Coos River Fish Report for 5-5-2026
Coos River Basin Fishing Report
Coos River - Coos Bay, OR (Coos County)
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
5-5-2026
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Rougher weather and sneaker wave warnings warrant caution when fishing along the jetties, however, rockfish can be caught around the jetties in the lower Coos Bay estuary, but you may need to move around to several spots to find actively biting fish. Best fishing is typically near slack tides with good fishing one day and fair fishing the next. A jig fished with a twister tail trailer is always a good option to catch bottom fish.
For the general marine fish regulations, please visit the sport bottomfish seasons page.
On occasion stray feeder Chinook from the ocean may be caught in the lower Coos Bay during off-season months. The salmon bite is typically best a couple hours before and through the high slack tide. Regulations have defaulted to standard regs of 2 fish per day.
Steelhead have finished their spawning run for 2026 and fishing has ended in the Coos River basin.
Choose a day when the surf is not at a dangerous level, and it is possible to catch a few striped perch around the jetties. Some of the more popular spots to fish for red-tailed surfperch are along beaches like Horsefall Beach and Whiskey Run. Anglers have the best success fishing with sand shrimp near the bottom.
ODFW is steadily stocking coastal lakes in the district (Saunders, Bradley, Butterfield, Empire Lakes, Powers) on a two to three week rotation. Trout fishing has been fair in those locations. Trout season for streams closed until May 22.
STARTING IMMEDIATELY THERE MAY BE A TEMPORARY DOCK MOORED TO THE CHANDLER BRIDGE TO ALLOW FOR BRIDGE MAINTENANCE. BOATERS IN THIS REACH OF RIVER NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS BOATING RISK.
More Reports
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Tuesday, May 5th
Alton Baker Canoe Canal: Will be stocked every week in May and June
Kilchis River: Winter steelhead fishing is mostly over
Nehalem River: Winter steelhead is mostly over
Nestucca River: Spring Chinook should be getting started on Nestucca Bay
Siletz River: Winter steelhead season is wrapping up, and the chance of finding a bright winter is dwindling
Trask River: Trask River Report
Agate Lake: Agate Lake is still 99 percent full
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Monday, May 4th
Umatilla River: Fishing for Spring Chinook is open
Santiam River ( North Fork) : River is currently running at 1,530cfs at the gage in Mehama
Santiam River ( North Fork) Above Detroit Lake: Currently, flows are around 700cfs
Santiam River (South Fork): Flows are currently at around 2,300cfs at the gage in Waterloo
Alsea River: Trout angling will open May 22
Siuslaw River: Trout angling will open May 22
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