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Can anyone offer any ideas for the best place to launch and fish for tuna off of Or. coast in a small boat? I have a 19 ft Panga Marine that is actually pretty seaworthy and have been offshore in the gulf many miles, but I am not familliar with the west coast. I will be towing from Mt, so the closer the better. Also, any suggestions for lodging would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for any response.
A number of years ago, when I lived in Oregon, I went on a charter out of Depoe Bay for tuna and we did very well. We went out about 35 miles but it was considered unusual for the tuna to be that close to shore. Of the 15 years I lived in Oregon that was the only time they were that close. We trolled at a fast speed, at least 10 miles an hour with (as I remember) big feathered jigs. It was a beautiful calm day and a lot of the boats stayed out there (we came in) and a big storm hit keeping the coast guard busy though the night. The charters were about 40 feet long. I routinely run 100 miles out here in Alaska in a 25 foot boat but it is in the semi-protected waters of the Prince William Sound area. I don’t think I would run 35 miles out in the open ocean off the coast of Oregon in a 19 foot boat. Hope this is helpful.
Ditto what Pastor Bob Said. You are taking a big chance with a 19' boat. I run a 19' weldcraft aluminum boat. it's tough as nails but I wouldn't consider going out the 40 or 50+ miles needed to get tuna. We went out in a 26' last year and had a really rough ride out and back again. It comes up fast. Personally after what I learned I would want a boat with twin engines. We had a hiccup in the main and were thinking we would be coming back on the 8hp trolling motor.
Here are a couple of good links that will give you an ides of the conditions.
Good advise on offshore conditions that come up in a hurry at times. This year has started with first sport tuna at 70nm off Winchester Bay. A couple of partyboats out of Newport found fish at 40nm this last weekend.
Blue water and 59 to 64 degree water is target for us. Last SST show warm water 25nm off Crescent City and closer at Coos Bay at moment. Big blow happening now and will be a week before next attempts.
Great source is Salty Dogs forum on ifish.net for Oregon offshore fishing. Prior years have found albies being hooked by salmon sport trollers few miles off beach. Pick your days and conditions, ya just may catch tuna on 19ft panga
it's a fairly long haul from MT to try your luck on tuna with out experience doing it on the West coast.
i'd go charter on a 6-pack boat (prices are about $200-225 pp with a boat limit).
i also ditto Depoe Bay, OR where i'd recommend Cpt. Loren Goddard on "the Affair". He's a gentleman and a true professional charter operator.
Sometimes the warm water pushes close to shore, but normally it's 20-35 nm offshore.
it's not as easy as making it out to the warm water when the weather is nice, you have to find the fish in the vast ocean.
The top charters study and track surface temps, wind, fish movements from "reports" , etc. all to stay on top of the fish.
Use the panga to troll or jig for bottom fish or for salmon (coho only check openings).
i was in astoria 2 weeks ago and the tuna were 18 miles out. lotsa tuna caught that weekend!!! pick the right time and weather and the bar will be nice and flat for ya!
Tuna, Oregon?
