Chinook fishing has slowed some but remains fair in Nehalem Bay

Nehalem River - Nehalm, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
10-4-2023
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Chinook fishing has slowed some but remains fair in Nehalem Bay although the "bites" have been somewhat sporadic. Most of the early returning "summer" Chinook have moved upstream of the fishery, but the more traditional fall run fish are still coming in. ‌

Due to a below average forecast the bag limits for wild Chinook salmon have been reduced. See the Regulation Updates section above for details.

Hatchery and wild coho are in Nehalem Bay with plenty of fish jumping, and some biting. Some fish did move into the river on last week's rain, but there are still fresh fish arriving. Hatchery coho in Nehalem are the first return of adults from the wild broodstock program, as such run timing should extend further into the fall than it has in the past. There should be a few hatchery coho moving into the lower portion of the North Fork Nehalem on this week's rain.‌

The wild coho fishery in Nehalem Bay opened Sept. 9. The fishery is open two days a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Sept. 9 to Oct. 18. See the Regulation Updates section above for details.