Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) Fishing
Washington marine water in Pacific County, inside Marine Area 1.
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Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10): what saltwater anglers should know first
Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) lies inside WDFW Marine Area 1, beside Pacific County. The closest Census place is Ilwaco, roughly 5 miles away.
The WDFW and State Parks layers list 2 saltwater launches opening onto it. 1 named fishing area are mapped within it. There are 24 marine rule rows in the 2026-27 pamphlet. It has 5 NOAA tide stations.
On the boundary: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) ends at the Buoy 10 line; the WDFW boundary text: "a true north-south line projected through Buoy 10". The GNIS point for the Columbia River is its mouth, in Clatsop County, OR.
WDFW recreational marine area layer (WAC 220-311-010) on geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov, USGS GNIS names, WDFW and State Parks launch layers, WDFW shore fishing layer; retrieved October 31, 2026.
What the rules and records name on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
Species named in the Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) marine rows or the WDFW records.
2026-27 WDFW pamphlet marine area rows and WDFW sport fish records; retrieved October 31, 2026.
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- North Buoy 10 ZoneBoat Access Only
WDFW Major Fishing Areas layer on geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov (names and access notes as published); retrieved October 31, 2026.
Launches near Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Cape Disappointment launch on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)Discover Pass, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
- Cape Disappointment launch on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)Discover Pass, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WDFW Water Access Sites and Shore Fishing Sites layers (geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov) and the Washington State Parks boat launch layer, retrieved October 31, 2026. Parking at WDFW and State Parks launches needs a Discover Pass.
Bays you will pass on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Dead Mans Covecove Pacific County
- Deadmans Hollowother named water Pacific County
USGS GNIS names inside the WDFW marine area polygon; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Water level gauges near Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 31, 2026); station page for live data.
- Fort Canby, Jetty 'A', Wash.tide predictions, 2 miles
- Columbia River Entrance (N. Jetty)tide predictions, 2 miles
- Cape Disappointmenttide predictions, 3 miles
- Ilwaco, Baker Bay, Wash.tide predictions, 4 miles
- Chinook, Baker Bay, Wash.tide predictions, 6 miles
On Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) a large ebb against the wind can stand up steep chop; check the predictions first.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations inside or beside the marine area; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Salmon and bottomfish limits on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
| Species and location | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout | Catch-and-release | Year-round |
| Steelhead | Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead. | Year-round |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release. | Year-round |
| Tuna and Mackerel | No min. size. No daily limit except Northern bluefin, skipjack, and yellowfin tuna daily limit of 2 each. | Year-round |
| Herring, Sand Lance, and Smelt | No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs., all species combined. All smelt caught must be kept and count toward the daily limit except Closed to eulachon (Columbia River smelt). | Year-round |
| Anchovy and Sardine | No min. size. Daily limit 25 lbs., all species combined. May be taken by a cast net. | Year-round |
| Pacific Halibut | Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut or call (360) 902-2700 in April for information on Pacific halibut seasons and regulations. No min. size. Daily limit 1. Annual limit 6. Descendin | see the pamphlet |
| Other Food Fish | No min. size. Daily limit 2 of each species. See definition. | Year-round |
| All Other Fish | CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing. | CLOSED |
| Salmon | Chinook – min. size 22”. Coho – min. size 16”. Other salmon species – no min. size. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release wild coho. | June 20-Sept. 30, 2026 |
| Salmon | Check the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov or call (360) 902-2700 in late April for information on the 2027 salmon season. | May-June, 2027 |
| Bottomfish | Daily limit is 9 bottomfish (see definition) except surfperch and flatfish. Subject to individual limits and seasons shown below. No bottomfish may be landed in Marine Area 1 if a halibut is onboard during the All-Depth | Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct. |
| Lingcod | Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of the Deepwater Lingcod Depth Restriction Line. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river for the 2027 coordinates. | Second Sat. in Mar.-May 31 |
| Lingcod | Daily limit 2. | June 1-June 15 |
| Lingcod | Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of a line drawn from 46°38.17’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon., to 46°33.00’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut | June 16-Aug. 31 |
| Lingcod | Daily limit 2. | Sept. 1-Sept. 30 |
| Lingcod | Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of a line drawn from 46°38.17’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon., to 46°33.00’ N Lat., 124°21.00’ W Lon., | Oct. 1-Third Sat. in Oct. |
| Surfperch | Not included in bottomfish limit. No min. size. Daily limit 12 surfperch. Except shiner perch daily limit 15: not included in bottomfish limit. When bottomfish is CLOSED: fishing from North Jetty prohibited. | Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct. Year-round from beach |
| Rockfish | No min. size. Daily limit 7. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river for 2027 sub-bag limits of canary, yelloweye, copper, quillback, and vermilion. | Second Sat. in Mar.-June 30 |
| Rockfish | No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye, copper, quillback, and vermilion. | July 1-July 31 |
| Rockfish | No min. size. Daily limit 7 including no more than 5 canary. Release yelloweye. | Aug. 1-Third Sat. in Oct. |
| Cabezon | No min. size. Daily limit 1. | Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct. |
| Flatfish (Dabs, Sole, Flounder) | No min. size. In addition to the 9 bottomfish daily limit, 5 additional flatfish may be retained. | Second Sat. in Mar.-Third Sat. in Oct. |
| Sixgill, Sevengill, and Thresher Sharks | CLOSED to fishing for, retaining, or possessing. Sixgill shark may not be removed from the water. | CLOSED |
Anglers 16 and older fishing marine water carry a Saltwater license ($40.71 resident, $81.70 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license, plus a catch record card for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead or halibut.
Limits and seasons as printed in the 2026-2027 Washington Sport Fishing Rules (WDFW pamphlet, in effect July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), PDF page 112 (pamphlet PDF; eRegulations marine area page), read October 31, 2026.
Harbors and port towns serving Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- IlwacoPacific County
USGS GNIS populated places and harbors named by WDFW for the area; retrieved October 31, 2026.
How Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) lines up along the Sound and coast
| Water | Distance | Marine area | Launches | Piers and shore sites | Tide stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) | Marine Area 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1) | 24 miles | Marine Area 2-1 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2) | 49 miles | Marine Area 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Budd Inlet | 80 miles | Marine Area 13 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Nisqually Reach | 88 miles | Marine Area 13 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Case Inlet | 93 miles | Marine Area 13 | 5 | 0 | 12 |
WDFW marine areas and access layers, NOAA stations; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Just past Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
Marine pages close to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1)24 miles
- Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2)49 miles
- Budd Inlet80 miles
- Nisqually Reach88 miles
- Case Inlet93 miles
Lakes, rivers and towns near Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Black Lake (Pacific County)5 miles
- Loomis Lake13 miles
- Duck Lake50 miles
- Chinook River6 miles
- Bear River8 miles
- South Naselle River14 miles
- Naselle River15 miles
Grabbing bait and leader on the way to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Chinook Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Chinook
- Port of Chinookmarina, Chinook
- Columbia River Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Ilwaco
- Ed's Bait & AMP Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ilwaco
- Port of Ilwacomarina, Ilwaco
- Feather Freak Fly Tying Materialsbait and tackle shop, Ocean Park
Guides and charters for Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Beacon Charters & RV Parkcharter, Ilwaco, (360) 642-2138
- Coho Charters & Motelcharter, Ilwaco, (360) 244-4680
- Commercial Fishing Adventurescharter, Long Beach, (360) 642-4935
- Net Prophet Charterscharter, Ilwaco, (360) 642-2150
- Pacific Salmon Charterscharter, Ilwaco, (360) 642-3466
- Sea Breeze Charters LLPcharter, Ilwaco, (360) 642-2300
Overnight bases close to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Ilwaco5 miles
- Long Beach8 miles
- Ocean Park17 miles
- South Bend32 miles
Counties that touch Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
- Pacific Countyseat: South Bend
Rods and reels from Piscifun ahead of a trip to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
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A photo key to fish at Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
Photo: Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Public domain
Photo: Patrick Briggs, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chad King (SIMoN / MBNMS), Public domain
Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) questions with short answers
Where does Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) sit in the WDFW system?
It is Marine Area 1 in the WDFW pamphlet.
Which salmon season covers Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
For Marine Area 1: Chinook – min. size 22”. Coho – min. size 16”. Other salmon species – no min. size. Daily limit 2 including no more than 1 Chinook. Release wild coho.; season June 20-Sept. 30, 2026. WDFW can amend it by emergency rule.
Can I keep lingcod from Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
Daily limit 2. No retention or possession seaward of the Deepwater Lingcod Depth Restriction Line. Check the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulat, season Second Sat. in Mar.-May 31.
Does Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) have a public ramp in the WDFW or State Parks layers?
2 launches; Cape Disappointment launch on Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) makes a good start.
Where can an angler on foot fish Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
None in the layer near it.
Which WDFW license does an out-of-state angler buy for Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
Anglers 16 and older fishing marine water carry a Saltwater license ($40.71 resident, $81.70 nonresident for 2026-27) or a Combination license, plus a catch record card for salmon, sturgeon, steelhead or halibut.
Which NOAA station covers Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
NOAA predictions at Fort Canby, Jetty 'A', Wash. cover it; the tide band links each station.
Which shop on our list is closest to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
Try Chinook Bait & Tackle in a county on its shore.
Which grounds are mapped in Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)?
WDFW charts 1 named fishing area, such as North Buoy 10 Zone.
Time the tide and run out to Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)
Read the marine area rows, then pick a launch and a tide.