Tillamook Area Coho Salmon Fishing Guide
July–Sept

Coho salmon, or silver salmon, are known for their explosive runs, acrobatic jumps, and aggressive strikes. Lighter and faster than Chinook, they typically weigh 8-20 pounds and provide nonstop action.

Found in Tillamook Bay and offshore waters, Coho peak from July to September, making them a favorite for summer fishing. salmon, or king salmon, are the largest and most prized catch in the Pacific Northwest. Known for their powerful fight and rich flavor, they often reach 20-50 pounds.

Ocean coho from June through mid-August, then bay fishing as they come in from August and September onwards.

They’re lighter, faster, and when you’re casting spinners for them on light tackle, the strike hits like a hammer. Jamison fishes coho both in the ocean and in the bay depending on the time of year, and on the right day, the action can be fast and relentless.

Coho for Families and Beginners

Coho are one of the more accessible species for first-timers. They’re found in numbers, the methods aren’t technically demanding, and when you hook one, it fights with everything it has. The family Jamison talks about most often – the boy who said it was the best day of his life – was a coho trip. Mom, dad, uncle, and a seven-year-old. All four limited out.

Fishing Methods

Trolling is the standard approach for coho, same as Chinook. But Jamison also runs casting trips for coho when he has the right crew where clients who are comfortable handling a rod while others are casting on a moving boat. Light tackle, spinning gear, casting spinners into feeding fish. “It’s a lot more exciting when you’re actually retrieving a spinner and it gets hit,” he says.

Tillamook Coho Salmon Fishing Gallery