May 2026 — Pacific Northwest: Halibut Strong, Buoy 10 Building, Smallies on Columbia. May is a late spring month with water in the 64-68°F range — PEAK yellowtail; white seabass; calicos active; first bluefin. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — May 2026
Primary targets this month: Halibut, Chinook Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Sturgeon.
Halibut
California halibut on the Columbia River mouth area in spring (May-June), Westport WA, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Neah Bay, and the offshore coast — Pacific halibut fishery (NOAA seasons). Live bait (anchovy, smelt) on Carolina rigs slow-trolled along sandy bottom; soft plastic swimbaits hopped along the bottom. 20-30 lb tackle.
Chinook Salmon
Chinook salmon trolling on the Columbia River (the world’s most famous salmon river), the Tillamook Bay and Nestucca River system, Buoy 10 (Columbia mouth), the Willamette River, Westport WA, Sekiu, and the Puget Sound rivers (Skagit, Stillaguamish). Spoons (Pro-King, NK 28), J-Plugs, and meat rigs (flasher-fly combos) at 50-120 feet on downriggers. Speeds 2.0-2.8 mph.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass on the Columbia River, the John Day River pool, and the lower Snake River — extraordinary smallie numbers. Tubes, drop-shot rigs, jerkbaits, and topwater plugs. Rocky structure is key. Lake Erie’s Eastern Basin produces 5+ lb fish regularly.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon on the Columbia River — white sturgeon (catch-and-release in most stretches), with some retention allowed in specific lower Columbia zones; verify ODFW/WDFW current rules. Bottom fishing with cut herring, anchovies, or pile worms on heavy tackle (50-80 lb braid). White sturgeon are mostly catch-and-release; verify current state slot retention rules. Big fish (4-6 ft) routine; trophy fish over 7 ft possible.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 64-68°F. Peak yellowtail; white seabass; calicos active; first bluefin. The Columbia River is heavily influenced by both ocean tides and river flow — Buoy 10 (the river mouth) is a tidal/freshwater mixing zone with strong current. The Strait of Juan de Fuca and Westport coast have major tides (8-12 ft). Salmon fishing in the river systems is driven by water levels and temperatures more than tides; ocean salmon and halibut are tide-driven.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Water temperature is everything. Yellowtail like 64°F+, white seabass like 60-65°F squid spawns, bluefin tuna 68-72°F.
- Live bait priority. Bait quality determines success — buy active anchovies and sardines from the bait barge, use them quickly.
May Outlook
Late spring — tarpon arriving, snook moving, summer pelagic season building offshore.
Regulations Reminder
Salmon: Great Lakes — state-specific (3-5 per day combined). Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Fisherman’s Marine (Portland — major Pacific NW tackle dealer); Westport Tackle (Westport WA); Englund Marine (Astoria — full marine supply); Tillamook Sporting Goods; Coastal Outdoors (Oregon coast).
Public Boat Ramps: Hammond Marina (Columbia mouth — Astoria), Buoy 10 area ramps, Westport Marina (WA), Garibaldi Marina (Tillamook), Depoe Bay, Newport (Yaquina Bay), Ilwaco WA, Sekiu, Neah Bay.
Charter Fishing: $200–$300/person walk-on salmon (Westport, Ilwaco); $1,200–$2,500 private salmon/halibut; $1,500–$3,000 multi-day albacore (Westport); $400–$800 river salmon/steelhead drift trips.
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