Any suggestions for a fishing charter out of Depoe Bay Oregon this next week?

[Greenhorn]

The family is going to Lincoln City for a week and  I was just wondering if anyone had a favorite boat or Captain to look up?   It looks like halibut may be an option this weekend.

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[t6]

Before buying a boat, we went with Tradewinds and were aboard the Mariner. 

Capt made it a fun and productive trip. 

[RadSav]

If you want halibut you are better off staying clear of Depoe Bay and going to Newport.  I'm not a big fan of the venue at Tradewinds, Newport.  I do like Newport Marina Store and Charters on the South Beach side.  Yaquina Bay Charters out of the Embarcadero marina is nice too.  My personal preference for halibut and large rock fish would be hooking up with one of the South Beach boats making the long days trip to Heceta Banks.

Out of Depoe Bay it really depends on whether you like small boats or large boats.  Tradewinds will try to book the Sunrise and Tackle Buster first.  Craig on the Sunrise is ok enough. My vote out of Depoe Bay would be Brad on the Mr. Max.  Brad has been working Depoe Bay charters since he was in diapers.  And he actually knows how to run a boat too!  Not easy to find someone that knows how to find fish AND knows how to run a boat in Dopey Bay   Usually you get one or the other.  Dan on the Mariner would be my second choice.

If you want some major cabazon Depoe Bay is the place.  You might even try to get a quick talk with Brad before booking the trip.  You could probably talk him into fishing the Cabazon grounds between the old caboose and gull rock!  Tell him Bryan Fry from the charter boat Regard and Moon Shadow told you to look him up.  He should really take care of you  

Just don't expect much in the way of halibut out of Depoe Bay!!!  The only way to get much halibut action there is to run off of Newport to the rock pile.  And even then the rock pile has less than 2% the halibut action Heceta Banks does.

[Greenhorn]

Thanks for the great info RadSav.  I will be taking my 8 year old nephew along so I think we will just stick to the sea bass.  Cabazon doesn't open until July 1st.  I will make sure and look Brad up. Thanks for the info about the halibut.

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[RadSav]

Thanks for the great info RadSav.  I will be taking my 8 year old nephew along so I think we will just stick to the sea bass.  Cabazon doesn't open until July 1st.  I will make sure and look Brad up. Thanks for the info about the halibut.

Depoe Bay is definitely the place to go if you have a young one on board or a wife that isn't too sure about the ocean.  Unless they make a trip to the rock pile you are almost certain of being able to see shore and having a short run.  Fishing there isn't what it used to be since the Dory Fleet came down from Pacific City in the late eighties.  They commercial fished the rock fish to a point of near devastation on those small little reefs.  But, it is getting better all the time!

I was unaware that they now had a Cabazon season out of Depoe Bay.  Wow! How times have changed   That is a real shame as the caboose drift is quite amazing.

Definitely do not want to do the Heceta Banks trip with a youngster on board.  It's a lot like a tuna trip - 3-4 hour run there, four hours of fishing and 4 hours back pounding the northwest chop.  And most of that fishing is 35 to 50 fathoms!  Most of Depoe Bay is six to twelve fathoms and half an hour.  Many places closer than that!  It really is the more enjoyable place as long as you don't care if you get halibut or not.

The most important thing to do while you are in Depoe Bay is to eat pie!!!  Betty Taunton hand makes fresh pie at the Spouting Horn every single day!  If you want the greatest thing you have ever tasted order her Deep dish blackberry pie with ice cream!  HEAVEN Ahhhhhhh!!!  You will hear angels singing after the first bite   Only danger is you may never want to leave for fear you may never make it back for another piece of sweet ecstasy.

Also Ainzlee's taffy and caramel corn is the best place for treats!  No better caramel corn on the planet.  And they are the only ones that make their own taffy on the strip.  Actually Graham Ainslee invented the commercial taffy stretchers and wrapping machines that more than half the taffy makers across the world now use.  You can see them in action most days during the summer.  Their peanut butter taffy in my personal favorite   We bought our first house from Ainslee shortly before he passed away.  Wonderful people that were all about making people feel good.  It certainly shows in their candy

Hope you have a good time!  Wish I was still there

[Greenhorn]

I am looking forward to some of that blackberry pie.  We stayed in the same area last year and really enjoyed most of the restaurants.      I took the same nephew out last year and he caught his first fish.  He was pretty green but still had a great time.  I can't remember the captain's name or the boat's name but the guy sounded like his family has been running charters there for quite awhile.  Our favorite part was visiting Devils Punch bowl at low tide.  Lots of seals on the rocks and stuff for kids and dogs to explore on the beach.  I had to watch our dog pretty closely because his favorite part was rolling in the seal poop.

[RadSav]

Our favorite part was visiting Devils Punch bowl at low tide.  Lots of seals on the rocks and stuff for kids and dogs to explore on the beach.  I had to watch our dog pretty closely because his favorite part was rolling in the seal poop.

A lot of good fossils and agates at the Punch bowl.  Always good fun for the young ones.  Heck, I even enjoy finding the perfect fossil their every one in a while.  We make the trip often...mainly for the pie   During summer I think Moe's annex is still open there.  Dipping their cheesy garlic bread in chowder and having their shrimp sandwich is another one of the treats I miss greatly!

I think I gain about 10# a day when I visit home

[Greenhorn]

Well RadSav we had a great time.   Brad and the Mr. Max were out of commission (engine problems) so we got put on the Sunrise.   It sounds like the Captain went to school with Brad.  We were the last boat out and the first boat back in.   Full limits of sea bass and 3 crabs each for 13 people.  The guy who owns the Swarovski shop in town has quite the sheep collection.   2 Grand slams.

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[RadSav]

I'm sure Mr. Woodmark would have liked to tell you all about his sheep and explain how much better he is than you too   He doesn't lack much in the arrogance department.  Some nice sheep though!

Glad to hear you had a good trip on the Sunrise.  I like the deck configuration on that boat.  Usually makes for a comfortable fishing trip!  I did not know that little Craig Calkins was running that boat.  Well, he was little last time I saw him   I think he was a few years behind Brad in school.  Thinking Brad was in the same class as Craig's stunningly beautiful sister   The Calkins have an equally long family history there in Depoe Bay.  Good folks   Glad Craig and Brad have been able to make a living staying put.

Most importantly...did you have Betty's deep dish blackberry pie?

[Greenhorn]

Not yet, she was closed the last two days.   The plan is tomorrow.   I did make it to Ainslee's and had some camel corn,  taffy and a huge scoop of ice cream.  Great place to visit and the weather was awesome.  We are planning on coming back again next year.   My 8 year old nephew was a real trooper and kept reeling in the sea bass even when he was puking over the side.

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[RadSav]

My 8 year old nephew was a real trooper and kept reeling in the sea bass even when he was puking over the side.

Ooooo! Someone has a crush on Rachael

You don't?  Then why were you calling Raaaaachael the whole fishing trip?  

I spent most of one summer working as a deck hand while having mono.  Learned what tricks worked for sea sickness and which ones didn't.  While on the boat orange juice was a life saver.  Not sure why it settles the stomach so well while still in motion, but it does!  Best thing I found once back on land was to take my shoes off and walk around in sock feet.  Next was milk shakes!  Chocolate Malt being my go to sickness reliever

Had I not been just days away from getting my operators license at the end of that year I may never have gotten on a boat again.  Sounds like he was one heck of a trooper.  That's worth being proud of for sure

[Greenhorn]

Well RadSav, I didn't get that piece of pie.   We stopped in this morning on our way home and it was closed.   It will have to be something that I will look forward to next year.  Where do you guide?

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[RadSav]

Well RadSav, I didn't get that piece of pie.   We stopped in this morning on our way home and it was closed.   It will have to be something that I will look forward to next year.  Where do you guide?

Wow!  I have never known them to be closed more than one day a week in over 30 years.  Especially during charter season.  Must be something going on with family   I'll have to make a call to Betty's son and find out what the scoop is.

I haven't guided in over 20 years (other than friends and family ).  I rowed the Siletz and ran charters out of Newport (Tradewinds and South Beach).  Time spent in Depoe Bay was as fish cleaner and then deckhand.  Big game guiding covered an area from the Siletz all the way down to Sealion caves.  Mainly bear, but on occasion I did take rifle elk hunters.  Not really a major operation.  Mainly accommodating charter customers for a wider array of opportunities.  Though we did take A LOT of bear out of there!!  It's still a great place to hunt bear, just a bit tougher now that there is no baiting.

[Greenhorn]

I think those fish cleaners on the deck at Tradewinds have a pretty good gig if you don't mind smelling like fish.

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[RadSav]

I think those fish cleaners on the deck at Tradewinds have a pretty good gig if you don't mind smelling like fish.

They have got it easy these days.  Other than having to deal with the fish carcasses in bins.  Back before the eco nazis took over we just threw them in the bay.  Kept a good number of crab in the bay and gave the seals something to eat besides salmon trying to get up the south creek.

Matt Fanning and I would work every single day of the summer.  When fishing was good we might work ten hours straight filleting fish for $0.25 each.  We were the richest kids in school!  Best pool players too as we usually hung out in the arcade playing pool while waiting for the boats to show up. 

Smelling like and cleaning fish was much better than having to clean the restrooms down there on the deck.  People are far more disgusting than any dead fish   Don't think the kids these days know what ten hour days is like.  And the price...well I still think the new prices are ridiculous!  Though I expect they probably have to pay taxes these days

[Greenhorn]

It is a $1/fish for bottom fish and $1/crab to have it cooked and cleaned.   Everything is cash only to the cleaner.  Sounds like you had a great summer job and work ethic.  Now they use some of the carcasses for the charter crab pots and then the rest they load out on a dead head trip to dump off shore.

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[JJB11B]

Reviving an old thread here, with the weather being as hot as it has been I decided to go to the coast Saturday-This morning.  Went to Depoe Bay because I am slightly familiar with the area, did the 8 Hr. combo for Salmon and Rockfish. I was on the TackleBuster. while we only caught 4 coho of which 2 were keepers, 13 of us limited out on rock fish. I think only 3 Keeper Lings were caught. All in all I think it was a good experience but I think next time Ill just go for bottom fish and skip the salmon fishing.
Modify to add: This is the 2nd time I have fished with the "tacklebuster" crew although this is a different boat then the old one. I had 2 bacon maple bars from the place next to tradewinds while I waited to get on the boat. 

[Greenhorn]

Cool JJB11B!  I just got back from being down there for a few days again this year.  I just missed you.  I took my nephew out for the 5 hour bottom fishing and crabbing on Friday.  The weather was amazing all week except for the day we went out.  It was foggy and windy and rough.  We went out on the Sunrise with Captain Craig and RJ was the deckhand.  We used them last year and were very happy with them.  There were 16 customers on board and not everyone limited.  We caught 13 out of 14 possible black rock fish (seabass),one ling cod was caught and ended up with 5 1/2 crabs per person from 9 pots.  The 10th got caught in the prop while being pulled and ended up being cut off and lost.  It was tough fishing because of the rough weather and 4 of the 16 didn't fish at all because they were sick and chumming for the rest of us.

[RadSav]

I always get a kick out of Depoe Bay charter skippers wanting to be referred to as "Captain".

That boat has always produced an exceptional amount of vomit.  Between the Volvos and the hull design it really gets to folks with limited open water experience.  Used to be the fastest motor boat in the fleet, though.  Meant more fishing time!

Only one ling...my how things have changed!!

[Bullkllr]

Dangit guys, read through this whole thread and now all I can think about is a piece of that pie

[RadSav]

I live in a perpetual "Betty's Pie" jones.  Few days ever go by that I'm not thinking about her pie   Was sure nice when it was only a ten minute drive!

[JJB11B]

I really enjoy having a couple Hefe's and the 4 piece cod and chips at Gracie's Sea Hag when I am in town. I get grumpy when I miss out on that tradition. I also enjoy going to Mo's in Lincoln City when I am in town. Here are a few things I really want to do there but never have,
1.Fish Siletz bay
2. Fish Devils Lake
3. Go out on a superbly successful tuna trip.
I have been out on a Tuna trip before but we did very poorly... I do not remember what boat we were on but we booked with Dockside charters, all the other boats caught 30-40 fish, we caught 8....

[RadSav]

I really enjoy having a couple Hefe's and the 4 piece cod and chips at Gracie's Sea Hag when I am in town. I get grumpy when I miss out on that tradition. I also enjoy going to Mo's in Lincoln City when I am in town. Here are a few things I really want to do there but never have,
1.Fish Siletz bay
2. Fish Devils Lake
3. Go out on a superbly successful tuna trip.
I have been out on a Tuna trip before but we did very poorly... I do not remember what boat we were on but we booked with Dockside charters, all the other boats caught 30-40 fish, we caught 8....

1 - Siletz Bay was my back yard.  Fishing is terrible unless you want crab or perch.  Both very good at certain times of the year.  If wanting to fish salmon you will have better luck between the movie house and Chinook Bend.

2 - Devils Lake has some good bass fishing.  BUT...it is still bass fishing

3 - Vast majority of the charters out of Depoe Bay and Newport are complete amatures when it comes to tuna.  When I was in Depoe Bay most of the skippers couldn't even get enough license to fish blue water.  And only a few boats had enough speed to make blue water and back.  We had 100 fish days and we also had two fish days.  I can not remember any other skippers in Depoe during that time that ever caught more then a dozen.  Sunrise would be a good tuna boat if little Craig has acquired the knowledge.  Due to currents I would chose Westport or Ilwaco over Newport or Depoe bay if I wanted a good tuna trip.

[JJB11B]

Thank you for that info, Where would you go if you were looking for some good Lings?

[RadSav]

Thank you for that info, Where would you go if you were looking for some good Lings?

Charter, private boat or fishing off the rocks?  What time of year?  Big lings, eating lings or quantity of lings?

[JJB11B]

Charter, I don't have a seaworthy boat or any saltwater gear, as far as lings goes I was thinking bigger lings and eating lings