Crossing the Nestucca River bar

[dlgobeavs]

I would like to do some bottom fishing out of Pacific City. I have a 20' Boulton Sea Skiff... with 36" sides. I have a GPS and VHF... I have taken this boat out across the Columbia Bar on VERY good conditions during late summer... which I am very comfortable doing ( as comfortable as you can be crossing that monster!!) I am considering trying to get to the bottom fishing out of Pacific City... by exiting the bar at the Nestucca River... and making the short run up north towards Haystack Rock. Anyone have thoughts on this? I wish I had a dory... but that will have to be a purchase a few years from now. My primary question is... can anyone tell me what crossing that bar is like? Is it safe in a 20 foot boat? Also..if it is relatively save, any advice on where to bottom fish? (GPS coordinates?)

[4 REEL]

NO....Do Not attempt to cross that bar :shocked: !!! That is why they use dories off the surf there. We had a dory for three years, crabbed and fished inside but never once concidered crossing the bar. We did launch off the beach alot, but no bar man. I would not recomend it.

[ 08-25-2003, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: 4 REEL ]

[Sea Jypzee]

Please use this link to check any of the Coastal Bars, Bays & Rivers in Oregon.

That link will tell you any needed information about all the bars, bays and rivers on the Oregon Coast.

[Old Coot]

Did it a few times as an idiot teenager. I have to vote that trying to cross that bar is a very, very bad idea. Shallow water, frequent multiple rows of full-width breakers. Specialty boats with knowledgeable pilots can and do pull it off, but I can't recommned it.

You might try to find Capt Kujo and ask his opinion.

[DriftR]

Nestucca Bar is not suitable for crossing. Not to say it hasn't been done many times. But crossing that bar can be fatal. I know Capt Kujo has done it and so has the builder of MAXCAT crafts out of Hebo but then again those are different style craft. Go down to Depoe Bay or Newport. Bottom fish is not worth you life or boat.

[dlgobeavs]

Thanks all for the replies :smile:

I won't be crossing that bar!

Now I'm looking for a good used Dory ... any leads?

Dave

[CAPT KUJO]

Dave,

Great! you're taking the "GOOD ADVICE" I went across the Nestucca Bar 4 time this past week end. Even with a flat ocean I took a set of 4 breakers, in the 4 to 6 foot plunging breaker class. I put 400 or 500 hundred gallons of water in the boat within 10 seconds. I would suggest you don't try it without the right boat made for that abuse. Also you'll need exposure wear fully operational and on your body just in case. And 3 4" deck scuppers 2 - 1000 gal an hour bilge pumps and LOTS of horsepower. If you don't have ALL of the above...... Just don't do it.

CAPT KUJO

[Born to be Wild]

You can go out of Depoe Bay and at times find as good bottom fishing here as you can find an hour and a half or so boat ride to PC to the north. Again, at times.

Bottom fishing here around Depoe Bay has held up all year this year and never let up as it usually does in the summer months.

You can launch out of here and be catching rock fish within 5 -15 minutes of launching.

No reason to endanger yourself up north or make the long boat ride up there either.

PC is generally quicker fishing (catching) because of less pressure by the charters but not always. The fish aren't any bigger up there anymore with the exception of the blues (blue rockfish).

Sometimes the charters are limited out within 3 hours here locally and that is your running time to PC and back and you save a lot of fuel.

Dan

[foxer]

When I used to ride jet skis at PC there was this guy in our group that took his 22' maxum open bow over that bar. Didnt sound like he had any problems, but he wasnt all that bright either