Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing 2026 — Forecast, Season, and What to Expect

Six weeks. That’s the whole window.

Buoy 10 — the stretch of the Columbia River estuary near Astoria named for navigation buoy number 10 — opens to fall Chinook salmon fishing on August 1, 2026 and runs through mid-September. Coho retention typically extends a couple of weeks beyond that. Six weeks. That’s it.

In those six weeks, hundreds of thousands of fall Chinook and coho stage in the estuary before pushing upriver to spawn. The fish are bright, ocean-fresh, and bigger than just about anything you’ll catch in the mainstem Columbia all year. If you’ve never seen a 30-pound chrome king come over the gunnel, this is where you go to see one.

When does Buoy 10 open in 2026?

ODFW and WDFW set the Buoy 10 season jointly. As of the latest joint announcements, the 2026 Buoy 10 fall Chinook season opens August 1 and is expected to run through mid-September. Coho retention often extends into late September. Exact rules — including daily bag limits, hatchery-vs-wild distinctions, and any in-season closures — are announced in late July and updated weekly.

Tony tracks every announcement. On the boat, you’ll know what’s keepable and what’s not before you ever wet a line.

What’s the 2026 run forecast?

The 2026 fall Chinook forecast for the lower Columbia is stronger than 2025. Pre-season projections from ODFW and WDFW estimate ~600,000 fall Chinook returning to the Columbia, with a healthy share of those staging through the Buoy 10 area in August and early September. Coho forecasts are also above the 10-year average.

That doesn’t mean every day is a banner day. Buoy 10 fishing is tide-driven. The bite turns on with the moving water and dies on the slack. Wind, current, and where the fish are holding all matter. That’s why people book a guide.

What to expect on a Buoy 10 trip with Tony

A typical Buoy 10 day with Tony O Guided Adventure runs like this:

• Pre-dawn meet at Hammond Marina (Warrenton) or East Mooring Basin (Astoria), depending on the tide and where Tony’s launching.
• Trolling herring or spinners in the tide rips at the river mouth, working the lines where big boats won’t fit and the crowds aren’t.
• 8 to 10 hours on the water, with breaks dictated by the tide windows.
• Fish cleaning at the takeout, fillets bagged and iced for you to take home.
• Same boat, same guide: Tony’s 23-ft Alumaweld Columbia, fully outfitted, six anglers max.

Buoy 10 trip pricing is the same as every other trip Tony runs: $250 per person standard. $200 per person for veterans, active-duty military, retired military, first responders, and their dependents. Full boat is a flat $1,500 for any trip type, any group.

How early should I book?

As early as you can. Weekend Buoy 10 dates with Tony fill 6 to 10 weeks ahead. Weekday dates open up faster but they fill too. If you’re targeting an August or early September date, call him in late spring or early summer. May or June is ideal.

Call (503) 381-0868 to lock yours.

License and tag requirements

Every angler 12 and over needs:

• An Oregon (or Washington) fishing license — annual or short-term
• A Combined Angling Tag — required for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon

You can buy both at any sporting goods store or online from ODFW or WDFW. Tony will confirm exactly which you need when you book — it depends on where he’s launching that morning.

Veteran rate

If you’re a veteran, active-duty military, retired military, first responder, or a dependent of any of the above, you pay the veteran rate. $200 per person for Buoy 10. No paperwork. Tony doesn’t ask for proof. The discount is the whole reason this business exists.

If you’re booking a Buoy 10 trip for a veteran in your life, just call Tony. He’ll hold the date and work the payment out at the dock.

Want to book?

Call (503) 381-0868. Tony picks up most days, 6 AM to 9 PM. He’ll confirm a date, the meet location, what to bring, and the trip price on the phone.

Or read more about the Buoy 10 fishing trip.