Oregon Coast Kayak Chinook Salmon and Bottomfishing

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Fishing the Pacific Ocean in the Northwest is not for everyone but those adventurous few that make their way off the coast are often rewarded with spectacular fishing. In this video I launch from Depoe Bay on the central Oregon coast to try for early season ocean King Salmon and bottomfishing for Lingcod and rockfish in my @OldTownCanoeKayak Salty 120 PDL.
Tackle featured in this video:
- Brad's Mini Cutplug "Black Jack" amzn.to/3y4kgIl
- Pro-troll 11" Flasher: amzn.to/380fSzs
- Shimano Trevala 7' Jigging Rod: amzn.to/2UY80IB
- Shimano Tekota 300 LC: discontinued model
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[@TinyTrout]

What frequency do you radio in depo Bay? I was thank about taking my salty there last week

[@spiltmilt]

Depoe Bay radio procedures are as follows: 1. Channel 80 "Kayak Outbound Depoe" (You will sometimes get an all clear sometimes not) 2. 5 second blast on air horn 3. Same for inbound. However, inbound vessels have right of way 4. If you get into any trouble Channel 16 for Coast Guard

[@TinyTrout]

Thank you 😊

[@jcv8718]

Is this a requirement, or just good practice?

[@timmoore6055]

@@jcv8718 I have been told "requirement" unless you want an up-close and personal chat with the harbor master. That, or run into a charter boat coming through the channel. Channel is not a straight shot so you cannot see what is at the other end of it. It may be a crime punishable by jail and/or fine.

[@jcv8718]

@@timmoore6055 Thank you. I’m not planning on going out there, but I was curious. Thanks again

[@Foxman876]

I remember watching this last year it was so good I had to watch it again

[@ericnittka2003]

That's badass!!! Congratulations man! God bless you and stay safe out there.

[@SG-ig2th]

An ocean king is, in my opinion, the finest eating salmon you can get in the PNW

[@stingray4540]

Nothing better than an ocean king.

[@sandilo60]

My husband just found your channel a few weeks ago and watches your videos every weekend. We live in Oregon and he is an avid fisherman, as well. He is enjoying hearing some of your techniques that are different from his. He fishes from his kayak sometimes, as well, though he mostly fishes from the rivers around our home. Thank you for your videos.

[@nategardiner7128]

I’m a fly fisherman from Utah and will be driving to Oregon and staying near Rockaway beach. I came across your video researching where to fish while I am there I know it’s fishing not catching. Would it be possible to get some direction on what rivers to fish and where and possibly some beach fishing? I’m staying for 6 days and will have limited time to spend fishing so any help would greatly be appreciated taking the wasted time guessing fishing unproductive areas. Super excited to see the coast never been.

[@bobalcantara4045]

So cool you got that Chinook right out front. Well done.

[@Justin-zs1ql]

I served in the Navy for 6 years, have been around the world on 2 deployments , and still echo your thoughts/fear about the ocean. It should rightfully be feared and respected. I have all the gear but just haven't gone out in the salt on my Sportsman PDL 120 yet. I want to go with someone who knows what they're doing a few times before/if I ever decide to go at it alone. Looked like a blast though. That king was HOT!

[@spiltmilt]

It’s a thrill and I look forward to hearing about your adventures on the salt.

[@sleyeder11]

just study the ocean predictions for your bar crossing or area of interest look at the wave intervals, wave height, wind, and keep a radio on the coast guard station. my buddy and I taught ourselves how to cross and fish the columbia river bar, we had some scary moments, and thats part of the fun.

[@verdeanpetersen8350]

Looks like lots of fun. Great king, thanks for taking me along..

[@Jarom.M]

That's the smoothest I've ever seen the ocean outside of Depot Bay. You got one of the few days a year that they exist. On the Blue vs the Black rockfish, I read in a scientific paper (don't' remember where) that one proposed reason Blue rockfish aren't doing as well is the difference in species movement. Fish tagging shows that Blue rockfish rarely move more than 300 yards from where they were born. Black rockfish, on the other hand, move far. The farthest tagged was originally tagged in Southern Oregon and caught again in the Puget Sound. To me, this means that Blues are much more likely to be locally depleted, and since they range so low, it takes the species a long time to repopulate a section of coast line.

[@saltyOG]

Thanks!

[@Spencer_Plant_Projects]

stay humble in big water, it will save your life.

[@timmoore6055]

My first experience in a kayak was out of Pacific City with a guide. Your words of feeling the expanse of the ocean and the smallness of the kayak are spot on. It tends to polish your awareness to a bright shine.

[@therosses5]

I'm surprised this video doesn't have 100k views or 10x that! This one is a gem.

[@danielcole8609]

I hate the anticipation for your videos after I see you post your adventures on Facebook🤣

[@spiltmilt]

😂

[@danwhite6158]

Love your channel Thanks for all you do for us. Not a Kayak guy, have a 20' Duckworth but find your channel very informative and helpful.

[@spiltmilt]

Thanks Dan! There are definitely times I wish I had a 20’ Duckworth. 😂

[@daveengstrom9250]

The first time I got a Cabazon I was surprised to find the meat is blue.

[@zachczyz2165]

Depoe is awesome for monster cabbys into the double digits and I really respect how you keep what you need, not what you want, I wish there were more like you in this fishery, awesome video!

[@dampainter1]

incredibly lucky salmon ! great job!

[@Kevin-ib3io]

Hey hey that's my home water! Love kayak fishing out of Depoe! I'd say I'm jealous but I'm up fishing southeast Alaska... so not so much now 🤪. Another good video, thanks for sharing 👍

[@idaho2ndgens240]

Dang, what a beauty! That was quick! Way to go!

[@mcdaib]

Just found you on KZbin...nicely done videos. I live in Oregon and enjoyed this one out of Depot Bay...Been out of there a few times over the years...Would love to have an ocean going kayak but at 77 years old, I don't think it would be very good idea😜 Just subscribed to your channel...Keep up the good work and tight lines...

[@saltyOG]

I absolutely love your videos. I’ve learned so much from you. Thanks for the great content. 🦅🇺🇸

[@PROFISHERMAN26]

Love fishing! I have a 14 footer aluminum boat n I won't even take that by myself on lakes that I normally fish, just so many thoughts when you by yourself, be safe man n keep those videos coming 👍

[@rustyshackleford9017]

Depoe Bay is awesome. too bad the SeaHag sucks now

[@chubbrock659]

About 3 summers ago I took my family to Lincoln city and we went on a fishing charter out of depoe bay. There were about 6 foot swells the day we went and our boat was ROCKING. I got so seasick I couldn’t even stand up. Luckily after 2 hours of a 6 hour charter the boat motor started making a funny noise so the captain cut the trip short. We caught some nice bass and some kind of a ling cod (cabezon?) so we had some good fillets to take home but the sea sickness sucked. Did see some whales thought that was cool. Fun to see you in the same bay.

[@drostly3220]

You guys are brave on the OR coast.. I used to live in Southern OR when I was young and we would go surfing between Crescent City and Gold beach.. I remember surfing in three different sport where people were attacked by great whites within 3-6 months from when I was there.. As few people that even enter the water there.. The odds have to be the highness in the world.. Be safe out there.. and get angry if you experience a GW.. Don't be afraid.. Go after them! That will improve your odds.. Just saying

[@spiltmilt]

I’d love to see a Great White.

[@drostly3220]

@@spiltmilt I agree.. I was surfing once, on a windy day down at Blacks Beach in San Diego.. It was about overhead and a half and it was choppy but fast and good surf with only two other guys out down the beach. There was very heavy rip tides and I was surfing the right off the edge and got pulled out pretty good a few times.. When I was hiking out I could see that massive sharks were feasting on a dead baby whale that was about a 50 to hundred yards away from where I was.. They are around.. If your out enough.. You'll see them.. 😎

[@kingslew1866]

Nice job on the King! Don't you love it when you've got the reef pretty much to yourself???

[@lavinneang1976]

I don't own kayak but with your video inspiration....it may happen one day!

[@spiltmilt]

Heck yeah!!

[@jillj4620]

As others have said, ain’t no nookie like a big chinookie! ‘Caught one on a hand line in the kayak last year!

[@out4rvnge930]

First for me seeing it calm.

[@Phishrman]

Wow what hard fighting Salmon! Great job!

[@JigginwithG]

Epic trip out I’d say 🐟

[@michaelcolbert5797]

Nothing better than fighting a King - my personal best is 43#

[@nguyencao8873]

Awesome fishing, thanks for posting.

[@Sea2overland]

Sick video what a perfect area and weather.

[@SequimFishBros]

Great video! Nice King!!

[@stevepreston7030]

Grew up in Kansas? My daughter is in Marysville. I am in Oregon. Best day salmon fishing for me was out of Depoe Bay in 2014. Limit of silvers in 9 minutes!

[@QuestFishingAdventures]

Great job love your commentary with the ocean King! Took your advise and got that Mustang Survival suit as well.

[@jeffgreen2448]

Been sub for awhile without commenting. I just have to say, your content is solid every single video! Absolutely awesome! Thanks for sharing with us! Cheers!

[@spiltmilt]

Thanks for your support Jeff!

[@thehonfleur]

Man I love these salmon vids

[@reapergrim76]

Cool stuff! 😀

[@jerrydell4646]

Nice king I've been there a few times never fishing though love that area;!!

[@leshamilton6657]

Nice work!

[@netdog06]

Great fish and fast.. Also there are stripped perch right under the bridge in the rocks

[@spiltmilt]

There were a bunch of locals fishing there. I bet that’s what they were after.

[@netdog06]

Also kelp greenling there..

[@waynecollins7929]

That was fantastic !!!

[@lessalik6280]

Great video. Really enjoy your content. Consider doing a tour of BC kokanee fishing sometime. Keep up the great work.

[@spiltmilt]

In the works for 2023

[@fastandfun20043]

@@spiltmilt Awesome come fish with me at Wood and Kalamalka lake!

[@mjones6115mj]

It would have been cool to show the filet process! Regardless another great video! Cheers!

[@es3fishing]

Awesome video 🔥

[@fishmeatfire5938]

Oh man I'm so happy to see you hook that King early on, and keep it on that barbless hook! It's such a great feeling, well done! If you don't mind sharing, what site do you use to determine ocean conditions, wind waves, and swell ? What are the limits that you decide, are calm enough ocean to be out there ? Well done again, love the videos ! Keep at it, hope to see you out there one of these days !

[@spiltmilt]

I have a whole video on this topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHKsoJKKgNifn9U

[@scottrouwhorst881]

Nice

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

Nice fish as always! Been waiting for this video ever since you posted your salmon pics! Really interesting seeing you call in and out of the harbor. Is that a kind of a unique situation? (Narrow passage and such)

[@timmoore6055]

I have been in and out of there a number of times on the "pay to play" charters. From the interior heading to the ocean the channel runs southwest; then has a sharp right 45 degrees to straight west. Getting into the channel, you could not see a charter boat coming in until you were well into the channel, and it is narrow - not a whole lot more than one charter wide. If you type in Depoe Bay Kayak Rescue you can see a video from the south shore (above) looking down on a kayak in deep kimchee, with the Coast Guard rescuing them (one on the kayak, and one hanging on to the front). No idea how one ended up in the drink - there may have been a second kayak not seen in the video. And no idea what they were doing in water that choppy - may have gone out earlier and got caught in a change of weather. Perfect ad for a dry suit.

[@wubbalubbadubx2]

Love the salmon fake out when they charge the boat. Landlocks will do the same thing through the ice when you're pulling up your tip up lines and you swear it's gone. I notice you went for an over-the-side 'ducer mount instead of using the notch under the scupper...Battery under the seat?

[@spiltmilt]

I use an over the rail transducer because I have multiple kayaks and this makes moving fishfinders between kayaks easier

[@wubbalubbadubx2]

@@spiltmilt are you a fan of the hull-mounted transducer mount under the front scupper?

[@saltyOG]

Tyler how do I become a member on KZbin? I joined Patreon and bought a nice shirt too. I really enjoy you content and look forward to fishing with you sometime. 🎣

[@spiltmilt]

Awesome thanks for your support. I saw your signup on Patreon!

[@cougarbaitkenyan9252]

loved your video ! what size lancer jig do you prefer ? thank you so much for sharing the video

[@spiltmilt]

For lings 2 to 4 oz for rockfish 1 oz

[@JAdame24]

Hey love the channel, was wondering what you look for as far as water conditions when determining to go out? I want to take my small 15ft tri hull out but want to make sure it’s flat conditions.

[@spiltmilt]

I have a video on this topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHKsoJKKgNifn9U

[@deaneng8540]

You got a lot of guts my friend kayaking in the ocean there! Glad to see you have so much action. What were you using when trolling? I think you mentioned super bait what exactly is that a lure? And how deep were you?

[@spiltmilt]

Links to lure in the description. It’s a hard shell bait that can be stuffed with tuna or other bait. I was probably fishing 20-30’ deep

[@Jason-fs9pz]

Nice nice salmon?

[@VinceYoutubr]

Hell yea! I see you are using lead instead of down rigger in the ocean. wondering if that is because the current is slow?

[@spiltmilt]

3 reasons for that. One is I was expecting sloppy seas and wanted to minimize gear. Two is I prefer less droppers in barbless fisheries. Lastly i left my big salmon clips at home

[@VinceYoutubr]

@@spiltmilt cool. Thanks! I left my downrigger clipper when I was doing pugetsound after doing Columbia…and ended up doing just what you did with lead didn’t get any bite tho. So I was wondering if it’s possible to get fish and you just proofed it. :)

[@jcv8718]

Was you leaving or returning on a specific point in the tide? High slack, low slack, etc…. Great video. Thank you

[@spiltmilt]

Left in low slack and returned on the flood

[@saltyOG]

Do you prefer the Helix 7 or 5 for ling and salmon in this type of fishery. I live in Coos Bay and plan on fishing Coos bay for Salmon, and outside of sunset bay for lings and rock fish. Also I will be fishing for Steelies in the rivers. I’m not sure if I would benefit from the Si or not. I appreciate your channel and opinion.

[@spiltmilt]

The 7 gives you a bit more screen to work with especially when running side imaging. For salmon I mostly run traditional sonar but for finding schools of rockfish and reef habitat you can't beat side imaging. Down imaging also works really well when reef fishing.

[@stevensuhar8302]

I have my Old Town 106 Minn Kota outfitted and am ready to try salt. I have lots of salt time, tuna to salmon, but new to kayaking out there. Realistically, what months are we limited to? Great vid, also like your dry suit vid.

[@spiltmilt]

In general the Pacific is calmest in the summer but even then you might only have a few days a month where its flat enough and you'll want it to be very flat in 10'6" kayak. I generally don't recommend going out on the ocean unless your kayak is 12' or greater in length.

[@stevensuhar8302]

@spiltmilt Length at 10' for a WC surfer not a problem other than bobbing around like a cork. But after this past summer, wind, water temp and swell are deadly up here in Oregon and I'm new here. 12' is solid advice for sure. I enjoy your content.

[@joesmo2840]

Nice salmon how deep of water were you in

[@spiltmilt]

60'

[@skipdavis8964]

Split Milt-Thank you for your video's as I have watched numerous and learned everything I needed. I used to have a 20' Thunderjet Sled and would slay the salmon on the Columbia. That was long ago and I am pending my 2022 Seadoo Fishpro to be delivered this month now. In saying that, I have my jigging set up put together-Trevala 6'6" MH 50-100lb jigging rod and 5500 Spinfisher as it can take the salt beating. My question is: I see you are using a 7' Trevala spinning for your Salmon trolling. I actually have been looking at 7' casting version. If you dont mind sharing what is the Rod Weight/ Line Rating you have? Medium, Medium/ Heavy? I am looking at 30-65lb as I'll be pushing 65lb braid with 30-40 pound top. That weight of Trevala only comes in heavy I believe which I dont want for Salmon. Appreciate your insight and would love to fish with you sometime as I have my beach house in Rockaway.

[@spiltmilt]

It’s a 7’ light casting rod Top 3 Kayak Salmon Rods kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGHUfopmm52Di80

[@kirrasdad]

where do you get your outer wear? is there a resource for your fishing techniques? thanks!

[@natehall234]

What size swells do you feel comfortable taking the kayak out of depoe bay

[@spiltmilt]

Nothing over 4’ with a period of at least 9 sec

[@tcarlson06]

Nice fish! How deep was it to the bottom?

[@spiltmilt]

60'

[@bobvernon2]

Sorry for asking but is that the old town salty?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes it’s the Salty

[@bobvernon2]

@@spiltmilt wanna sell it to me? Lol making the jump to a pedal kayak and don't want to spend 4k lol

[@spiltmilt]

The Salty isn't $4000. They retail for $2200 brand new.

[@TinyTrout]

I'm looking for a reliable radio for kayaking in Astoria and the coast. What is in you opinion is the best radio for resuce in case of emergency? I have found Amazon reviews to be disheartening

[@spiltmilt]

This what I use only difference is mine is white amzn.to/3JBXnA4

[@TinyTrout]

Thank you

[@thehonfleur]

How often do you find boaters not seeing you or racing by you too quickly causing a big wake?

[@spiltmilt]

Not often actually. Nearly every dangerous encounter I’ve had was because the boater was in their cell phone and distracted. I’ve been harassed by jet skiers several times though

[@thehonfleur]

@@spiltmilt Harassed? They just drunk? Why do you think they would specifically harass you? That couldn't be more dangerous on their part.

[@spiltmilt]

Just being bullies because they can.

[@michael45-70]

Is your kayak the saltwater model?

[@spiltmilt]

The Salty 120 PDL

[@pauljohnston6023]

Cabezon are delicious! Why throw it back?

[@spiltmilt]

Because regulations!

[@pauljohnston6023]

@@spiltmilt That'll do it! Nice work; I really enjoy these and have learned a ton!

[@macsmith2092]

You have bigger 🍒's than I do! I wouldn't be out there in a kayak. Awesome king.

[@MyExRebirth]

You used to troll with your autopilot and trolling motor but have been watching you switched to pedals. Why is that?

[@spiltmilt]

I am on the road right for work and for filming. The AutoPilot requires more gear and space. The pdl drive is smaller, easier to deal with, and has a longer range. Also I feel I catch more fish with pedal drive when trolling

[@thehonfleur]

@@spiltmilt Very interesting. Do you attribute the catch rate difference to possible disturbance from the electric trolling motor?

[@stevensarverjre-consolutio1972]

Not too slow or the sea lions might get em.

[@nubetoob9292]

Seems really dangerous

[@spiltmilt]

Not if you know what you are doing

[@jimb7710]

Thanks!