Fishing for salmon from shore can be an extremely rewarding experience. Standing on the beach or riverbank, feeling the breeze in your hair, and waiting for that electrifying tug on your line makes for a perfect day.
In this complete guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about shore fishing for salmon, from understanding their behavior and choosing the best locations, to selecting lures and handling your catch. Whether you’re an experienced angler or new to salmon fishing, you’ll find plenty of tips and techniques here to help you land more fish from shore this season.
Understanding Salmon Behavior
The first step to successful salmon fishing from shore is understanding their behavior. Salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean to feed and grow, and return to freshwater to spawn.
As spawning season approaches, salmon will start their journey back upstream to their natal spawning grounds This is known as the salmon run. During the run, salmon are focused on reaching their destination and don’t feed much However, their instinct to strike at prey is still strong, so they can be tempted by the right lure.
Once salmon reach the spawning grounds, they pair up and build nests called redds in the gravel stream bottom where the females lay their eggs. At this stage, salmon should be left undisturbed to complete their life cycle.
Knowing the timing of the salmon runs in your area is key to shore fishing success. Late summer and fall are prime times in most regions.
Picking the Best Spots
Salmon often swim close to shore as they migrate upstream and search for the entrance to their home rivers. Focus on fishing spots where there is a point, jetty, or other structure that forces the salmon to pass close by.
River mouths, creek inlets, and harbour entrances are salmon hotspots. Points and beaches with rip currents, drop-offs, or underwater structure are also worth trying.
Once you find a promising area, look for schools of baitfish or jumping salmon showing you exactly where the fish are holding.
Gear and Tackle Tips
A 7-9 foot medium-heavy spinning rod paired with a reel that can hold 200+ yards of 20-30 lb test monofilament or braided line is ideal for salmon from shore. Make sure your reel has a smooth drag
For lures, spoons, spinners, plugs, and jigs in sizes from 1-5 oz generally work well. Always use barbless single hooks – trebles often snag in rocky areas Pick translucent greens, blues and pinks or bright metallics like copper, gold, and silver
When bait fishing, whole herring, shrimp, and cured roe skeins are top salmon bait choices. Use a fish finder rig with 2-6 oz pyramid sinkers and leader length from 18-48 inches for best results.
Proven Casting and Retrieving Methods
Cast lures and baits towards structure, drop-offs, rip currents, or any spot baitfish are congregating. Vary retrieve speeds until you dial in what triggers strikes that day.
For hardware lures, a steady retrieve with occasional twitches works well. For soft plastics, a stop and go retrieve with long pauses is effective.
When jigging, use sharp 1-2 foot lifts followed by a fluttering drop. Strike when the jig falls as salmon attack wounded prey.
Allow baits to drift along the bottom or under a float naturally with the current. Occasional pops of the rod tip can help spark reaction bites.
Weather and Tidal Considerations
Pay close attention to tidal movements, as salmon migration is influenced by changing tides. Slack tides between tidal shifts can be particularly productive.
In sunny conditions, go with brighter lure colors and natural baits like herring. For overcast days, switch to blacks, greens, and blues.
Choppy surf can make shore fishing difficult. Seek sheltered spots like coves and inlets or fish river mouths if the ocean is rough.
Handling and Releasing Salmon
Use knotless rubber nets to avoid injuring a salmon’s protective slime layer and scales. Never drag salmon up on shore or hold them vertically by the gills.
Minimize the fight time by not using tackle too light for salmon. The longer the battle, the less likely for fish survival upon release.
If keeping your catch, dispatch it quickly with a sharp blow. Place on ice immediately to ensure the best-quality fillets. Practice C&R to help protect wild stocks.
Practicing Safe Wading
Chest waders give access to prime spots but be cautious. Always wear a wading belt and feel for holes or drop-offs before stepping forward. Go slow. Bring wading staffs for stability.
Pay close attention to sneaker waves that surge up beaches with force. Watch for incoming tides that can cut off routes back. Avoid fishing alone.
As long as you choose the right spots, gear up properly, and use the best techniques for the conditions, you can have an amazing shore fishing experience. Patience and persistence are rewarded when that chinook, coho, sockeye or pink salmon grabs your lure!
The best techniques and rigs for salmon fishing in a river
There are many techniques for catching salmon in a river, and I aim to cover them all at some point. I will however start with the most popular and applicable to the most rivers and situations:
What season are we in for the salmon run?
Spring – Springtime flows are usually not at all an issue for salmon due to snow melt combined with lots of rain. Note: This may mean you need to target a run closer to mid-peak simply as a result of too much water relative to how many salmon will be in the river during the early phase.
The rule here is often to follow the water. After a large surge of rain and increased river flows, you target higher up the river system. The longer it has been since the last surge, you target lower on the river system.
Summer – Usually there’s less rain, but flows are still good due to lots of snow / glacial melt being available. However, flows are often more predictable, so you can generally follow a run through each phase. Early – fish lower. Late – fish higher on the river.
Early fall – Always focus lower on the river in the early phase of a run in these conditions unless there’s a dam on the river releasing steady flow, then treat it more like summer conditions.
Late fall/winter – In this season, you will have both very high flows and potentially very low flows, so following the water is extremely critical to finding lots of salmon wherever you decide to fish.
HOW TO Catch A Salmon – COMPLETE Guide To SUCCESS Salmon Fishing!
FAQ
FAQ
How to fish for salmon from the shore?
Bobber fishing is one of the most common ways to catch salmon and steelhead from shore. Heavily weighted bobbers allow you to launch your fly out to where the fish are feeding. These bobbers come in 3-4 different sizes. You may have to buy a couple of different sizes to see what ones match up the best with your rod.
What is the best bait for salmon fishing?
Salmon eggs are the top choice for bait, although sand shrimp are very popular for chinook salmon. Some anglers like to fish both at the same time.
What is the best method for salmon fishing?
Drift Fishing
One of the most common approaches to Salmon fishing, drifting involves casting your line and letting it drift in a current or flowing water. Adding a sinker is especially helpful to keep your bait underneath the surface. You can do the same without flowing water with a method known as plunking.
What is the best bait for salmon off the beach?
- pilchards.
- blue bait.
- pippies.
- whitebait.
- squid.
- mackarel.
- trevally.
- yakka’s.
Can you fish for salmon from shore?
Salmon are probably our favorite species of fish to catch. They put up a great fight and taste delicious cooked in many different ways. But most salmon fishing techniques require the use of a salmon fishing boat. You have to be able to catch salmon from shore too right? Let’s talk about how to fish for salmon from shore!
How do you fish for salmon on the shore?
For shore fishing for salmon, two primary techniques are popular: spincasting and fly fishing. The key to success is achieving a good casting distance since fish often feed far from the shore. A fishing rod measuring at least 9 feet long is recommended, and it should have a rating of at least 8lb to 14lb test.
How do you fish for salmon in Michigan?
Fly fishing is popular for Atlantics, as is spin casting. Lure, bait, and flies are three options. Techniques include drifting bait and fly fishing. If you are looking to do a trip of a lifetime for salmon, don’t forget to check out the article Best Salmon Destinations in The USA. John from Get Bent Guide Service with a Michigan King Salmon.