Newport Coho Help

Tacklebuster · 06-12-2003, 09:08 AM

I know with the Halibut reopener and the visions of Tuna on the horizon the coho is not a top priority for most, but for a Salty pup in training it has me pretty excited. I have taken my sled across the Columbia River Bar a half dozen times or so for silvers but I have never tried it at Newport. I got spoiled with the fast action and quick limits at the sparkplug so what should I expect out of Newport? How far would I have to go out and should I head North or South after passing the jetties?
Is there a certain depth you target or just hit the salt and drop the herring? I am really pumped on the opener and look forward to the shorter drive and better bar conditions Newport has to offer but have no clue on where to start when I get there. I have the pleasure in riding on the Black Rocket BFB fishing on the 21st but would like to take my own boat out on the 22cnd coho fishing.

Thanks for any help your willing to give,
Chris

seasquid · 06-12-2003, 09:22 AM

Tacklebuster,

I fished three days last week out of Newport and didn't get a sniff from a Coho, of course I was fishing deep, but I only saw what may have been a few Coho on the screen.

Who knows where they will be -- listen to the radio. One day the hot spot is off the lighthouse, the next off of Seal Rock, the next off of Depoe Bay.

You'll find them. I'll be out there somewhere Sunday, call me on 78.

ss

Salmonator · 06-12-2003, 09:31 AM

TB, we found a bunch last year straight out from the lighthouse. Maybe 5 or 6 miles NW from the jaws. The year before we caught a bunch off Seal Rock, 7 miles south. Most fish were caught right in the propwash or a little below.

[ 06-12-2003, 10:32 AM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

fish assassin · 06-12-2003, 09:50 AM

Had 8-10 "incidental" Silver hook-ups on Sunday. The weekend before last I hooked
and released 4 or five. I've been listening to the other commercial guys and
they were talking about catching silvers all up and down the water column. I
personally pulled one up from about 30 fathoms. We were all fishing in about
50 to sixty fathoms of water.

They're kinda small yet ... 3-4 lbs. The bigger fish will start showing up
in mid-July with the biggest Silvers coming in August. If I can, I'm going
to save my salmon tag for the later (bigger) silvers!!

Does anybody know if we can get one of those "fin clipped fish" tags again
this year on the Central Oregon Coast? If you've got one of those, you can
save your regular tag for chinookies!!

-assAssin-

WaterDog · 06-12-2003, 10:34 AM

Good post Chris. I was wondering the same thing. Easy drive for us, good facilities, and decent bar. I�d like to get out there as well and maybe get the wife into a fish or two if I can get a hook up or two.

FA � I know GI Joes has them. I got one and am eager to put some punches on it and save the other tag for the fall.

fish assassin · 06-12-2003, 10:56 AM

Thanks WaterDog ... I wasn't sure how it was going to work this year. I haven't
even bought my fishing liscense yet, let alone tags!!

It is my FIRM
intention to take care of that little detail this weekend if I don't get out on
the ocean.

It was SOOO cool last weekend! My brother and I wanted to go out and pull the
crab pots (got 22 hard shells!) but neither of us had a sport liscense! And
nobody in Depoe Bay sells them!! Only 1 and 3 day liscenses! Then we found out
that last weekend was the "free" fishing weekend. We ran out and got our crabs,
3 guill back and the biggest ol' yelloweye I have ever seen! One of the guys
at the dock was able to age the fish and said it was between 120 and 150 years
old! I felt terribly guilty (still do). But it was pretty cool, anyway!

-assAssin-

HOGGEMIN · 06-12-2003, 10:58 AM

Water Dog is correct they are selling them at most *** sales outlets good any where in the state.

Miss B Haven · 06-12-2003, 10:59 AM

FA- Hatchery tags are available again this year, and yes yo ucan save your regular tag for the Big Guys with fins! :grin:

You really sport fish enough to fill a tag? :whazzup: :smile:

Mello-Yello · 06-12-2003, 12:52 PM

You betcha! Anyone that plans to fish Coho (and steelhead in fin-clipped only rivers) really needs to understand how this works.

When you buy your fishing license, typically you also buy your "Combined Angling Tag". This tag is for salmon/steelhead (regardless of clipped or not clipped), halibut and sturgeon. This tag allows you to tag a combination of 20 salmon and/or steelhead, again, regardless of whether they are tagged or not.

In addition to your license and 'combined angling tag', you can also buy a "Hatchery Harvest Tag" for $12.00 (You must already possess the combined angling tag). This tag allows you to tag any coho or steelhead which is fin-clipped. It is good for 10 fish, and you can buy as many of these as you want. You must have your combined angling tag AND ALL hatchery tags in possession and present them when requested to do so.

Hence, save your combined angling tag for chinooks, and tag all coho with the hatchery harvest tag. This could potentially allow you 20 chinook and virtually unlimited number of coho (if you keep buying tags)....

I've yet to fill either...but this will be the year!!!

note: refer to pages 9 and 10 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for exact details...

M-Y

Salmonator · 06-12-2003, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mello-Yello:
This tag allows you to tag any coho or steelhead which is fin-clipped.
M-Y

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">This would include hatchery chinook also wouldn't it?

Mello-Yello · 06-12-2003, 01:32 PM

Yep....the regs say salmon .

ANDYCOHO · 06-12-2003, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Does anybody know if we can get one of those "fin clipped fish" tags again
this year on the Central Oregon Coast?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">You can also get the Harvest tags at the Newport ODFW across from the South Jetty ramp. Just make sure you bring in your sport license with you so they can mark it stating that you have a harvest tag as well.

With the runs of Coho expected, you might pick up 2!

CAPT KUJO · 06-12-2003, 04:06 PM

Hey Tacklebuster,
I'll be fishing for those Coho the next day also! You can hang with me,,,,I will be with THE BLITZ looking for them.....and he'll find em as he's one of Newports best

CAPT KUJO

Chum King · 06-12-2003, 04:13 PM

Tacklebuster,

To target the coho anywhere south of the Columbia River area, my best tips are the following:
1. Make sure that you are fishing the right temperature of water. Fishing is usually best where the surface temperature is between 52 and 55 degrees.
2. Fish the rip lines. These are the lines where there are changes in the currents i.e. the edge effect. In these areas, you can usually see accumulations of "junk" at the surface, below that will often be "baitfish", and the coho are usually hanging where the feed is.
3. Don't fish too deep. I will usually fish my gear for coho just deep enough that I can't see it anymore. Often times the best fishing, as Salmonator pointed out, is right in the prop wash. Of course, if you aren't getting anything there then try deeper. Besides, we are on track for a great chinook season this year, and sometimes the coho are down deeper as well.
4. For coho, don't use whole herring. I suggest that you use a hootchie (have a few different colors available), and attach a chunk or strip of herring to your hook(s) behind the hootchie. Also I would suggest the use of a medium sized dodger ahead of your hootchie, and use a fairly short leader (12"-18")if you are trying to target coho. If you are going after chinook use a longer leader (24"-48"). Of course if you are going after chinook I would review Mark Mc's posts on how to fish chinook, he's been covering it very well.

Good luck,

[ 06-12-2003, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Chum King ]

Aqua-Holic · 06-12-2003, 05:54 PM

This is the "hot" tip from Englunds 6/12/03.....if the Coho are here they will hit most anything......spoons.. hoochies .. herring ( a customer even offered the fact they will hit a banana peel if filleted). Run whatever behind a diver out about 10 pulls.

DOLPHINLYN · 06-12-2003, 06:11 PM

Tacklebuster,
See you and Erica on the 21st. She'll have a great time on the "Black Rocket".

LYN

Tacklebuster · 06-12-2003, 11:05 PM

Dolphinlyn- We are looking forward to it, see you there

Capt K- I would be delighted to hang with you. I'm looking forward to the silver slaughter.

Thanks to all for the tips and advice. Hope I see some of you down in the Salt opening weekend

Big Dog · 06-12-2003, 11:13 PM

I am not quit following this. What is the deal with the 2 licenses? One comercial and one sport?

fish assassin · 06-12-2003, 11:49 PM

Two tags for salmon ... one where you can tag fin clipped only fish and the
other for all you other salmon. Nice!! :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

-assAssin-

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 06-13-2003, 09:26 PM

Chris,

I will be heading out of Giabaldi next weekend. Lets hook up and exchange reports.

By the way, the sturgeon fishing was awesome this week. Thanks for letting me follow you around last Sunday.

Take Care, Terry Luckett aka - The Kentucky Hog Hunter