Fall Chinook are showing up

Nestucca River - Pacific, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
9-17-2025
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Fall Chinook are showing up in Nestucca Bay and some fish are getting caught. There probably won't be any above tidewater until the fall rains come. The wild adult fall Chinook bag limit is 1 per day and 5 per season in the Nestucca basin as part of the overall daily bag limit. See the regulation updates online for more details.

A wild coho salmon retention fishery opened in Nestucca Bay on September 10th. Nestucca Bay is open for wild coho three days a week (Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays) through October 26th. The bag limit is 1 wild adult coho per day and 3 for the season as part of the daily salmon/steelhead bag limit. See regulation updates online for more details. Fishing for coho has been slow thus far.

Summer steelhead are throughout the Nestucca River fishery (up to Elk Creek). Fall can be a good time to target these fish as dropping water temperatures can make them more active and willing to bite. Light float fishing set ups with terminal baits like beads, jigs or small natural baits, as well as casting spoons or spinners can be effective. Early morning and late evening will be the best times to fish, although if there's good cloud cover or a little rain fish may stay on the bite more of the day.

Resident cutthroat are throughout the fishery and sea-run cutthroat are in the river as well. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out.