Fall transition builds on the Oregon Coast as tides swing bigger
NOAA CO-OPS station 9435380 near the open coast is reading 54.7°F this afternoon, while station 9439040 at the Columbia mouth shows a notably warmer 65.5°F, a reminder that the river-influenced water runs well above the open coastal temperature this week. Both stations are building toward a high: 9435380 peaks near 10:57am Pacific and 9439040 near 11:52am, with 9435380 easing back to a low around 4:18pm. Anglers on IFish.net Fishing Reports describe steady boat traffic at the mouth of the Columbia near Buoy 10 and around Garibaldi and Nehalem this week, including several lost-gear reports that point to crews working that water hard.
New to these readings? What water temp, tide, and moon phase mean for fishing →
Fish this water?
We're light on local intel here. Send us your report and we'll credit you.
Send a reportWhat's next
Expect the temperature split between the two stations to hold over the next few days, with the estuary-influenced 9439040 reading staying well warmer than the open-water 9435380 gauge as the seasonal cooldown continues offshore. With the moon waxing toward full, tidal exchange should keep building into the weekend, sharpening the push around each day's swing from high to low — the late-morning highs at both stations and the mid-afternoon low at 9435380 are the windows worth building a trip around. IFish.net Fishing Reports activity around the Columbia mouth this week suggests that stretch will keep seeing boat pressure through the weekend.
Context
Late September on the Oregon Coast marks the turn from summer into fall conditions, with open-water temperatures beginning their gradual cooldown while river-mouth systems like the Columbia stay comparatively warm longer into the season. Tidal ranges typically build as the moon approaches full, which tracks with the bigger swings both stations are showing this week. The temperature gap between the nearshore and estuary-mouth readings is typical for this point in the calendar as the two systems respond to the season at different rates.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Weekly fishing intelligence
Nationwide conditions, what's biting, and honest gear deals. One email, no noise.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.