Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing Guide

Six weeks. Big chrome. The trip that books out a season ahead.

Buoy 10 is the six-week fall Chinook and coho salmon fishery in the Columbia River estuary near Astoria, Oregon, open early August through mid-September. Tony O launches from Hammond or East Mooring Basin. $250 per person, $200 veteran rate, dates fill 6+ weeks ahead.

Buoy 10 is the late-summer salmon trip. From early August through mid-September, fall Chinook stage in the Columbia River estuary at the mouth, near Astoria. Chrome-bright, ocean-fresh, the biggest fish of the year. Six weeks. Dates fill fast.

Book this trip (503) 381-0868

Buoy 10 weekends sell out 6–10 weeks ahead. Weekday dates open up faster but still fill. Book as early as you can — Tony only runs one boat.

Standard

$250/person

Full boat $1500

Veterans

$200/person

Full boat $1500

Tony Owsian on his guided fishing boat holding a fresh Chinook salmon, Navy ball cap, Columbia River estuary with the Buoy 10 fishing armada in the background. — Buoy 10 Chinook · Columbia estuary

TONY'S TAKE.

If you only fish the Columbia once a year, this is the trip. Big numbers of big fish, all biting on a short window. Tony's run Buoy 10 every year for over two decades.

WHAT TO EXPECT

· Pre-dawn meet at Hammond or East Mooring Basin (Astoria)
· Trolling herring or spinners in the tide rips at the mouth
· 8–10 hours on the water, dependent on the tide windows
· Bigger boats nearby — Tony picks the lines the crowds miss
· Fish cleaning at the takeout, fillets bagged

WHAT'S INCLUDED

✓ Heavier rods and conventional reels rigged for trolling
✓ Bait, terminal tackle, fuel for the long estuary run
✓ Fish cleaning at the takeout
✓ Tony's tide-and-bait playbook from 20+ Buoy 10 seasons

WHAT TO BRING

→ Oregon or Washington fishing license (Columbia is joint waters)
→ Sun protection
→ Warm layers — estuary mornings are cold and damp, even in August
→ Lunch and lots of water
→ Motion-sickness meds if you're prone — estuary chop is real
→ Cash, Venmo, or card (3% fee on cards)

FROM THIS TRIP

Real clients · real fish

Tony Owsian and a client holding a bright chrome Chinook salmon on the Columbia River, blue sky day.

Tony Owsian on his boat with a teenage angler holding a Chinook salmon at dusk, dog visible at the stern.

BEST FOR.

Out-of-state visitors planning ahead
Veterans who want one big-fish day a year
Repeat clients who book a year out
Anyone who's never seen chrome Chinook fresh from the ocean

REGULATIONS.

Oregon or Washington fishing license plus the Combined Angling Tag with salmon/steelhead endorsement are required. Buoy 10 is its own regulation set within the Columbia salmon fisheries. ODFW publishes the season-specific rules every July. Retention is usually 2 fish/day total (Chinook and coho combined) with size and species restrictions that change weekly. Tony reads the announcements so you don't have to.

Booking, payment, weather, what to wear — the full FAQ covers it. Veterans, active-duty military, retired military, first responders, and their dependents pay the veteran rate on this trip and every trip Tony runs. More about Tony's background too.

QUESTIONS

All FAQ →

What is Buoy 10 salmon fishing?

Buoy 10 is a stretch of the Columbia River estuary near Astoria, Oregon, named for navigation buoy #10 marking the boundary. Every August and September, fall Chinook and coho stage there before pushing upriver to spawn. It's one of the highest-volume salmon fisheries on the West Coast.

When does Buoy 10 open and close each year?

Buoy 10 typically opens around August 1 and runs through Labor Day for Chinook, with coho retention often extending into September. Exact dates are set by ODFW and WDFW each year — Tony tracks the announcements.

Is Buoy 10 part of the fall Chinook run?

Yes — Buoy 10 IS the start of the fall Chinook run. Hundreds of thousands of fall Chinook stage in the Columbia River estuary at the mouth before pushing upriver to spawn. Chrome-bright, ocean-fresh, the biggest fish of the year (25–40 lb typical, 50+ lb every season). After the fish leave the estuary mid-September, the run continues upriver through October.

How early should I book a Buoy 10 trip with Tony?

As early as you can. Weekends sell out 6–10 weeks ahead. Weekdays book 3–5 weeks ahead. Call (503) 381-0868 in May or June to lock August dates.

What's included in a Buoy 10 fishing trip?

All rods, reels, terminal tackle, bait, boat, fuel for the longer estuary run, fish cleaning, and Tony's guidance. Bring your Oregon or Washington fishing license, sun protection, layers, food and water.