Know your harbor.  The location of the boat launches located in the tidal reach of Oregon's bays is available on the internet at www.boatoregon.com and click on Publications/Library and Forms. Scroll down to Boating in Oregon's Coastal Waters and click on your bay of interest to familiarize yourself with the conditions at the bar.

The following Hazardous areas describe some of the dangerous tidal conditions affecting boating when leaving or entering Depoe Bay.

Hazardous areas:

A. North reef. Once a boat has cleared the entrance, waters to the north are hazardous up to the red bell buoy. Seas break from the northwest and southwest at the same time. Avoid this area.

B. South reef (Flat Rock). Breakers are almost always present. If you are coming in from the south, do not use this area as a shortcut to the channel. Avoid the area at all times.

C. Red bell buoy to harbor mouth. The channel is narrow, short, and difficult. Study it before navigating it. Seek advice from more experienced mariners if possible. Do not try to cross at night or in rough weather. Because the north and south reefs are so close to the channel, the area sometimes becomes very hazardous. In bad weather, breakers from the north reef will cross the channel and run into the entrance. In such a case, stand off and wait until conditions improve, unless the Coast Guard can escort you in. Do not fish between the entrance and the red bell buoy. Vessels longer than 50 feet should not enter without checking with the harbormaster and the Coast Guard. All vessels must sound one 4- to 6-second blast when leaving or entering Depoe Bay. Right of way goes to inbound vessels. Check the local Notice to Mariners (www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime) for location of #2 marker, which may be off station in the winter.

An important rule at Depoe Bay: Never fish between the entrance and the red bell buoy.

The Rough Bay Warning Light displays two flashing lights when activated and is positioned on a building north of the entrance channel. When the lights are flashing check with Depoe Bay Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 for crossing restrictions. When visibility is less than one nautical mile, the Coast Guard activates its fog signal. The horn then sounds for 2 seconds, once every 30 seconds.

BAR CONDITIONS REPORT: Recorded weather and bar condition reports: (541) 765-2122.

Depoe Bay is one of the safer ports of entry for the small boats.  Call the Coast Guard at 1-541-765-2122 for a report of local bar conditions and the extended marine forecast.  The entrance to Depoe Bay is through a narrow crack in the basalt rock.  The entrance should not be attempted at night or in rough weather without local knowledge.  Notice of entry via channel 80 and by horn blast is required before a boat may enter or exit the harbor channel.  Vessels entering Depoe Bay must align the range markers of two vertical red lights located above the entrance to Depoe Bay before entering the harbor channel through the basalt rock.  There is a lighted bell buoy located inshore from a lighted whistle buoy located 1.1 miles west offshore.  Once clearing the harbor follow the channel to the lighted bell buoy.  Fishing is excellent for rockfish over the rocky reefs and along the edge of the kelp forest north to government Point at Boiler Bay and to the mouth of the Siletz River.  Fishing for rockfish is excellent south along the rocky reefs and kelp forest off of Morocco, Cape Foulweather and Otter Rock.  Fish for coho and Chinook salmon seaward outside of the 30 fathom curve from late June through the end of July.  A word of caution, avoid fishing off of the North Reef and Flat Rock because large swells can materialize out of nowhere.  North Reef is located approximately 550 yards west and slightly north of the entrance to Depoe Bay and Flat Rock is located approximately 450 yards southwest of the entrance to Depoe Bay. 

Thee cabezon and lingcod were part of a fine catch of lingcod, cabezon and black rockfish caught off of BoilerBay.

Bank fishing from the rocky structure inside the bay at low tide is good for perch, sea trout and the occasional flurry of bass.  The fishing outside the bay in front of Depoe Bay from the basalt rocky shelf is excellent for perch, sea trout, cabezon, bass and lingcod.  Fish south of the entrance to Depoe Bay or north of the entrance to the ‘Crack’ located 150 yards northward  Fishing from the north point at Depoe Bay is outstanding for bass, cabezon and lingcod during a high or low tide when the ocean is flat clam.  The end of the point is accessible at low tide, but is dangerous at all times except when the ocean is flat clam.  Fish the south side of Pirates Cove during high tide for bass and lingcod.  Access North Point by turning west onto Sunset to the corner of SW Alsea Ave, park and walk through the public beach access trail to North Point.  To access the south side of Pirates Cove turn right onto Alsea Ave to Vista St.  Fishing at the south point at Depoe Bay is good for perch, sea trout, bass and lingcod during low and high tide.   

Depoe Bay boat launch is located at the south end of the bay.  The access road is the first street to the east south of the Hwy 101 Bridge.  There is a two dollar launch fee but the launch is congested by anglers waiting up to 1½ hours to launch boats during salmon season. 

127.7 Ellingson St. is the access point to the rocky basalt shelf located south of the entrance to Depoe Bay.  Fishing from the basalt rocky shelf on the south side of Depoe Bay is excellent for perch, sea trout, bass and lingcod during low and high tide when the ocean is calm. 

128.2 South Point St.is the access point to the rocky cliffs south of Depoe Bay. The fishing at the south point is excellent for perch, sea trout, bass and lingcod during low and high tide when the ocean is calm.