It’s a fishing day

Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) fishing conditions · Washington

Now until 2 pmSteelhead

The bite peaks at 57. Wind builds to 32 mph out of the southwest by tonight at 8:00 pm.

Storm Warning until Sunday 4 amHazardous Seas Warning until Monday 4 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 57 for steelhead, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 571 pm
  2. 49
  3. 34
  4. 344 pm
  5. 0
  6. 0
  7. 07 pm
  8. 0
  9. 0
  10. 010 pm
  11. 0
  12. 0Sun
  13. 01 am
  14. 20
  15. 20
  16. 204 am
  17. 20
  18. 35
  19. 437 am
  20. 43
  21. 43
  22. 4310 am
  23. 43
  24. 43
  25. 431 pm
  26. 43
  27. 43
  28. 334 pm
  29. 33
  30. 33
  31. 437 pm
  32. 43
  33. 43
  34. 4310 pm
  35. 43
  36. 43Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
13 mph

From the south

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:52 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

11% chance of rain

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Washington regulations for these waters.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

57MarginalNow until 2 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 2 a day (Jan 1–Mar 31, Nov 1–Dec 31); 20" minimum · 1 a day (Jun 16–Jul 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Hatchery steelhead: up to 2 a day within the 2-adult limit Jan 1–Feb 28 and Nov 1–Dec 31; 1 adult salmon plus 1 hatchery steelhead or 2 steelhead in March; 1 a day Jun 16–Jul 31. Steelhead must be released Aug 1–Oct 31, and the reach is closed Apr 1–Jun 15. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Columbia River, Astoria-Megler Bridge to Rocky Point / Tongue Point

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day (Jan 1–Mar 31); 12" minimum · 6 a day (Jun 16–Jul 31); 24" minimum · 1 a day (Aug 1–Sep 2)

Catch and release only today. Hatchery chinook Jan 1–Mar 31 (12" minimum, 2 adults a day, 1 in March); hatchery jacks only Jun 16–Jul 31; Aug 1–Sep 2 chinook 24" minimum, 1 a day within a 2-salmon limit (hatchery only Aug 10–24). Chinook must be released Sep 3–Dec 31; closed Apr 1–Jun 15. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Columbia River, Astoria-Megler Bridge to Rocky Point / Tongue Point

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

22Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Coho salmon bite in 44–58° water, best near 53°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Coho salmon is here May–Oct. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 2 a day (Aug 1–Sep 30); 12" minimum · 2 a day (Oct 1–Dec 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Hatchery coho Aug 1–Sep 30: 16" minimum, 2 a day. Oct 1–Dec 31: 12" minimum, 6 a day including no more than 2 adults. Coho must be released Jan 1–Mar 31 and Jun 16–Jul 31; closed Apr 1–Jun 15. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Columbia River, Astoria-Megler Bridge to Rocky Point / Tongue Point

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.84 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:52 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:06 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:30 am–7:30 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Washington WDFW publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The lower Columbia at the Washington–Oregon mouth — the legendary "Buoy 10" fishery near Astoria sees one of the largest salmon gatherings on the West Coast each August as chinook and coho stage to enter the river, followed by winter steelhead upstream. A massive boat fishery.

Astoria-Megler Bridge to Tongue Point: chinook 24" minimum, 1 a day within a 2-salmon limit Aug 1–Sep 2; hatchery coho 16" minimum Aug 1–Sep 30, then 2 adults a day through December. Closed Apr 1–Jun 15. Barbless hooks and night closure for salmon and steelhead; a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Nehalem Bay State Park37 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 11 am–1 pmStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning
55Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)?

Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) have?

Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Astoria-Megler Bridge to Tongue Point: chinook 24" minimum, 1 a day within a 2-salmon limit Aug 1–Sep 2; hatchery coho 16" minimum Aug 1–Sep 30, then 2 adults a day through December. Closed Apr 1–Jun 15. Barbless hooks and night closure for salmon and steelhead; a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)?

state agency regulations apply at Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) tidal water?

No. Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.