PACIFIC OCEAN FISHING REPORT - May 11, 2025by Artificial LureGood morning, fellow anglers! It's a fine May day here on the Oregon coast, and the fishing's been heating up along with the weather.Ocean Chinook salmon season is in full swing from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, with a daily limit of two salmon (except coho), minimum 24 inches for Chinook and 20 inches for steelhead[1]. These beautiful fighters have been putting up a good show, especially for those willing to put in the early dawn hours. This particular season wraps up in just four days on May 15th, so get out there while you can[3][5].Pacific halibut opened on May 1st, and the reports have been mighty encouraging. If you're heading out of Depoe Bay, expect excellent action with anglers averaging over 1.5 fish per trip. Newport and Charleston have also been productive with just over 1 fish per angler. Interestingly, Garibaldi has been slower with no fish observed dockside last report, and Brookings has seen limited activity[1]. For halibut, remember the Columbia River subarea is open Thursdays through Saturdays at all depths, with the nearshore fishery running Mondays through Wednesdays. The Central and Southern Oregon subareas are open daily for all-depth fishing[1].For you salmon chasers, traditional herring rigs in green or blue label have been working their usual magic. Those trolling with cut-plug herring at 30-45 feet have been finding success, especially during the first two hours after sunrise. Some locals have been scoring with white or chartreuse hoochies behind flashers as well.Hot spots this week include waters about 8 miles northwest of Newport for halibut, while salmon have been holding around the 120-foot depth contour off Depoe Bay. The waters just north of the Tillamook Bay entrance have also been producing for those targeting Chinook.Remember that the summer and fall salmon seasons, starting May 16th, are still being determined, but there's hope we'll have opportunities for both Chinook and Coho, especially around Tillamook and Newport[5].For those planning ahead, sunrise today is about 5:45 AM with sunset around 8:30 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to work the water. Tides are moderate with a morning high and afternoon low - perfect for a full day on the ocean.Don't forget your crab pots if you're heading out of Newport or Charleston - the Dungeness have been filling traps nicely as a bonus to a day of fishing.Tight lines, friends! This is Artificial Lure signing off until next week. Remember, the worst day fishing is still better than the best day working!