Months come from each species' own season curve around Newport. A strong month is strong for that fish, not a ranking against the others. Time of day, when it is shown, is today's forecast and moves with the tide.
Each row is shaded against that species' own best month here, so a dark cell means a good month for that fish rather than a comparison between them.
| Species | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon | ||||||||||||
| Halibut | ||||||||||||
| Lingcod | ||||||||||||
| Coho Salmon | ||||||||||||
| Black Rockfish | ||||||||||||
| Cabezon | ||||||||||||
| Rockfish (Aggregate) |
Chinook Salmon: January none, February none, March fair, April good, May excellent, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October poor, November none, December none. Halibut: January poor, February fair, March good, April peak, May peak, June peak, July peak, August excellent, September fair, October poor, November poor, December poor. Lingcod: January fair, February excellent, March excellent, April good, May fair, June fair, July good, August good, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Coho Salmon: January none, February none, March none, April none, May poor, June peak, July peak, August peak, September peak, October good, November none, December none. Black Rockfish: January fair, February fair, March good, April good, May good, June excellent, July excellent, August good, September fair, October fair, November fair, December fair. Cabezon: January fair, February fair, March good, April fair, May fair, June good, July good, August excellent, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair. Rockfish (Aggregate): January fair, February fair, March fair, April fair, May good, June good, July excellent, August good, September good, October fair, November fair, December fair.
These are today's forecast windows, taken at the spot leading each species. They are not a standing schedule.
Peaks in June, July, August and September.
Chinook off Newport peak in the ocean troll/sport fishery from June through August as fish stage before ascending coastal rivers, with the strongest push in mid-to-late July. A secondary spring build starts in April–May as returning adults arrive nearshore, while late fall and winter show only scattered residual fish once the run has moved into freshwater and spawned out.
Peaks in April, May, June and July.
Pacific halibut off Newport are most abundant nearshore from late spring through summer as fish move onto the Oregon shelf feeding grounds, peaking roughly May–July; abundance tapers in fall as fish move to deeper offshore wintering/spawning grounds, leaving a low-but-nonzero winter presence since some fish remain in deeper water year-round.
Excellent in February and March.
Lingcod are resident year-round on Newport's nearshore reefs, but abundance concentrates in late winter through spring (Feb–Apr) when males guard nests in shallower rocky structure, making them densest and most catchable. A secondary summer plateau reflects post-spawn fish spreading back onto reefs, while late fall shows the lowest presence as fish disperse to deeper water outside typical fishing depths.
Peaks in June, July, August and September.
Newport (Oregon central coast) Coho are absent inshore through winter and spring while at sea, then build offshore from mid-summer as ocean feeding aggregations stage near the shelf; peak nearshore/ocean abundance hits late August through mid-September (weeks 34-37) as mature fish stage before the fall river entry, tapering sharply through October once fish push into the bays and rivers of the Yaquina system.
Excellent in June and July.
Black rockfish are resident, non-migratory reef dwellers off Newport and present year-round, so the curve stays broad and near baseline. Slight peaks in late spring through summer reflect upwelling-driven productivity, warmer nearshore water pushing fish shallow and more concentrated over reefs, and post-spawn feeding aggregations; winter shows a mild dip as fish spread out and hold deeper during rough seas.
Excellent in August.
Cabezon are resident nearshore reef fish present year-round off Newport, so abundance stays broadly near baseline. The pronounced late-summer/early-fall peak (Aug–Sep) reflects post-spawn recovery, warm stable water, and juveniles recruiting to reef structure, while the winter nest-guarding period (Jan–Mar) concentrates fish but slightly lowers overall availability on open reef.
Excellent in July.
Rockfish are highly resident and structure-oriented off Newport, so biological abundance stays near baseline year-round with only modest seasonal variation. A gentle summer bump (June–September) reflects nearshore aggregation on reefs as warmer, more stable water and abundant baitfish concentrate fish in accessible depths, while winter storms disperse them deeper without truly removing the stock.
It depends on the species. Chinook Salmon peaks in June, July, August and September. Halibut peaks in April, May, June and July. Lingcod is excellent in February and March. Coho Salmon peaks in June, July, August and September. Black Rockfish is excellent in June and July. Cabezon is excellent in August.
On October 31, 2026, the forecast windows are Chinook Salmon 8 AM to 12 PM, Halibut 8 AM to 7 PM, Lingcod 8 AM to 7 PM, Black Rockfish 8 AM to 7 PM, Cabezon 10 AM to 6 PM and Rockfish (Aggregate) 11 AM to 7 PM. These are today's model windows, not a standing schedule.