Portland Area Advise Needed

So, a friend of mine moved to Portland a year ago and wants me to come and visit third week in August. She may have to work one of the days I'm there, so I'm thinking of fishing possibilities either with the Hobie PA or the Solo Skiff. She lives in a neighborhood within a mile of Government Island, but never having been to the area (other than driving through it to B.C.) I have no idea where to go and what to target, but it looks like Chinook landing is the closest launch. Always wanted to fish the Columbia, but I'm also willing to drive to the coast and visit Seaside or Cannon Beach for the day... Any suggestions?

The third week in August is prime fall Chinook salmon fishing on the Columbia.  Fishing in the Columbia esturary (near the coast) can be amazing that time of year, but it's considered an advanced fishery with kayaks.  Hazards include trolling along side a few thousand powerboaters in tight formation while dealing with tides and currents and bow wakes.   Picking the right date and tide are very important.  Pick the wrong tide and your fighting a 4 knot ebbing current that is pushing you out to sea.

Salmon can also be caught closer to Portland that time of year, but I've never had luck with it.  Maybe others that have will chime in.

Pacific City or Depoe Bay (about 2 - 2.5 hrs from Portland) offer the best options for bottom fishing if the marine forecast is cooperating. Cannon beach and seaside aren't as well protected and don't offer as much good bottom structure.

Thanks for the reply!
I'd love to try for Salmon as that is a bucket list fish for me, but I figured I would be way too early for any kind of run or season - so thanks for that info!
Knowing that, I think I may leave behind the Hobie, and bring up the Solo Skiff - yea, I know its sacrilege for a kayak forum, but if I want to compete with current and power boats it's the better option. So Columbia Estuary it is! I'll have to do some google foo on fishing there. Any other comments will be very appreciated!

In case you havent seen these boats since they are new to the west coast, hugely popular for fishing inshore species in Florida, Louisiana and Texas:

How well does the Solo Skiff handle rough water?   
The Columbia river estuary can be very rough waters at times.  Between the wind that can kick up and the washing machine effect of having hundreds of boats in the area, it's not to be taken lightly.

These are old articles, but have some helpful insights.
http://www.bestfishinginamerica.com/buzz-ramsey-buoy-10-basics.html
http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/how-to-catch-king-salmon-at-buoy-10

The Solo Skiff is much more stable than a Hobie PA and handles rough water quite well. Speed is very limited in those conditions of course because of the low freeboard. The nice thing about this skiff though is that all the water that breaks over the bow simply flows out the back because there is no transom. This will go where any kayak goes, just faster. Last time I took it out in Baja we had 2-3 foot wind driven washing machine conditions and it handled fine - just had to stay near idle though - which is about peddling speed in my PA14.

If you have never fished for salmon in the Northwest and have never experienced the Columbia River estuary, please DO NOT fish there in your personal craft.  That area should not be attempted by the inexperienced.  Quite literally, people die there with a surprising level of frequency.  If you really want to partake in that fishery, which I totally understand, because it can be pretty great, hire a guide and hop in their boat.

I would recommend checking out the Nehalem River.  Launch at the Wheeler Marina or at the Hwy 101 bridge launch.  There is a summer run of chinooks that should be in at that time. It is a much more mellow salmon fishing experience, I promise.

Duly noted.

I'm not much into crowds anyway. Don't want to end up in the middle of rush hour on the Columbia, especially since I'll be fishing on a weekend when its at peak capacity...

let us not forget the bow wakes on these guys that are empty (or partially empty) that frequent the lower Columbia.


The loaded ones are not as bad.



I would bring the Pro Angler and hit the Nehalem. I love that place. Either way, to be legal order an invasive species permit online ($5) from here before you come. http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/Boat-Fees.aspx#e-Commerce_Security Either boat will need one.  It is $20 for a motorized out of state boat.  So, advantage pedaling versus motor.

Im not far from the Nehalem and if I'm available I'll go out with you I'm in Garibaldi so I got the Tillamook Bay in my yard Pacific City 30 minutes south and then the Nehalem right up the road.