Pacific Ocean Oregon Fishing Report for April 23, 2025
This is Artificial Lure with your latest on-the-water update for the Oregon coast and surrounding Pacific. These last few days have treated anglers to mild spring conditions, some solid catches, and good access to the water.
Weather and Tides:
Today we’re seeing mostly clear skies with comfortable highs reaching around 56 degrees. Offshore winds are light for now, though it’s always smart to check the latest marine forecast before launching. Sunrise was at 6:42 AM and sunset will be at 7:44 PM. The tides in Newport are as follows: high tide at 6:57 AM with 9 feet, low tide at 12:47 PM dipping to minus 1.2 feet, then another high at 7:35 PM with 7.4 feet. Those swinging tides are prime times for some hot bite windows, especially for bottomfish and surfperch[5].
Fish Activity and Recent Catches:
Rockfish are the star of the show right now. Anglers in Depoe Bay and Newport are reporting near limits of black, deacon, yellowtail, and copper rockfish. Kelp greenling and a few blue rockfish have also been mixed in. Lingcod has slowed a bit compared to last month, but a handful of nice fish are still coming in when the tide is moving. Offshore, expect about three rockfish per angler, with folks near Brookings reporting similar results. Halibut season is still closed, so most bottomfish action is focused on reefs and rocky areas[5][4].
Chinook salmon season remains open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain until May 15, though the catch rates have been spotty, likely due to slow ocean conditions this past week. Newport recorded the highest Chinook catch rate along the coast, with about half a Chinook per angler for those putting in the time. Remember, minimum size for Chinook is 24 inches and you’re limited to two salmon per day, with no coho retention right now[2][3]. Surfperch have been active on sandy stretches, and there have also been promising reports from the herring run earlier this month, though most herring have now moved on[1][2].
Best Lures and Bait:
For rockfish and lingcod, swimbaits, large curly-tail grubs, and metal jigs in white or chartreuse are always solid choices. Tip your jigs with herring or squid strips for extra action. Salmon anglers should stick with anchovy or herring behind a flasher, or go traditional with a hoochie-and-flasher setup. For surfperch, sand shrimp and Gulp! sandworms fished on a basic surf rig have been the most productive.
Hot Spots:
Depoe Bay and Newport head boats are reporting the most consistent rockfish action, especially in 60 to 120 feet of water. The reefs near Boiler Bay are well worth hitting for bottom dwellers. For salmon, stick to waters off Newport and between Cape Foulweather and Seal Rock for your best chance at a spring Chinook. For shore-based anglers, Beverly Beach and South Beach are producing surfperch on the afternoon incoming tide[5][4].
That’s the scene for today. Now’s a great time to get out before the spring crowds hit. Good luck and tight lines from Artificial Lure.
