Ilwaco Forecast
"I Been Fishin' Longer Than You" Report
May 19, 2026Pro Tip: Try whisperin' sweet nothin's to your lure. Fish are attracted to compliments, especially when they're followed by a sharp hook. What's bitin', you ask? Probably my backside, the way things have been goin'. Word on the docks is a few stubborn Chinook are still hangin' around, mostly off Cape Disappointment, but they're choosy eaters. Use your flashiest gear, something so gaudy it'd make a disco ball blush. Maybe some late coho, but don't count on filling your freezer.
What's Bitin: Chinook (maybe), Coho (if you're lucky), and my patience. Grandpa's Grumble: I tell ya what, these newfangled fishermen with their fancy gadgets... back in my day, we used a stick, a string, and a rusty hook, and we liked it! Now you got fish finders, GPS, and lures that cost more than my darned truck. And still, you can't catch a cold!
Grandpa's Grumble: These darned seagulls keep tryin' to steal my sandwiches. I oughta tan their hides and make 'em into hats! And don't even get me started on the price of bait these days. It's enough to make a Sasquatch go broke!
Ilwaco Fishing Forecast & Tide Charts
History of the Place:
Ilwaco sits at the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” where the mighty Columbia River collides with the ocean. It is the birthplace of “Buoy 10” fishing, a style so intense it has become a global bucket-list item for salmon hunters. The history here is one of shipwrecks, rugged pilots, and more salmon than any other place on Earth.
List of Fishing Areas:
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Buoy 10: The line between the river and the sea; world-famous for salmon.
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The North Jetty: A dangerous but incredibly productive spot for shore anglers.
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Baker Bay: Sheltered water for those avoiding the main river current.
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Marine Area 1: The open ocean where the biggest Chinook are found.
Type of Fish:
Fall Chinook, Coho, Sturgeon, and bottomfish.
Season Fishing Forecast:
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Winter: Crabbing and sturgeon are the names of the game.
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Spring: Ocean bottom fishing kicks off for Lingcod and Rockfish.
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Summer: The madness of the Buoy 10 opener in late summer.
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Fall: Huge Coho returns and the tail-end of the King season.
Grandpa's Cold Hard Truth:
You're fishing the mouth of the biggest river in the West. It will swallow your boat if you don’t respect the Ilwaco tide charts. Keanu Reeves couldn’t act his way out of a bad tide here, and neither can you.