It’s a fishing day

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

Sit it outno chinook salmon window clears the bar in 36 hours

Chinook salmon is the best bet here today.

Small Craft Advisory until Monday 5 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 40 for chinook salmon, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Chinook salmon, 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. 40Mon
  2. 40
  3. 40
  4. 403 am
  5. 40
  6. 40
  7. 406 am
  8. 40
  9. 40
  10. 409 am
  11. 43
  12. 43
  13. 4312 pm
  14. 43
  15. 35
  16. 353 pm
  17. 43
  18. 43
  19. 356 pm
  20. 35
  21. 35
  22. 359 pm
  23. 35
  24. 40
  25. 40Tue
  26. 40
  27. 40
  28. 403 am
  29. 40
  30. 40
  31. 436 am
  32. 43
  33. 43
  34. 439 am
  35. 43
  36. 40
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Chinook salmon range 42–58°

Wind
14 mph

From the east-southeast

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:47 am

Sky
Rain Showers Likely

59% chance of rain

Air
55°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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.

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Washington: every river is closed to salmon unless the special rules list a season for that reach. Limits, minimums and which salmon must be released change by reach and date, and emergency rules often adjust them in season.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Washington

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Washington: every river is closed to salmon unless the special rules list a season for that reach. Many reaches allow only hatchery coho, and emergency rules often adjust seasons in season.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Washington

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Washington statewide: 20" minimum, 2 hatchery steelhead a day; all wild steelhead must be released. Open during the game fish or salmon seasons of each water.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Washington

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.90 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:47 am
  • Sunset today6:10 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 am–2:00 am
  • Minor solunarToday 8:10 am–9:10 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm

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 today 2 pm–3 pmSmall Craft Advisory
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.