Simpson Reef

About Simpson Reef

Simpson Reef sits off Charleston, Oregon, an outer-exposed sand flat running 15 to 40 feet deep along the open coast. Chinook and Coho Salmon move through from June to September, worked by trolling cut-plug herring, whole herring, trolling spoons, and hoochies over the flat, with mooching cut-plug or whole herring as a secondary approach. Black Rockfish peak across the same summer window and Blue Rockfish from April to August, both taken on metal jigs, leadhead jigs, and swimbaits, while Pacific Halibut hold from May to September and respond to drift fishing herring, salmon bellies, octopus, and squid across the sand bottom. Lingcod turn on through the winter months from December into March, with jigging metal jigs and swimbaits the main tactic and live greenling or live rockfish serving as backup. Cabezon fill the late-fall stretch from November to January, holding to the bottom for leadhead jigs with swimbaits and shrimp flies.