Pacific City

Considering taking a friend out to Pacific City. Wondering what it is like there at the end of the month usually?  What kinds of fish can be taken? What do we need to know? Looking at a mon to wed trip.

It's tough to plan a trip to PC this time of year and actually get to go fishing.  Sometime in April is when you will start to see windows of opportunity in the weather with any kind of regularity, but even then it's hit or miss.  You can catch pretty much everything there though.  You can drive down on the beach(assuming your vehicle can get through sand) and park there after you unload your kayak and gear(make sure you put a sign in your windshield that says you're fishing).  There's a cleaning station across the street in Webb County Park(Day use fee).  Surf launch can be really easy in the summer.  However, this time of year I wouldn't recommend it as a first time experience because this is what it usually looks like:

Thanks. Looks like there may be better choices.

I love "surf owned"! One of my fav's. That was a big day;)

I love "surf owned"! One of my fav's. That was a big day;)

I have done one surf launch on a rental yak down in La Jolla, and the surf down there 'owned me' 4 times before I finally figured it out enough to get past the breakers...  I was glad evrything on me was secured and did not need to be kept dry!!  Fun but soggy and it would have been a lot less fun in winter...

Jim

This time of year, if Pacific City is a more advanced area, are there any areas you would recommend on the coast that would be more favorable to a beginner?

This time of year, if Pacific City is a more advanced area, are there any areas you would recommend on the coast that would be more favorable to a beginner?

Depoe Bay is a good alternative.  Just make sure to follow DB protocol when exiting and entering the Bay.
Horn Blast, Announce your intent on Ch 80 VHF, Stay to one side of the channel (between the bar and the buoys) when heading out and back.

-Spot-

This time of year, if Pacific City is a more advanced area, are there any areas you would recommend on the coast that would be more favorable to a beginner?

For beginners, I don't really have any.  Except for rare circumstances, the ocean is effectively closed during the winter and early spring on the northern part of the Oregon coast for kayakers.  Sure, every once in a while there will be an ocean window where the swells will lay down and the wind will take the day off, but they are few and far between.  When those windows do happen, Depoe Bay is a great spot to be since it doesn't involve a surf launch, but if you're a beginner I would make it a requirement that you would only go if you can go with someone who is experienced regardless of what time of year it is.  Once we get to about the middle of April we will begin to regularly see some good ocean opportunities but May is when it really starts getting good.  Hang tight, we're almost there! 

WE did not notice anyone out yesterday.

I'll debate the idea of suggesting Depoe is good for beginners.  Maybe once they get their sea legs?  Paddling out through surf helps filter out those that don't belong beyond the impact zone.  We've seen the current push guys out of position where a beach landing or the CG is their only option. We don't want to mislead a newbie on what they're getting into.  I think the beach launch is a good primer for the first day. 

This time of year, if Pacific City is a more advanced area, are there any areas you would recommend on the coast that would be more favorable to a beginner?

I'll echo some of the other sentiments above regarding beginners in the salt. But that said, we've all been beginners in the salt at one time or another.

Sunset Bay near Coos Bay is a good option, IMO. You launch from the sand inside Sunset Bay, where there is usually zero or very little waves. You can see how comfortable the beginner is inside the bay before heading out into the ocean, which is very close. Or stay inside the bay and fish there.

+1 on Sunset for beginners. There is zero surf at the launch. There are productive fishing grounds very close to shore that offer some great protection from wind and swell. I would recommend Sunset to all newbies. I might be a little biased though 

I agree with LLH. My first time in the ocean was at Sunset Bay. I opted to fish in the bay that day. My second time out was at PC during the 2008 ORC. To this day one of my favorite days on the water. I had a whale breach just yards behind me, and again in front. I caught two nice blacks and two chinas, and I didn't huli!

That's #1 on my to-fish list this year/summer - to get out in the salt.

Would love to hitch along with a mini-fleet of you guys.

I'm shooting for a weekend in April