Nehalem Bay State Park fishing conditions · Oregon

Tomorrow, 11 am–1 pmRedtail surfperch

The bite peaks at 55. Water is 54°, close to the 55° redtail surfperch like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 41 mph out of the south by tonight at 6:00 pm.

Storm Warning until Sunday 4 amHazardous Seas Warning until Monday 4 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 22 for redtail surfperch, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Redtail surfperch, 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. 221 pm
  2. 22
  3. 22
  4. 264 pm
  5. 5
  6. 0
  7. 07 pm
  8. 0
  9. 0
  10. 510 pm
  11. 12
  12. 12Sun
  13. 81 am
  14. 8
  15. 8
  16. 284 am
  17. 28
  18. 28
  19. 477 am
  20. 51
  21. 51
  22. 5110 am
  23. 55
  24. 55
  25. 511 pm
  26. 43
  27. 41
  28. 454 pm
  29. 41
  30. 41
  31. 517 pm
  32. 51
  33. 51
  34. 5110 pm
  35. 55
  36. 55Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
54°F

Redtail surfperch range 48–62°

Wind
26 mph

From the south · rough for small boats

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:54 pm

Sky
Slight Chance Light Rain

17% chance of rain

Air
56°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 Oregon regulations for these waters.

Redtail Surfperch

Redtail surfperch

Amphistichus rhodoterus

55MarginalTomorrow, 11 am–1 pm

Water

54°
38°48–62° · ideal 55°72°

Why

Right in redtail surfperch's ideal range. Redtail surfperch prefers incoming tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Surfperch: 15/day in aggregate of all species, no minimum size. Open year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Oregon

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Aug. More on redtail surfperch

Rockfish

Rockfish

Sebastes spp.

41Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

54°
35°45–58° · ideal 52°68°

Why

Right in rockfish's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Heavy seas — small boats unsafe, surf blown out. Holds 20–300 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. General marine bag 4/day (rockfish, greenling, cabezon and others), with no more than 2 canary. Quillback and yelloweye may not be kept. Cabezon 16" minimum, 1/day from Jul 1 (none Jan 1–Jun 30). Open at all depths year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Oregon

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Dec. More on rockfish

Lingcod

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

41Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

54°
35°45–58° · ideal 52°68°

Why

Right in lingcod's ideal range. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Heavy seas — small boats unsafe, surf blown out. Holds 20–300 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 22" minimum, 3/day, separate from the general marine bag. Open at all depths year-round.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Oregon

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Dec. More on lingcod

The water

  • Water temperature54°F
  • Seas9.2 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.89 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:54 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:05 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. Oregon ODFW publishes a report for the state.

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

About this spot

A sand spit between the ocean and Nehalem Bay, with the bay-mouth jetty at its south tip. Redtail surfperch in the ocean surf on the incoming tide; black rockfish and lingcod along the jetty rocks.

Nearby

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

Pacific City Beach (Cape Kiwanda)34 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 11 am–1 pmHigh Surf WarningBeach Hazards StatementHigh Wind Warning
55Marginal
Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)37 mi · WashingtonBest now until 2 pmStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning
57Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Nehalem Bay State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Nehalem Bay State Park you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Nehalem Bay State Park?

Nehalem Bay State Park is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Redtail Surfperch, Rockfish, Lingcod. 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 Nehalem Bay State Park?

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 Nehalem Bay State Park 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 Nehalem Bay State Park have?

Nehalem Bay State Park has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Nehalem Bay State Park?

state agency regulations apply at Nehalem Bay State Park. 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 Nehalem Bay State Park tidal water?

Yes. Nehalem Bay State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.