Coos Bay Tuna

[Back-Breaker]

Seems like the best tuna bet the next week for us northern Cal types is traveling up to Coos Bay. I have't fished Charleston yet, so for those of you who have, here's a few questions..

Launch: sounds like the launch is top grade, is there usually a lineup and if so, can I put the boat in a slip overnight?

The Bar: what's it like in and out? Do buoys mark the main channel? Do waves stack up? I suspect we'll be leaving at gray light.

Hotels: Any hotel recommendations that are conveniently located by the launch?

Tuna fleet: Hopefully others are thinking the same way, anyone care to convoy?

The forecast looks pretty good for Sunday and Monday, but I am waiting until I see a forecast further into the week before I choose a day. I need to make the most of the one day we have to fish. Thanks in advance.... Jim

[Waytogo]

I fish out of Winchester Bay and last I heard the tuna were 70+ miles out of charleston.Weather looks good for Sun.& Mon I may pull my boat to Depoe as I hear they are within 50 Mi. there and better temp breaks.---Mike----waytogo

[Back-Breaker]

70+?? Ouch!! Is that a recent report (commercial boats)? The temp break at 30 looks pretty good Bandon to Coos Bay...

[exgamey]

Stay at Charleston at the mouth of Coos Bay and fish out of there all summer so will attempt to answer your questions. Charleston has a very good launch ramp that was rebuilt this past winter. There is seldom a line and moorage is available. The Coos Bay bar is possibly the best on the Oregon coast; deep, wide, and well marked. If the ocean is decent you can usually expect the bar to be in good shape. Be sure that as you leave the basin area that you proceed north to the turn buoy before heading out into the main channel. There is one motel at Charleston, Capt. John's.

We have had a solid week of fog and wind here. The ocean is currently going wild. On the ebb this morning the bar was closed to 40' and under. Looks as tho the warm water is quite a ways out. Will be happy to even get a salmon day this weekend. The forecast does sound better.

[tailchaser]

No, the tuna are not 70+, more like 30+ right now as per the SST's. It was really close a week and a half ago, less than 20, but is still within reach of the fleet. If it came from a commy, I never trust what they have to say when it comes to miles and tuna. They rely on sport boats NOT catching tuna so they will buy them from the boat instead.

The launch facilities are very good and not usually more than a 5 minute wait at the longest. The tuna fleet usually takes off around daylight and there has been quite a few logs in the water lately, so most people are being careful about daylight before making the trip across the bar. The jetty is faced SW, so when there's a NW swell, stick to the Nothern side of the channel and jump out NW when crossing the bar. You'll be outside of the bar slop in 30 seconds that way. By the looks of it, we'll probably be making runs again soon as long as the weather cooperates.

tc

[Back-Breaker]

Thanks for the response Tailchaser, very helpful. What VHF channel do the locals use for tuna chatter?

[SlimPickens]

Commercial boat last weekend selling tuna there said he got them 90 miles out-- but who knows considering tailchaser's insight....

Slim

[Deeman]

The water is right at thirty miles south west. basically straight off bandon. A good sharp break from cold to warm

[Lepper]

there's always the bandon bar.. :smile:


d

[Deeman]

NEVER again!!!!!!!! :shocked: well maybe once more. But only if it was at high slack, and no breakers, and daylight, and not foggy, and I had time to actully look at it before hand, and my crew wasnt guys who scream like little girls when a tiny bit of water rolls up to the windshield and the tuna were at 20 miles. Then maybe I might do it again. But on the other hand 44 tuna verses nightmares for a month I might just do it all again anyway

[Back-Breaker]

I've heard of the bar and shallow depths (15 feet at mean?), but Bandon seems awful tempting right now, especially for those of us coming up from the south. A good 10 miles shorter boat ride each way than Coos Bay unless the plume moves.

The forecast for Monday seems sweet: 3 foot swell and good tides for getting in and out.

M 31 High 4:21 AM 5.0
31 Low 10:25 AM 1.3
31 High 4:59 PM 6.1
31 Low 11:33 PM 1.6

Is one side better than the other (north/south) for getting in and out? Hope we have a fleet hitting that water, Monday. I can be reached on my cell at 707-845-6320, or on the VHF once I know the tuna channel.

Jim on the Back-Breaker, 22 foot Outrage

[Deeman]

Back-Breaker, the bar is certainly doable. As I alluded to, my first time was on a strong ebb in the dark and it was humped up and foaming. Not fun at all. The channel is just south of center do NOT go north of center. There is a slight north turn to be made just outside. The launch is very shallow, we had to pull the boat from the launch dock across to the crab dock and should have walked it out to the end. I would recommend this tactic. The conditions at the bar can change faster than most and when its bad its really bad. For your first time I would wait until I could put eyes on it before crossing. Coos Bay is a cake walk. Its worth the extra ten miles to me. By the way we have seen crab pots in over 350 feet of water out there this year so keep your eyes open longer than usual. My boat is in the shop until tuesday so I cant make it. Channel 19 is popular but there is not one channel for the tuna boats I know of.

[Onokai]

I'm going to miss that run -as work /vacation trip is soon on horizon.
Lepper can cine in about the Bandon spec's as he has seen that bar more than anyone I know. Coos bay has always been sweet to us for tuna. Good luck and plug the boats. Tailchasers 44 tuners story still keep me up at nite. Mark

[tailchaser]

I haven't seen the latest forcast, but man, it has to get better sometime right??? Channel 19 is the popular sport channel but is used quite heavily so usually we'll pick an alternate one when out there so we don't have to compete as much and tell everyone where we're fishing. The plume is still sitting at 32 miles SW of Coos Bay and 29 from Bandon straight out. Given the choices, I'd rather run from CB because of the mentioned bar conditions that we experienced ealier in the year. And no I wasn't screaming like a girl, only screaming in your Earlobes like a big girl. :grin:

Anyhow, we'll be watching the conditions and water closely and will report what I find. Looks like things might be fishable for salmon this weekend but tuna is looking like next week for sure.

FYI, I once got into a dang fistfight with a commy before over giving false info about tuna fishing stating they were 75+ when they were within 20 a few years back. He then went on to say we shouldn't have the right to go that far out and should leave it to them and we were ruining thier business as I was cleaning 20 fish at the same table he was. Made for an interesting couple hours. Keep in mind also, they're looking to plug their boats with hundreds, if not thousands of fish instead of 20-30 that we're after.

tc

[Lepper]

If I remember right, I could of sworn I suggegested the boat get walked alll the way out.. :smile:

Bandon launch is not a big boat launch at low tide.. It has a lot of silt in it this year. Have my thoughts on why, but I'll keep them to myself.

As said, stay away from the north side... you might hit more then swells on that side :smile:

S. of center good. I normally head right for the first can as soon as i've left the jaws. The tides look fine for bandon.. I would however watch it if the swell gets much over 4 ft.. that can begin to cause a problem.. I've gone over the bar when it was 12 ft deep and when it was as high as 20... so she ain't very deep.

it's fun though!! :smile:
dave

Oh... and be careful about following some of the locals over the bar.. some of them are CRAZY!!! 2 yrs ago I watched a 20 ft. boat go over the bar with about 20ft breakers all across, it was awesome to watch.. but.. ya.. dang fools..


dave

[SouthCoastStu]

Looks like tomorrows ocean will be about as good as it gets for awhile.

SUN...NW WIND 5 KT...BECOMING S IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. MIXED SWELL NW 4 FT AT 10 SECONDS AND SW 2 FT AT 16 SECONDS. PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING. PATCHY DRIZZLE IN THE MORNING.

Anybody need a wing-man? We'll be out of C-town, monitoring chs. 16, 19, 22 & 78. Leaving 5-ish, heading SW

[Waytogo]

Stu- waiting anxious;y for your results,my Grandson and wife are coming to visit Monday, and I am trying to figure which Port to go for tuna Charlston or depoe Bay.Charleston will be much closer if they are there.Let us know asap-thanks---Mike --waytogo

[tailchaser]

Report right now is most boats got 20-25 fish directly west of Bandon 30 miles. That puts it about 32 from Coos Bay on a SW tack. We're leaving the dock at 5 am with some boats if anyone wants to join the hunt. tc out

tc

[northriver1]

Thank you very much for the updates TC, be safe and good fishing.

[SouthCoastStu]

Sorry for the late report, we (me & Cuz') got 24, good grade. It's all we had ice/room/weight for. Everybody was kill'n 'em. About 35 miles SW of CB. Cedar plugs in the morning, zuccini in the afternoon. Heck of a nice ocean

[Hanapa'a Time]

WTG Stu

I was on the beach(Oceanside RV), wishin' I was out there

[Bstnwaler]

Back Breaker..we're trailing up from the SF Bay Area next Thursday to Newport..hoping to get BFB's at the Ranch then head on out for tuna..yes it is slim pickings down here right now....