Pacific halibut fishing out of Garibaldi is a May and June offshore fishery, run 20 to 30 miles out in water about 800 ft deep. This page covers the season window, distance, depth and named structure you need to plan the run. The Garibaldi port guide covers the bar, the ramp and the basin. The Pacific halibut species guide covers fish behavior and the wider picture. The same fishery along the rest of the coast is in the Pacific Northwest offshore fishing guide.
When halibut are fished from Garibaldi
The local window is short. Garibaldi Charters schedules its halibut around spring, and its late-summer halibut trips leave from another port.
- Garibaldi trips: May and June
- August and September trips: Astoria only
May and June
Garibaldi Charters runs its Garibaldi halibut trips in May and June, so plan inside that window.
Late summer moves to Astoria
Garibaldi Charters lists its August and September halibut trips out of Astoria only. For late-summer halibut, look north to Astoria.
The run offshore
The table sets out the planning figures in one place.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distance offshore | 20 to 30 miles |
| Depth | over 800 ft |
| Charter day | 12 hours |
| Season trips from Garibaldi | May and June |
| Nearest NOAA station | TLBO3 (9437540) |
Distance
Garibaldi Charters’ 12-hour halibut trip runs 20 to 30 miles offshore to water over 800 ft. That makes 40 to 60 miles round trip before the first drift.
Depth
The grounds sit in about 800 ft. At that depth, electronics and tackle choices start from the bottom up.
Reading conditions before you go
The nearest NOAA station is NOAA station TLBO3 at Garibaldi, in Tillamook Bay, OR, at 45.555 N 123.919 W. It sits inside the bay, so it reports harbor-side conditions rather than conditions on the grounds 20 to 30 miles out.
Pair it with the NWS Portland marine wave forecast. Read wind, wave height and period as numbers, then make the go or no-go decision from the official forecast.
Grounds and structure
Two named spots anchor the local picture, and one contour gives you the depth line to work from.
- The Rockpile, about 20 miles offshore
- Three Arch Rocks, local structure near Garibaldi
- The 800 ft line, the depth the charter fleet fishes
The Rockpile
Anglers place The Rockpile at about 20 miles offshore, inside the 20 to 30 mile band the charter fleet runs.
Three Arch Rocks
Three Arch Rocks is named structure near Garibaldi. Mark it on your chart when you plan the day.
Working the 800 ft line
Study the 800 ft contour on Chart Contours before you leave the dock. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it’s fished from Garibaldi
The fishery calls for a long day and deep-water bottom fishing.
- Plan around running time first
- Expect deep-water bottom fishing at about 800 ft
- Study the depth line before you go
A long day
Garibaldi Charters runs halibut as a 12-hour trip. With 40 to 60 miles of round trip, plan the day around running time before fishing time.
Fishing deep water
At about 800 ft, this is deep-drop bottom fishing. The deep-drop bottom fishing guides cover rigging and technique.
Who fishes halibut out of Garibaldi
These operators list Pacific halibut fishing out of Garibaldi. A charter is one way to see the grounds with a local captain before you run your own boat.
- Garibaldi Charters: Runs Garibaldi halibut trips in May and June. Captain Tamara is named for a ladies-only bottom trip. See Garibaldi Charters halibut trips.
- Siggi-G Ocean Charters: Has operated from the Garibaldi boat basin since 1992. The boat is the Siggi-G.
- Lewis and Clark Guide Service (Oregon Coast Angling): See Lewis and Clark Guide Service.
- Big Bite Fishin’ Charters: Captain Demar Hagger is the owner and operator.
- Pacific Offshore Charters: See Pacific Offshore Charters in Garibaldi.
FAQ about Pacific halibut fishing out of Garibaldi
When is halibut fished out of Garibaldi?
Garibaldi Charters runs its Garibaldi halibut trips in May and June.
How far offshore do boats run?
The 12-hour trip runs 20 to 30 miles offshore, which is 40 to 60 miles round trip. The Rockpile is about 20 miles out.
How deep is the water?
About 800 ft. Charter trips run to water over 800 ft.
Do Garibaldi charters run halibut in August?
Garibaldi Charters lists its August and September halibut trips out of Astoria only.
What is the nearest NOAA station?
TLBO3 (9437540), Garibaldi, Tillamook Bay, at 45.555 N 123.919 W. It reads harbor-side conditions, so pair it with the NWS marine forecast.
