Ilwaco Fishing, Marine Area 1
WDFW Marine Area 1 on the Washington coast and Salish Sea, touching Pacific County.
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Ilwaco: what saltwater anglers should know first
Ilwaco is WDFW recreational Marine Area 1, defined in WAC 220-311-010 and touching Pacific County. The closest Census place is Long Beach, roughly 119 miles away. Its marine area name points to Ilwaco.
The WDFW and State Parks layers list 2 saltwater launches opening onto it. 2 named fishing areas are mapped within it. There are 24 marine rule rows in the 2026-27 pamphlet. It has 2 NOAA tide stations.
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.
How WAC draws Ilwaco
- InternationalNone. USA – Canada border
- InternationalNone. USA 200Nmi EEZ
- ImpliedThe Washington-Oregon boundary seaward from the Buoy 10 line.
- Defined(1): … the Buoy 10 Line … [From WAC 220-56-100 (7): … a true north-south line projected through Buoy 10 …]
- Defined[From WAC 220-301-020 (1)]: … a line projected true west from Leadbetter Point in Washington along latitude 46.63611 degrees N.
Buoys and lights around Ilwaco
- Buoy 10Buoy Fl R 4s Whis (Approx. 124.0550° W)
WAC 220-311-010 boundary text as published in the WDFW marine area layer; NOAA light list positions; retrieved October 31, 2026.
What the rules and records name on Ilwaco
Species named in the Ilwaco 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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- 30-50 milesBoat Access Only
- 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 Ilwaco
- 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 Ilwaco
- Beards Hollowother named water Pacific County
- 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 Ilwaco
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (October 31, 2026); station page for live data.
- Columbia River Entrance (N. Jetty)tide predictions, 1 mile
- Cape Disappointmenttide predictions, under a mile
On Ilwaco 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 Ilwaco
| 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.
Ilwaco in the WDFW sport fish records
| Species | Weight | Angler | Water as printed | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rockfish | 10.72 lbs | Steven Charles Orr | Ilwaco, Pacific County | May 15, 2016 |
WDFW sport fish records (freshwater and saltwater record lists, kept by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)) as listed October 31, 2026. All Washington records.
Harbors and port towns serving Ilwaco
- IlwacoPacific County
USGS GNIS populated places and harbors named by WDFW for the area; retrieved October 31, 2026.
How Ilwaco lines up along the Sound and coast
| Water | Distance | Marine area | Launches | Piers and shore sites | Tide stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilwaco | Marine Area 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2) | 49 miles | Marine Area 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| La Push (Marine Area 3) | 109 miles | Marine Area 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10) | 120 miles | Marine Area 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1) | 123 miles | Marine Area 2-1 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2) | 125 miles | Marine Area 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
WDFW marine areas and access layers, NOAA stations; retrieved October 31, 2026.
Just past Ilwaco
Marine pages close to Ilwaco
- Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2)49 miles
- La Push (Marine Area 3)109 miles
- Columbia River mouth (Buoy 10)120 miles
- Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1)123 miles
- Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2)125 miles
Grabbing bait and leader on the way to Ilwaco
- 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 Ilwaco
- 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
Counties that touch Ilwaco
- Pacific Countyseat: South Bend
Rods and reels from Piscifun ahead of a trip to Ilwaco
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A photo key to fish at Ilwaco
Photo: daryl_mitchell, 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
Ilwaco questions with short answers
Where does Ilwaco sit in the WDFW system?
It is Marine Area 1 in the WDFW pamphlet.
Which salmon season covers Ilwaco?
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 Ilwaco?
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 Ilwaco 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 Ilwaco?
None in the layer near it.
Which WDFW license does an out-of-state angler buy for Ilwaco?
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 Ilwaco?
NOAA predictions at Columbia River Entrance (N. Jetty) cover it; the tide band links each station.
Which shop on our list is closest to Ilwaco?
Try Chinook Bait & Tackle in a county on its shore.
Which grounds are mapped in Ilwaco?
WDFW charts 2 named fishing areas, such as 30-50 miles and North Buoy 10 Zone.
What record fish came out of Ilwaco?
Black Rockfish, 10.72 lbs, by Steven Charles Orr (May 15, 2016).
Time the tide and run out to Ilwaco
Read the marine area rows, then pick a launch and a tide.