The Nehalem River sits between the more heavily fished Tillamook Bay to the south and the Columbia River estuary to the north, which means it draws fewer anglers than its neighbors while still producing excellent salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon runs. The river flows 118 miles from the Coast Range — the longest stream entirely within Oregon’s Coast Range — before emptying into Nehalem Bay, Oregon’s fifth-largest estuary, and out to the Pacific. Whether you’re targeting fall Chinook, coho, winter steelhead, or Dungeness crab, the Nehalem system has something to offer across most of the calendar year.
Important: Oregon salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon regulations change annually and vary by section of river. Always verify current seasons, bag limits, and wild-fish retention rules at the ODFW website or with a current Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet before you fish. Wild coho and wild Chinook retention rules in particular are determined on a year-by-year basis.
Chinook Salmon
The Nehalem has one of the earliest Chinook runs on the Oregon coast, which sets it apart from most other coastal rivers. Summer Chinook begin showing in the bay in modest numbers starting the first week of July, with fishing building through August. ODFW now designates part of the early Nehalem Chinook catch as spring Chinook in its statistical records, but the timing is solidly summer on the calendar. The fall Chinook run follows in September, peaking in early October, with fish available in the bay and the lower tidal river through early November — and sometimes into December depending on rainfall.
In the lower bay, the best Chinook fishing typically occurs during the incoming tide of the major spring or neap tides, especially when the incoming tide coincides with dawn or dusk. The hour before first light is consistently the most productive period — get your bait in the water 30 minutes before dawn. Trolling plug-cut herring from Fishery Point seaward works well early in the run. As fish numbers build, shift to the deeper channel at the bend near Wheeler or across from Deer Island. Common setups include bait-wrapped Flatfish lures, plug-cut herring, hot-tail finishes, and rainbow-colored spinners such as the Yaquina Slammer. Heavy sinkers — up to 12 ounces — are often necessary in the lower bay’s swift tidal current.
From the Highway 101 Bridge upstream to the head of tidewater at Roy Creek County Park, anchor on the downstream side of deeper holes and fish bottom with bait-wrapped Flatfish, spinner-bait combos, Spin-N-Glos sweetened with bait, or a walnut-sized gob of salmon eggs. In the upper tidal reach, bobber fishing with salmon eggs and sand shrimp through deeper holes during the latter half of the outgoing tide through slack is productive. The holes just upstream and downstream of Roy Creek Park, and the section near the North Fork confluence, are among the most reliable.
Coho Salmon
Coho return to Nehalem Bay from August through September. Early in the run, troll plug-cut herring, hoochies, or streamer flies with the incoming tide from Fishery Point seaward, keeping baits near the upper part of the water column using a diver or wire spreader. As fish move into the upper bay, chartreuse, pink, or rainbow-colored spinners trolled through the shallower reaches become effective. Wild coho retention is regulated annually — check ODFW’s current rules before the season opens.
Winter Steelhead
The Nehalem River system produces good winter steelhead fishing, though the mainstem Nehalem is largely catch-and-release for wild fish since there are no hatchery releases on the mainstem. The North Fork Nehalem receives hatchery steelhead and is the primary spot for anglers seeking retention opportunities — it typically fishes well from late January through March. The mainstem fishes well in March as other coastal rivers drop low, since the Nehalem tends to hold water better late in the season. Drift fishing with roe, beads, or yarn under a float is the standard approach; back-bouncing bait through deeper holes also produces. Always confirm whether hatchery fish are available and what the current wild retention rules are for the specific section you’re fishing.
Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout
Sea-run cutthroat typically return to Nehalem Bay from mid-July through September, though early returns can occur as soon as mid-July. From the Wheeler area upstream through the tidal sections of both the mainstem and North Fork, troll Doc Shelton spinners baited with night crawlers. In the upper tidal reaches and lower river sections, night crawlers, crawfish tails, and ¼-ounce yellow or white Roostertail spinners all produce fish.
White Sturgeon
Sturgeon enter Nehalem Bay from mid-December through the beginning of July. The fishery is variable — excellent one day, slow the next — and the best areas are Dean’s Point, the south end of Deer Island, the holes along the south shore between Fishery Point and Wheeler, and the Airport Hole on the south side of the airport near Nehalem Bay State Park. Mud or sand shrimp are the most effective baits. Check ODFW’s current sturgeon regulations carefully before targeting these fish; retention rules are subject to change.
Perch, Rockfish, and Other Bay Species
From late spring through fall, Nehalem Bay holds good populations of striped seaperch, pile perch, walleye surfperch, redtail surfperch, and white seaperch. The best approach is to scout the bay at low tide to locate the channels draining the tidal flats, then fish those zones during the incoming tide as perch follow the water in to feed. Productive perch areas include water along the south jetty, near Crab Rock, the main channel along the east bank from Jetty Fishery upstream to the railroad bridge above Fishery Point, and the major channel draining the north shore tidal flats from Oregon State Park to Wheeler. Shrimp and clam-tipped hooks work well.
Black rockfish are present in the bay from April through October, migrating into deeper water in winter when freshwater flow is heavy. The jetty channel is the most consistent rockfish location, fishing best on the incoming tide just after dark.
Crabbing and Clamming
Dungeness crabbing is a popular secondary activity on Nehalem Bay. The best crabbing is generally from north of the Jetty Fishery south toward Nehalem Bay State Park — the section where the bay runs north-south parallel to the ocean. This area is safer than the jetties and has better salinity for crabs than the upper reaches. Boat access is strongly preferred. A shellfish license is required; verify current harvest limits with ODFW.
Clamming is productive on both shores. The west side, along the bay side of Nehalem Bay State Park, holds softshell and purple varnish clams and is accessible on foot or by boat. The east side from Brighton Marina up to Fishery Point offers good softshell clamming with somewhat firmer sand. Low tide is the time to scout and harvest.
Bar Safety and Access
Nehalem Bay’s bar crossing is one of the more unpredictable on the Oregon coast. There is no Coast Guard station at Nehalem Bay, and no bar advisory signs at the entrance. The Coast Guard broadcasts bar conditions on VHF channels 16 and 22 during summer when a vessel is patrolling the area, but this coverage is intermittent. The south jetty extends approximately 600 yards out to sea. Small boaters should approach bar conditions conservatively — if the bar is breaking, do not attempt the crossing. Pause inside the entrance, inspect conditions carefully, and wait for a calm interval if conditions are marginal. The south jetty typically offers better fishing access than the north jetty.
Boat Launches
Multiple launch sites serve Nehalem Bay and the lower river. On the south shore, options include the Jetty Fishery, the Brighton boat ramp, Paradise Cove Resort, the Wheeler public boat launch, and the Nehalem Bay boat ramp. The North Shore Boat Launch is located at Nehalem Bay State Park. To reach the head of tidewater, launch at Roy Creek County Park, accessible via State Highway 53 from Foss Road. The south jetty is accessible by vehicle — turn west from Highway 101 onto Nedonna Beach Road and walk to the jetty from the parking area.
The Nehalem system is part of Oregon’s northern coast fishing corridor. Anglers exploring the region often combine Nehalem trips with visits to other productive Oregon coast fisheries. Our guide to fishing the Willamette River covers the state’s major interior river system, and for those planning a full coastal Oregon trip, the best campgrounds on the Oregon coast includes sites near the Nehalem Bay area. Anglers who also enjoy paddling can find useful context in our guide to Florence, Oregon, another coastal hub further south.
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