Good morning from the Oregon Coast, this is Artificial Lure with your April 19, 2025, Pacific Ocean fishing report.
Sunrise this morning is at 6:25 am, and sunset comes at 8:02 pm, giving us a nice, long spring day to chase fish. Weather is shaping up to be classic coastal spring—expect mixed clouds with some sunbreaks, breezy at times, with temps in the mid-50s. The ocean has calmed after a wet winter, and swell is moderate, making this a good window to get out if you can.
Tides are running at a moderate pace today, with a morning incoming that peaks late morning before a decent afternoon ebb. That’s prime time for both boat and jetty anglers. Fish tend to bite better a couple hours before and after the high slack, so plan your efforts around those swings.
There’s solid action up and down the coast, especially after the stormy stretch we had earlier this month. Out of Newport, Depoe Bay, Charleston, and Brookings, ocean Chinook salmon fishing is open and producing. Newport reported the hottest action this week with about 1.2 Chinook per angler. Coho season opens later, but ocean-caught coho will start showing in mixed bags soon. Remember, no wild coho retention until the season officially opens, so check your clips and regs before hitting the ramp[1][2][4].
Lingcod and rockfish fishing has been fantastic. Brookings boats and charters have been finding full limits of lingcod, with the best action on rocky reefs and jetties. Black rockfish, canary, and copper rockfish are also filling coolers, especially when the ocean lays down enough for boats to reach the reefs[2].
For salmon, anchovy-wrapped flashers and hoochies are the go-to lures. Herring trolls are also working well, especially close to the beach on the morning tide. When it comes to rockfish and lingcod, try large curly-tail grubs, swimbaits, or leadhead jigs in white, blue, or motor oil colors. Bait-wise, nothing beats fresh squid or herring strips, but plastics are catching plenty right now too[2].
A couple of local hot spots worth checking today: The reefs off Depoe Bay are producing easy limits of rockfish and lingcod, while the waters offshore of Newport are leading the pack for Chinook salmon. Down south, Brookings is a sure bet for both eager king salmon and lings. If you’re shore-bound, both the South Jetty at Newport and Chetco Point in Brookings are good bets for a mix of rockfish, greenling, and the occasional lingcod.
That’s the word for today—decent weather, active fish, and lots of chances for a mixed bag. Tight lines and see you on the water.