When albacore are off Depoe Bay
Albacore fishing out of Depoe Bay runs on a summer window, and boats go well offshore to reach it. The fleet starts in mid-July. Harbor, bar and ramp detail is on our Depoe Bay port page.
The prime window
Dockside Charters in Depoe Bay gives mid-July through mid-September as prime. Tradewinds Charters out of Depoe Bay says its albacore trips start in mid-July.
| Source | Timing |
|---|---|
| Dockside Charters | Prime, mid-July through mid-September |
| Tradewinds Charters | Trips start mid-July |
How far Depoe Bay boats run
Albacore trips out of Depoe Bay usually mean a run of 20 miles or more, well past the reefs and the 40-fathom water a local bottomfish boat already knows. For how the run builds along the Northwest coast, see our albacore tuna fishing guide for the Pacific Northwest (see also the Pacific Northwest fishing guide). Run distance sets fuel, crew and plan, so the numbers below come with their sources.
Typical distance
Dockside runs 12-hour tuna trips 20 to 40 miles offshore. ODFW on Oregon tuna fishing says boats go 30 miles or more offshore in most years.
| Source | Distance offshore |
|---|---|
| Dockside Charters | 20 to 40 miles on 12-hour tuna trips |
| ODFW | 30 miles or more in most years |
The water to look for
Fish are found in clear blue water with warm surface temperatures. Look for that color and temperature once you are out, not before.
- Clear blue water
- Warm surface temperatures
Grounds and structure on the run out
The structure off Depoe Bay is what you pass on the way to tuna water, not where you fish for tuna. The table lists the reference points in the order you meet them. Depth contours like these show on the Chart Contours layer; chart layers are not for navigation.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bell Buoy | Not listed | Harbor entrance |
| Reefs in front of the harbor | 30 to 240 | Off the harbor |
| Spanish Head | Not listed | North side |
| Cape Foulweather Complex MCA | 72 maximum | 1.5 miles south |
| 40-fathom line | 240 (40 fathoms) | Offshore of the reefs |
| Long-leader zone | 480 to 600 (80 to 100 fathoms) | Deeper water |
Bell Buoy and the harbor reefs
Bell Buoy marks the harbor entrance. The reefs in front of the harbor run 30 to 240 ft, the range Dockside’s 5-hour bottom trips fish.
Spanish Head and Cape Foulweather
Spanish Head is a named landmark on the north side of the harbor. The Cape Foulweather Complex conservation area lies 1.5 miles south of Depoe Bay, with a maximum depth of 72 ft.
The 40-fathom line and long-leader zone
The 40-fathom line sits at 240 ft. Dockside’s long-leader trips fish 480 to 600 ft (80 to 100 fathoms), the last bottom reference before open tuna water.
How albacore are fished from Depoe Bay
The local fleet finds fish first, then slows down to work them. The general tackle and technique picture is in our albacore tuna fishing guide. The local sequence is:
- Find the school. Locate fish with satellite imagery and troll for them.
- Hold the fish. Keep them under the boat once you have them.
- Drift with light tackle. Work the school from a drifting boat.
- Care for the catch. Pith, bleed, chill and ice right away.
Finding schools
Tradewinds locates schools with satellite imagery and trolls to find them. A satellite image is a snapshot, and cloud can block a pass, so it tells you where to start looking and guarantees nothing about the fish.
Holding fish and drifting
Once Tradewinds finds a school, it keeps the fish under the boat and drifts with light tackle.
Fish care on deck
Dockside says tuna must be pithed, bled, chilled and iced right away, in that order.
Who fishes albacore out of Depoe Bay
Two Depoe Bay operators list albacore trips: Tradewinds Charters and Dockside Charters.
Tradewinds Charters
- Kadaho: Capt. Kaleb Thorson, a 50-ft Delta with a 19-knot cruise.
- Kingfisher: also runs for Tradewinds.
- Method: satellite imagery, trolling, then drifting.
Dockside Charters
- Samson: James Pederson.
- Triumph: Leon Morrow, 6 passengers.
- Trip length: 12-hour tuna trips.
FAQ: albacore tuna fishing out of Depoe Bay
When is albacore season out of Depoe Bay?
Albacore fishing out of Depoe Bay is prime from mid-July through mid-September, according to Dockside Charters. Tradewinds Charters says its albacore trips start in mid-July.
How far offshore are the tuna?
Dockside’s 12-hour trips run 20 to 40 miles offshore. ODFW says boats go 30 miles or more in most years. Boats look for clear blue water and warm surface temperatures.
How do local boats find albacore?
Tradewinds uses satellite imagery and trolls to find a school. It then keeps the fish under the boat and drifts with light tackle. Other species and methods are covered in our tuna fishing guides.
How should albacore be handled after landing?
Dockside says to pith, bleed, chill and ice the fish right away. Every step after the first depends on the fish already being dispatched, so the order matters.
Can I scout on a charter first?
Yes. Tradewinds runs Kadaho and Kingfisher, and Dockside runs Samson and Triumph on 12-hour trips. A charter shows how far the local fleet runs and how it works fish, though it doesn’t promise fish.
