When Lingcod Are Around Pacific City
Charter trips targeting lingcod out of Pacific City run between March and September. Our lingcod species guide covers biology and the coastwide picture; this page covers Pacific City only. The same fishery along the rest of the coast is in the Pacific Northwest offshore fishing guide.
Trip windows
Two operators set the window:
- Haystack Fishing bottom trips open March through September.
- Kiwanda Fishing’s June through September trips run from Pacific City.
Both operate from June through September, and only Haystack starts in March.
Where Boats Run from Pacific City
Boats run about a mile off Cape Kiwanda to reefs in about 40 ft of water. Launch and port detail is on the Pacific City port page. The fleet here is dories, launched at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
Launching from the Cove
Boats launch from the Cove at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. Sea Bliss launches here.
The run toward Haystack Rock
From the Cove, boats run west along the cape toward Haystack Rock. The reefs lie about a mile offshore.
Grounds and Structure off Cape Kiwanda
The grounds cluster around the cape: two sea stacks, the reefs about a mile off, and a more remote reef.
| Ground | Position | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Haystack Rock | Just offshore of Cape Kiwanda | |
| Chief Kiwanda Rock | Sea stack about 1/2 mile southwest of the cape | |
| Reefs off the cape | About 1 mile offshore | About 40 ft |
| Remote reef | Fished mainly by the Pacific City dory fleet |
Haystack Rock
Haystack Rock lies just offshore of the cape. Boats run toward it from the Cove.
Chief Kiwanda Rock
Chief Kiwanda Rock is a sea stack about 1/2 mile southwest of the cape.
Reefs off the cape
The reefs lie about a mile offshore in about 40 ft of water.
The dory-fleet reef
A more remote reef is fished mainly by the Pacific City dory fleet.
How Lingcod Are Fished Here
Two methods are used out of Pacific City: bottom fishing from the dory, and fly gear with heavy sinking heads.
Bottom fishing from the dory
The dory fleet bottom fishes the reefs, including those off the cape in about 40 ft. Rigging and technique are covered in our bottom fishing guides.
Lingcod on the fly
Connect Outfitters fly setup is built for shallow reefs. The setup:
- Rods: 8 and 9 weight
- Line: 500-plus grain, 30-foot sinking heads
- Target zone: within about 5 ft of the bottom
In about 40 ft of water, a 500-plus grain head is what gets a fly into the bottom 5 ft.
Who Fishes Lingcod out of Pacific City
These operators list lingcod out of Pacific City:
- Haystack Fishing: Joe Hay and Wendy Hay own and operate it. Joe Hay is the captain.
- Pacific City Fishing: Captain Mark Lytle, dory boat.
- Rocha’s Dory Charter (formerly Eagle Charters): Joey Rocha, owner and operator.
- Eagle Charters Dory Fishing: Captain Dan Rocha.
- OAR Angling: Dory boat.
- Kiwanda Fishing: June through September trips.
FAQ: Lingcod Fishing out of Pacific City
When can you fish lingcod out of Pacific City?
Charter lingcod trips run between March and September. Haystack Fishing runs March through September, and Kiwanda Fishing runs June through September.
How far offshore are the lingcod reefs?
About a mile off Cape Kiwanda.
How deep are the reefs off Cape Kiwanda?
About 40 ft.
Where do boats launch?
From the Cove at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. Boats then run west along the cape toward Haystack Rock.
Can you catch lingcod on the fly here?
Yes. Connect Outfitters fishes 8 and 9 weight rods with 500-plus grain, 30-foot sinking heads, keeping flies within about 5 ft of the bottom.
Where are the lingcod regulations?
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife rules apply, with federal groundfish and halibut rules in federal waters. Check ODFW before fishing.
