Tillamook Bay and the nearby Pacific Ocean offer a variety of fishing, including bottom fish such as lingcod, halibut, perch and sea bass.
But Tillamook Bay itself is best known for the huge king salmon that it will offer in the fall, especially in September and October.
Tillamook Bay Guided Salmon Fishing
Tillamook Bay has five rivers that feed into it: The Wilson, Miami, Kilchis, Trask, and Tillamook rivers. Each of those has Chinook salmon runs along with some coho and chum salmon.
As an experienced Tillamook Bay fishing charter, I usually start my guided fishing trips here in October for Chinook salmon and coho salmon. (October also happens to be an incredible time to go crabbing in Tillamook Bay, so I offer salmon-crab combo trips.)
I will fish inside the bay at what is widely known as the Ghost Hole. This is an area located right alongside Highway 101 near the town of Garibaldi, Another one of my favorite places to fish is right along the jetties by the Coast Guard tower, which is where Tillamook Bay leads into the ocean.
When the ocean allows, we will cross the Tillamook Bay Bar and fish in what’s known as a bubble zone, right out front of the bay.
I also like to drop my crab pots in the ocean when conditions are good. But if you’re not a big ocean fan, I suggest going over to what the locals call Crab Harbor and dropping our crab pots there.
It is very common in September and October to catch a Chinook salmon over 20 pounds, with some potentially much larger!
In addition to Chinook, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will allow anglers fishing inside the bay to keep a single wild coho on Wednesdays and Saturdays for part of September and October. Let me know if that’s of interest and we’ll try to find a good date for you.
The main marina to use when finishing Tillamook Bay is the Garibaldi Marina, located in Garibaldi, Oregon.
Hotels in Garibaldi
When salmon fishing in Tillamook Bay, I would suggest booking a hotel in Garibaldi. Here are some good options:
Garibaldi Inn at the Bay: 227 Garibaldi Ave Garibaldi, OR 97118. Phone: 503-322-2552
Harborview Inn & RV Park: 302 S 7th St Garibaldi, OR 97118. Phone: 503-322-3251
The Hotel Garibaldi: 502 Garibaldi Ave Garibaldi OR 97118. Phone: 503-322-3338
Tillamook Bay salmon fishing with Marvin’s Guide Service.
Last Updated on by Marv
