Pacific City and the Cape Kiwanda fleet
Albacore fishing out of Pacific City starts at Cape Kiwanda, where the dory fleet launches off the beach. The tuna are offshore. If you run your own boat, treat Pacific City as a beach-launched dory port first and a tuna port second.
Landmarks off the cape
The named structure off the cape is where the day starts and where you get oriented. It is near-shore structure, not albacore water.
| Name | Location | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Haystack Rock | Just offshore of Cape Kiwanda | |
| Chief Kiwanda Rock | Sea stack about 1/2 mile southwest of the cape | |
| Unnamed reefs off Cape Kiwanda | About 1 mile offshore | 40 ft |
| Remote reef fished mainly by the Pacific City dory fleet |
None of these is a tuna spot. They mark the departure.
When albacore are here
Albacore are a summer fish here. Sea Bliss says the fleet runs offshore for albacore later in the summer, and Tillamook Coast lists albacore as summer charter targets for the dory fleet.
Why they arrive when they do is covered in our albacore tuna fishing guide.
- Season: summer
- Fleet timing: later in the summer, per Sea Bliss
- Charter listing: summer target, per Tillamook Coast
Where boats run
Albacore are an offshore fish here. The near-shore structure is where the day starts, and the tuna are farther out. Run distances show up only in blog posts and not on charter sites, so plan your offshore leg from current forecast numbers rather than a fixed waypoint.
For water temperature and offshore distance context across the region, see our notes on Pacific Northwest albacore (see also the Pacific Northwest fishing guide).
Before you commit to an offshore day, read the official marine forecast and work from the numbers: wind, wave height and period. Chart layers are not for navigation.
- Start at the cape landmarks
- Run offshore for the tuna
- Check the forecast numbers before you go
How it is fished locally
Albacore trips from this port follow the dory fleet’s rhythm: a long day, launched from the beach, with the fish well beyond the cape.
The dory day
Dory fleet tuna trips run roughly 12 hours and start before dawn, so plan the rest of your day around that length.
- Before dawn: the day starts in the dark.
- Offshore: the run takes you past the near-shore structure.
- Roughly 12 hours: the whole trip, start to finish.
The remote reef
A remote reef is fished mainly by the Pacific City dory fleet.
Who fishes for them
Sea Bliss Dory Charter (seablisscharter.com) lists albacore tuna. Captain Marty Wisehart runs the dory Miss Bliss. Tillamook Coast also lists albacore as a summer charter target. If you are weighing a guided trip against running your own boat, our tuna fishing guides cover that choice.
FAQ about albacore out of Pacific City
When is albacore tuna fishing out of Pacific City in season?
Summer. The fleet runs offshore for albacore later in the summer, and Tillamook Coast lists albacore as a summer charter target.
Do you fish albacore near Haystack Rock?
No. Haystack Rock is a near-shore landmark just off Cape Kiwanda where the day starts. Albacore are offshore.
How long is a dory tuna trip?
Roughly 12 hours, starting before dawn.
Who runs albacore charters here?
Sea Bliss Dory Charter, run by Captain Marty Wisehart on the dory Miss Bliss, lists albacore tuna.
Where are the rules?
ODFW sets the state rules. Albacore are also federally managed as a highly migratory species. Check both before fishing.
