Top 5 Fish to Catch in Newport, Oregon

You are probably familiar with the vast fishing opportunities in Newport, Oregon. The state of Oregon boasts of various species of game fish to catch, and Newport is home to many of them! It’s the reason why many travelers and locals alike would head to Newport beach and other amazing fishing destinations in this city.

If you’re planning to go fishing in Newport and want to know the different fish you can catch, read on! This article will show you the top 5 fish to catch in Newport, Oregon!

 

Top 5 Fish to Catch in Newport, Oregon

Newport is home to a ton of fishing opportunities, besides its many luxurious areas and fun activities to do without the fishing gear. If your main focus is fishing and you’d like to know what you can catch to bring home (or show off), here are the top 5 fish to catch in Newport, Oregon:

 

Trout

Trout is the number one game fish in Oregon. No matter where you are in the state, you can expect to find native populations of different species of trout.

Besides the native populations in Oregon, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) stocks more than 5 million trout every year for more fishing opportunities! Because of this, you’ll always find quality trout to catch in Newport, Oregon all year long.

These are the common species of trout you can find in Newport, Oregon:

• Brook Trout
  Brown Trout
• Bull Trout
• Cutthroat Trout
• Lake Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Tiger Trout

Oregon is open all year for trout, though they have rules and limitations. You are limited to catching 2 trout a day, which should measure at least 10 inches long, but no more than 13 inches.

Steelhead

The steelhead is actually a sea-run rainbow trout and is known to be the largest race in the state. They are popular for their line-peeling runs and how might of a fight they can give, making it a great challenge for all anglers.

Steelhead would migrate to the ocean during their 1^st or 2^nd year, returning later on for spawning. In the ocean, steelhead has a more silver color, growing larger than other steelhead fish that don’t leave the freshwater.

Once they head back to the freshwater, they would turn dark-olive but still have silvery-white undersides with speckled bodies, as well as a pinkish to reddish stripe on their sides.

You can find steelhead depending on the season. Summer-run steelhead will be found in freshwater from May to October, needing a few months to mature and spawn. For winter-run steelhead, they go back to freshwater from November to April, spawning afterward.

Winter-run steelhead is more dominant in coastal streams, while inland steelhead in Columbia River is almost always summer-run steelhead.

Salmon

Salmon is a very popular species in Newport, Oregon. There are various species you can find, and while some are abundant, others are more limited.

Here are the types of salmon you can find in Newport:

• Pink salmon is the smallest among the Pacific salmon species, which is only found in Oregon.
• Kokanee salmon, also called the landlocked sockeye salmon, never leave the freshwater, spawning in tributaries of their home bodies of water.
• Coho salmon is very popular in Newport during the spawning season. They spend their rearing period in the Pacific Ocean then head to freshwater streams for spawning.
• Chum salmon, just like the Coho salmon, would rear in the Pacific ocean, moving the freshwater streams for spawning. They would also rear in the Arctic Ocean.
• Chinook salmon is the biggest among the Pacific salmon species, reaching over 50 pounds. It is Oregon’s state fish, also called the king salmon.
• Sockeye salmon migrate in the Columbia River during the summer as they make their way to Idaho for spawning.

Bass

Just like salmon, you can find a lot of different species of bass in Newport, Oregon. Here are the different types of bass you can come across:

• Striped bass would spend their time in freshwater, heading to the sea now and then.
• Smallmouth bass are found in lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers. They would stay in areas with more structure and only some current.
• Largemouth bass are found all throughout Oregon, a popular species. They like staying in slower bodies of water that have a lot of cover.
• Hybrid bass is a cross between the stripes and white bass. While you can find striped bass in Oregon, white bass is not found in the state.

Halibut

You can fish for halibut in the Newport Bay, a SoCal favorite that tastes delicious! These are great fish to catch for beginners as all they need is slow-moving and delicious-looking bait. Just watch out for their sharp teeth, as those teeth may fray the line.

Even if they are quite slow, their sizes are exciting! The largest halibut caught is a whopping 67 pounds!

Besides the fish species mentioned above, there are other game fish species you can catch when in Newport, Oregon, including:

• Shad
• Tuna
• Cabezon
• Catfish
• Carp
• Crappie
• Lingcod
• Mackerel
• Sturgeon
• Walleye

And many more! You can learn more about these fish species and how to catch them through fishing guides and fishing charters during your trip in Newport, Oregon!

 

Wrapping It Up

There are so many more game fish to catch when in Newport, but the ones above are what you will definitely come across with. Beginner and expert anglers alike will enjoy catching them, as long as they’re familiar with the gear and technique to use. That way, you’ll get the bang for your buck catching fish and enjoy your entire vacation when in the area!

 

Now that you know more about the fish to catch in Newport, start planning your trip and hire a fishing charter to take you to the best of the Newport waters. You can count on us at Newport Oregon Fishing Charters to reach your expectations, so contact us for packages and rates now. Happy fishing!