The lower Coos Bay estuary has been rough from the recent ocean swells but anglers can still catch rockfish along the jetty and submerged rock structures when the bay is calmer. Smaller jigs with a twister tail or 1-ounce jigging spoons have been working to catch rockfish and greenling. The daily bag limit for marine fish is 6, which includes a one fish sub-bag limit for China, copper and quillback rockfish. Anglers can still harvest 2 lingcod per day. 

The steelhead rivers in the Coos Basin are currently high and muddy from the rain. There were a few steelhead caught in the Coos Basin around Christmas and New Year’s but overall fishing has been slow this early part of the season. 

The West Fork Millicoma River will be the first river to become fishable followed by the East Fork Millicoma and South Fork Coos rivers. There is good but crowded public access at the Millicoma Interpretive Center on the West Fork Millicoma River and at Nesika Park on the East Fork Millicoma River. There is lots of bank access on the South Fork Coos River but anglers fishing above Dellwood will need a fishing permit from Weyerhaeuser.

Trout fishing in streams and rivers is now closed until next spring.