jig heads with 6-inch white twister-tail worms. Trolling for rockfish is a very effective technique and a lot of fun as well.

It’s also a good light-tackle technique. You’ll want to troll as slow as you can, working your rigs around wash rocks and just outside the kelp beds.

Non-selective ocean coho season opens north of Humbug

For anglers willing to tow their boats a few extra miles north of Humbug Mountain, an exciting new coho fishery awaits you. The non-selective ocean coho fishery began on Sept. 1. Anglers who fished the opening day were rewarded with some hefty coho salmon.

The fishery takes place from Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon. A non-selective coho fishery simply means that you can catch and retain either a wild or a hatchery coho in the ocean.

“They’re doing very well,” said Eric Schindler, Ocean Salmon project leader for ODFW. “I wandered over here at the docks (Newport) for a couple hours and I was looking at some pretty good catch rates.”

The hatchery fish on opening day appeared to be between 12 and 14 pounds while the wild coho were a little smaller, although it would be premature to draw any conclusions based on the opening day for the rest of the season.

This fishery lasts seven days a week from Sept. 1-10 or until the quota of 5,900 silvers is attained. 

NOAA approves in-river wild coho fisheries

NEWSFLASH!!! For the first time in several decades, anglers will be able to fish for wild coho in 14 streams and 10 bays from the Nehalem River down to the Coquille River, based on a separate quota for each river system.

The season will last from September 15 through November 30 or until each river’s wild coho quota is attained.

The rivers, bays and quotas are:

The Nehalem River and bay – 1,200 wild coho; Tillamook Bay and its five rivers – 600 wild coho; Nestucca River and bay – 200 wild coho; Siletz River and bay – 700 wild coho; Yaquina River and bay – 575 wild coho; Alsea River and bay – 675 wild coho; Siuslaw River and bay – 900 wild coho; Umpqua River and bay – 1,300 wild coho; Coos River and bay – 1,200 wild coho; and the Coquille River and bay – 825 wild coho.

The fisheries were approved by NOAA on Aug. 24.

Many of these quotas are going to go fast, so if you’ve never caught a 15- to 20-pound coho that has more energy than a steelhead on steroids, now is the time to start planning your trip. I plan on hitting several rivers on the coast for this rare opportunity. How about you?

Rogue River derby

Thousands of dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded in the second annual CAF Indian Creek Salmon Hatchery Derby which will be taking place in the lower Rogue River and bay from September 6-10. Fishing will be allowed in sections 225 or 226.

“The derby is designed as a blind-bogey tournament,” said Jim Carey from the Rogue Outdoor Store in Gold Beach. “It’s a designated-weight winner. The weight is drawn secretly prior to the tournament, and that weight is then kept secret until the unveiling at the ceremony.”

The one-time $25 entry fee is good for as many days as an angler chooses to fish and all persons in the boat must be entered in order to qualify for the derby.

First place will be $500 in cash and $500 in prizes. Second place is $250 in cash and $250 in prizes; third place is $125 in cash and $125 in prizes.

Weigh-in is between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Fishermen Direct Seafood located in the Cannery building at the Port of Gold Beach. Weigh-in on Saturday is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded at the ceremony on Saturday.

Tickets are available at Five Star Charters, the Gold Beach Visitor’s Center, Jot’s Resort, Lex’s Landing and the Rogue Outdoor Store.

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The lower Rogue River and bay experienced some excellent fall Chinook days last week. John Anderson (memorymakersrogueriverguideservice.com) had a five-fish day on Wednesday and was off the water by 10:35.

“I’m averaging at least a fish or more per person, and I’ve been getting at least one over 30 pounds every day,” said Anderson.

Don’t forget that September is a good month to latch into one of the Rogue’s famed hawgs. If you’re serious about catching a fall Chinook, I strongly urge hooking up with an experienced guide like Anderson, who also cooks a delicious breakfast as well.

Tight lines!