Ilwaco sits at the mouth of the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific, making it one of the Pacific Northwest's most productive fishing ports. The town serves as a gateway to both ocean and river fishing—charter boats run daily for salmon, halibut, and rockfish in the open water, while the Columbia's lower reaches hold sturgeon, shad, and seasonal runs of chinook and coho. The harbor itself bustles with commercial and recreational traffic, and the nearby bays and jetties offer accessible shore fishing for anglers without boats.
The articles here cover what species run through Ilwaco waters by season, which techniques work best for different target fish, where to fish from shore or boat, and how to navigate the tides and weather that shape fishing conditions on this exposed coast. You'll find information about charter operations, tackle choices for ocean and river fishing, and the regulations that apply to this region.