Why Pacific City (vs other beaches...)?

Hey there Oregonoids, another curiousity question for you.

Why does the vast majority of the dory fishing (and kayaking surf-launching trips) seem to be concentrated at PC?  There are some who launch at Cannon Beach or other spots along your lovely coastline, but PC seems to be the "In place".  Is that the beach (shape, slope, shelter from the cape, etc)?  Or just that they have the best reputation and organized fishermen so that's where everyone gravitates to?  Or the local fishing is just better than everywhere else?  Or random chance that everyone likes it there?  Or all of the above in varying degree...

Jim (wishing the primo spot was further north so it'd be closer...)

On many days, the launch is gravy due to the protection of the cape.  Not much surf to deal with.
But it isn't always like that, or like that all day.

Also you can drive right down to the hard pack sand to unload/load your kayak and gear. 

Beer and burgers VERY close.

Cleaning station VERY close.

Camping VERY close.

Well, Craig beat me to it.  The biggest thing is the fact that you're not going to find that combination of amenities anywhere close to Portland-Eugene corridor where most of us live.

Let's take a look at the other capes and protected coves in Northern Oregon.  You'll find it's hard to get easy beach access to the coves to launch your kayak.

You already mentioned Cannon Beach.  I'm assuming folks launch out of Ecola State Park as the Cannon Beach itself isn't very well protected.

Cape Meares really isn't much of a cape, at least when it comes to protecting you from NW swell and it doesn't have much beach access to the cove.

Access to Cape Lookout's cove is owned by the Boy Scouts and it's a really long walk from public access at Sand Lake.

Cascade Head and Cape Perpetua are MPA/Marine Researves

Cape Falcon is scheduled to be an MPA/Marine Researve starting next year (2016).  Until then you have access to smuggler cove a.k.a. "Shorty's" beach via a 1/2 mile not-so-kayak-friendly hike from the road.

Three Rocks? Maybe.  I think I've heard of people launching there.

Depot Bay... well we do fish there a lot

Where is the fish cleaning station at Pacific City? I've just been throwing fish into a cooler and driving home, but my neighbors are getting tired of the perfume of 5 day cured rockfish carcasses.

Thanks!

Thanks guys

Jim

Where is the fish cleaning station at Pacific City? I've just been throwing fish into a cooler and driving home, but my neighbors are getting tired of the perfume of 5 day cured rockfish carcasses.

Thanks!

Webb County Campground. It's across the street.  Be sure to bring garbage bags and leave the place clean.  Sometimes the camp host collects a small fee, sometimes they don't.

Well everyone pretty much covered it. It has nothing to do with the crowd for me, that's for sure; I'd much rather head out somewhere with fewer people. But it is a protected launch where you can park on the beach, and I hesitate to mention it, but it's not exactly a secret... the fishing is usually very good and very close. To give you some idea: a couple of trips back there were people paddle-board fishing out there.

Hey there Oregonoids, another curiousity question for you.

Why does the vast majority of the dory fishing (and kayaking surf-launching trips) seem to be concentrated at PC?  There are some who launch at Cannon Beach or other spots along your lovely coastline, but PC seems to be the "In place".  Is that the beach (shape, slope, shelter from the cape, etc)?  Or just that they have the best reputation and organized fishermen so that's where everyone gravitates to?  Or the local fishing is just better than everywhere else?  Or random chance that everyone likes it there?  Or all of the above in varying degree...

Jim (wishing the primo spot was further north so it'd be closer...)

Come down spend an extended weekend on a low surf forecast " pray it holds" go home with a cooler full of filets

Hey there Oregonoids, another curiousity question for you.

Why does the vast majority of the dory fishing (and kayaking surf-launching trips) seem to be concentrated at PC?  There are some who launch at Cannon Beach or other spots along your lovely coastline, but PC seems to be the "In place".  Is that the beach (shape, slope, shelter from the cape, etc)?  Or just that they have the best reputation and organized fishermen so that's where everyone gravitates to?  Or the local fishing is just better than everywhere else?  Or random chance that everyone likes it there?  Or all of the above in varying degree...

Jim (wishing the primo spot was further north so it'd be closer...)

Come down spend an extended weekend on a low surf forecast " pray it holds" go home with a cooler full of filets

   I'd love to.  Gotta wait till the doc clears me to lift >25 lbs, so I can get back into shape (and get back in practice on the water, let alone surf!).  Might be a next-summer or spring trip...  Have to save up for that out of state license too!

Jim

Speaking of Cape Lookout (south side), I've done this launch twice once with Ron and once with Rawkfish. 
It's certainly a long walk (2 miles) from parking and parking was about 1.5 miles up the beach from Sand Lake Rec area.

For this fishery, it's probably the most complicated of the beaches I've ever launch from. 
-First you have to purchase an ORV (off road vehicle) permit @ $10 for two years. 

-Then you have to be able to traverse soft sand (late spring-early fall) without getting stuck.

-You need a flag deployed on your vehicle while traversing the sand. You should have one for your kayak already and that can be used provided you find away to attach it to your vehicle.

-Now you have to cover about 1/2 mile of dunes to get to the beach, and then travel the 1.5 miles north to the end of the ORV area.  This coincides with where the boy scout beach access starts. 

-At this point you have to make a decision whether to risk leaving your rig unsupervised and exposed to all the ORV's and ATV's that run up and down the beach.  Or, kindly ignore the "No Vehicle's Beyond this Point" sign and park your rig up the beach just out of sight.  Be sure to leave a contact number and or VHF channel sign in your window with the fact this is a kayak launch vehicle.

-Now the fun part.  Gear up your kayak with the 11" x 7" fat Wheeleez and tow all your fishing gear, immersion gear, etc all the way up the beach to the cape, about 2 miles.  It's not a bad walk if you have someone to talk to while doing so, and if you balanced your load evenly front to back on the kayak. 

-Once there, you do the normal prep and surf launch.  It can be dead flat, not even an ankle slapper, to very religious surfing waves.  Do your homework and make sure you pick the right swell forecast. 

-Fishing was ok, but structure is harder to find.  I would imagine flounder, perch, or crabbing would be the better target although black rockfish limits can be accomplished.  Big lings were not the norm, and didn't see any cabs. 

-The best part of this fishery is that you are in solitude, and if the swell is out of the north then the cape is COMPLETELY protected and there is no swell. Water is emerald green and fish can be seen 20+ feet down taking your offering. 

-One more big thing to remember is that you are alone and nearly out of VHF range with the coast guard in the event of an issue.  The cape itself will pretty much block your VHF signal north towards Netarts/Tillamook.
And PC itself is over 7 miles south.  So take that into consideration.

Speaking of Cape Lookout (south side), I've done this launch twice...

I really appreciate that write-up. I have considered that haul a few times, and you shed a lot of light on the details. These are the kinds of posts that make NWKA so great. Thank you.

That is a great write up, very cool.  With all the madness these days at PC, anther great option would just be to launch at Tierra del Mar and troll north along the beach early for nooks/ coho, maybe make it all the way to the cape.  Lots of structure for bottom fishing that way too.  Ride the afternoon wind back.  Not as protected as Kiwanda, but on small surf days it's a very easy launch with zero crowds and beach parking.  I'm usually fishing all by myself when I'm north of Kiwanda.

That is a great write up, very cool.  With all the madness these days at PC, anther great option would just be to launch at Tierra del Mar and troll north along the beach early for nooks/ coho, maybe make it all the way to the cape.  Lots of structure for bottom fishing that way too.  Ride the afternoon wind back.  Not as protected as Kiwanda, but on small surf days it's a very easy launch with zero crowds and beach parking.  I'm usually fishing all by myself when I'm north of Kiwanda.

This is interesting. ..always wondered about North of PC. Also drive on beach... (Terra del Mar?)  Seen surfers, jet skis, etc. Always wondered if it was yak worthy....

The tidel area on south end of camp ground at sandlakes, can you launch there? LI have pulled crab by hand there in the past when duneing.some sites are close to water.

Great write up.  I've spear fished there and had the pleasure of carrying 20 lbs of fish plus 30lbs of gear back up the trail to the top parking lot.  That was a very long day.