Pacific halibut fishing out of Depoe Bay splits into two fisheries: nearshore, inside the 40-fathom line at 240 ft, and all-depth, 15 to 40 miles offshore. Tradewinds Charters describes offshore halibut coming up from 600 to 1200 ft. Pick the fishery that fits your boat, then load the lines and landmarks below. The same fishery along the rest of the coast is in the Pacific Northwest offshore fishing guide.
When Pacific halibut are off Depoe Bay
Season timing determines the rest of the trip plan, so it comes first. For background on the fish itself, see the Pacific halibut species guide.
| Fishery | Window | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nearshore | May to October | Dockside Charters |
| All-depth | Opens in May | Dockside Charters |
Open days and quotas are set by the agency and covered in the Regulations section below.
Nearshore: May to October
Dockside says the nearshore fishery runs May to October, the longer of the two windows.
All-depth: opens in May
Dockside says the all-depth fishery opens in May.
Where boats run
The 40-fathom line (240 ft) is the nearshore boundary and divides the two fisheries, so have it on your plotter before you leave the dock. Nearshore keeps you inside 240 ft and close to the harbor, while all-depth means a 15 to 40 mile run to deep water. Dockside calls all-depth the most productive fishery and the more physically demanding one. Tradewinds describes fishing offshore for deep-water fish.
Nearshore: inside 240 ft
The fishery stays inside the 40-fathom line, with runs starting at the Bell Buoy off the harbor entrance.
All-depth: 15 to 40 miles out
Dockside puts the all-depth range at 15 to 40 miles offshore. Tradewinds gives 600 to 1200 ft for offshore halibut.
Grounds and structure
The run works as a depth ladder stepping outward from the harbor. Each rung is a line or landmark you can mark ahead of time.
The depth ladder
| Feature | Depth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bell Buoy | n/a | Harbor entrance |
| Reefs in front of the harbor | 30 to 240 ft | Range of Dockside’s 5-hour bottom trips |
| 40-fathom line | 240 ft | Nearshore boundary |
| Long-leader zone | 480 to 600 ft (80 to 100 fathoms) | Where long-leader trips fish |
| Offshore halibut water | 600 to 1200 ft | Tradewinds; 15 to 40 miles out per Dockside |
| Spanish Head | n/a | North-side reference |
| Cape Foulweather Complex MCA | Maximum 72 ft | 1.5 miles south of Depoe Bay |
Two notes on the table. The 30 to 240 ft range for the reefs is the depth span of Dockside’s bottom trips, not a halibut range. At Spanish Head on the north side, boats then went to deeper water for lingcod, so treat it as a reference point. The long-leader zone is a depth marker between the nearshore line and deep halibut water.
Marking the lines
Mark the 40-fathom line and the 480 to 600 ft band with the Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it’s fished out of Depoe Bay
Heavy tackle is the local method, and Tradewinds also advertises limited-load halibut and tuna trips. Fish coming up from 600 to 1200 ft call for deep-drop gear and the strength to work it. Dockside calls the all-depth fishery the more physically demanding one.
Heavy tackle for 600 to 1200 ft
Plan for deep water and a long fight. Match the load to the depth, and expect all-depth days to take more out of you than nearshore days.
Who fishes halibut out of Depoe Bay
Two operators list Pacific halibut fishing out of Depoe Bay:
- Tradewinds Charters out of Depoe Bay
- Kadaho: Capt. Kaleb Thorson, 50′ Delta, 19-knot cruise.
- Kingfisher.
- Limited-load halibut and tuna trips.
- Dockside Charters in Depoe Bay
- Samson: James Pederson.
- Triumph: Leon Morrow, 6-passenger.
FAQ: Pacific halibut fishing out of Depoe Bay
When does the all-depth halibut fishery open out of Depoe Bay?
Dockside says the all-depth fishery opens in May, and the nearshore fishery runs May to October. Open days are set by the agency, so check the Regulations section above before you plan a trip.
How far do boats run for all-depth halibut?
Dockside puts the all-depth fishery at 15 to 40 miles offshore.
How deep is the nearshore halibut fishery?
Nearshore fishing stays inside the 40-fathom line, 240 ft. The reefs in front of the harbor run 30 to 240 ft, the range of Dockside’s 5-hour bottom trips.
What depth do offshore halibut come from?
Tradewinds gives 600 to 1200 ft for offshore halibut. Long-leader trips fish 480 to 600 ft, shoreward of that. Heavy tackle is the local method.
Who runs halibut trips out of Depoe Bay?
Tradewinds runs the Kadaho and Kingfisher, with limited-load halibut and tuna trips. Dockside runs the Samson and Triumph.
