Pacific bluefin tuna fishing out of Garibaldi is an offshore, blue-water fishery, and the fish turn up on the albacore troll. There is no named Garibaldi bluefin spot, so the working picture is simple: run to the blue water, troll for albacore, and expect bluefin in the mix. This guide covers timing, distance, named structure, method, and the station to read before you leave Garibaldi. The wider species picture is in our Pacific bluefin tuna guide.
When bluefin are off Garibaldi
Bluefin are a summer fish here. They show up in the offshore blue water, and the evidence points to albacore water rather than a separate bluefin fishery.
Summer, in the albacore water
Bluefin appear in the blue water off the Washington-Oregon coast in summer. Ilwaco fleets on the Columbia River report them mixed with albacore, and Garibaldi boats fish the same offshore water. The timing is regional rather than specific to one port. For the wider picture, see bluefin across the Pacific Northwest (see also the Pacific Northwest region guide).
- Season: summer
- Water: offshore blue water
- Company: albacore, with bluefin in the mix
- Reporting base: Ilwaco fleets, in the same shared offshore water
How far boats run from Garibaldi
Blue-water catches are about 40 miles off the Washington-Oregon coast. From Garibaldi that is a long run, and whether your boat can make it comes before any question of where to fish.
About 40 miles to blue water
Forty miles out and 40 back is a fuel and range calculation. Blue water is the edge where warm offshore water meets green inshore water, and that edge is the destination.
Reading conditions before the bar
Before you leave, read NOAA station TLBO3 (9437540), Garibaldi, Tillamook Bay, OR, at 45.555 N 123.919 W, and pair it with the official NWS marine forecast. Both matter most for the bar crossing. They give you numbers, not a verdict on whether to go.
To find the blue-water edge, check the OBS SST and Chlorophyll layers in Breakpoint before you commit to the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
| Place | Distance or position |
|---|---|
| The Rockpile | About 20 miles offshore |
| Blue-water catches | About 40 miles off the Washington-Oregon coast |
| NOAA station TLBO3 (9437540) | 45.555 N 123.919 W, Tillamook Bay |
Grounds and structure near Garibaldi
Two named places sit near the port. Neither is the bluefin grounds, so keep them separate from the 40-mile blue water.
The Rockpile, about 20 miles out
The Rockpile is about 20 miles offshore, roughly half the run to the reported blue water. It works as a waypoint on the way out. Bluefin are not caught there.
Three Arch Rocks
Three Arch Rocks is nearshore structure near the port, well inside the water where bluefin are found.
- The Rockpile: about 20 miles offshore, a waypoint
- Three Arch Rocks: nearshore, near the port
- Blue water: about 40 miles out, where bluefin are caught
How bluefin are fished here and who fishes them
Out of Garibaldi, bluefin turn up on albacore trips and are not a standalone target.
On the albacore troll
Albacore trollers catch bluefin in the offshore blue water, using the same troll spread they run for albacore. For spreads and gear, see our tuna fishing guides.
Private boats and albacore trollers
The fishery belongs to private boats running offshore and to albacore trollers. A bluefin is an encounter on an albacore trip.
- Run to the blue water on an albacore trip.
- Troll the spread you already know.
- Expect bluefin as part of the mix, not as a separate target.
FAQ: Pacific bluefin tuna fishing out of Garibaldi
When are Pacific bluefin caught off Garibaldi?
In summer, in the offshore blue water off the Washington-Oregon coast, where Ilwaco fleets find them mixed with albacore.
How far offshore do boats run for bluefin?
Blue-water catches are about 40 miles off the Washington-Oregon coast, so plan the run around range and fuel.
Is The Rockpile a bluefin spot?
No. The Rockpile is about 20 miles offshore, roughly half the distance to the blue water where bluefin are caught.
What method catches bluefin out of Garibaldi?
Albacore trollers working the offshore blue water catch them.
What is the nearest NOAA station to Garibaldi?
NOAA station TLBO3 (9437540), Garibaldi, Tillamook Bay, OR, at 45.555 N 123.919 W.
