Best bets for the winter?

So, I have studying for the PE exam occupying all my time for the rest of this month, then rifle elk season for the first half of November. 

Once that is over I'll finally have an opportunity to go fishing again.  So when I need a break from studying, what kinds of fishing should I be figuring out gear and techniques for?

I know there's some blackmouth fishing that will be open through the winter.  If I can get an anchor set up for the yak there's winter steelhead in the rivers.  Cabezon closes at the end of November, so there might be a week or two that I can try for them.  Anything else worth going after?

It's got to be good for eating.  I'm not in AOTY this year, so fishing for points is not a priority.

Oh, and FWIW, it looks like I'll be in Eugene, OR for Christmas time.  Not sure if SWMBO will be OK with me taking the yak down there, or even if the schedule will permit any time for fishing, but tips for anything worth fishing for in that general area would be appreciated.

Unless I misread the regs, the Oregon coast is open year round for Lingcod and Rockfish.

Unless I misread the regs, the Oregon coast is open year round for Lingcod and Rockfish.

It may be open, but more than likely it will not be fishable.  Watched some real big swells rolling all weekend. Even in PC the breakers were 4-5 deep (surfers were loving it).   The end is near, might have a few good days left here and there but soon the fat lady will be singing

Unless I misread the regs, the Oregon coast is open year round for Lingcod and Rockfish.

It may be open, but more than likely it will not be fishable.  Watched some real big swells rolling all weekend. Even in PC the breakers were 4-5 deep (surfers were loving it).   The end is near, might have a few good days left here and there but soon the fat lady will be singing

Is that true around Florence too?  Is there even any decent bottom fishing around Florence?  If not, is it better going north to Waldport/Newport, or south to Reedsport?

With the exception of a few small windows the ocean proper is rough all winter long.  Costal bays with rock jetties hold some rockfish (small) and lings near their mouths, but nothing close to what offshore reefs have.  If you pay close attention to the tides, incoming swells and the wind its possible to fish the jetties and catch some fish but it can be one of the more dangerous fisheries around. 

With the exception of a few small windows the ocean proper is rough all winter long.  Costal bays with rock jetties hold some rockfish (small) and lings near their mouths, but nothing close to what offshore reefs have.  If you pay close attention to the tides, incoming swells and the wind its possible to fish the jetties and catch some fish but it can be one of the more dangerous fisheries around. 

Hrmmm.  Sounds like leaving the yak at home over Christmas might be the default position.  Sounds like the odds that one of the days I'd likely be able to get away will be fishable are pretty low.

Anyone up this way got an anchor setup I can go to school on?  The descriptions on here are great, but I do best when I can put hands on hardware.  I'd love to do some winter steelheading in the Skagit.

If you love seabass then you could plan a trip to westport... if the weather was not good there are a number of rivers you can fish.  Of course I have no idea what the westport jetty is like during the winter or if the fish bite.

If you love seabass then you could plan a trip to westport... if the weather was not good there are a number of rivers you can fish.  Of course I have no idea what the westport jetty is like during the winter or if the fish bite.

Westport would be cool, but with the winter weather making things ... sporty, I'm thinking that might be a better summer/early fall kind of a trip.  When it's a bit more favorable out there it would fun to meet up and slay some rockfish.

Other than the Christmas trip with the family to Eugene (my parents and in laws both live there) I was intending to stay reasonably local.  Especially after the New Year.  We've got kid #4 on the way, and I don't want to be that far from home during the last couple months.  (S)He is due in early March, but I have a feeling it might be early.

A few days before you leave, the forecasts will tell if there is a chance of a calm window. 

Blackmouth is worth a trip or 2 but the weather windows are smaller here in area 6 for this 2.  Best tasting Salmon in the world though, the lack of hormonal activity makes that fish mmm good.  For the 1st time they are allowing us to keep 2 through the winter and the fishing has been pretty good.   These fish are a bit harder to target from the yak than the summer fish but still doable.

The Oregon/Vancouver boys (& girls) on the Columbia system seem to use there boats the most over the winter.

Then there is bank fishing for steelhead, not a bad plan.  But the boats get used less from here on out. 

Things are pretty much over after blackmouth closes--at least in area 11.  We hibernate from april 16 to June 1.  And from Dec 31 to Feb 16!