Saltwater · Summer through fall; beach fisheries peak in fall
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Acrobatic and aggressive, coho are the shore angler's salmon. They push baitfish against beaches in the fall and hit fast-moving lures.
Where they live
In this guide: Vancouver, BC · Victoria, BC · Campbell River, BC · Seattle, WA.
How to catch them
Beach casting spinners and spoons
Rig: Single lure on a swivel, 8-10 lb leader
Bait/lure: Blue Fox style spinners, 1/2-3/4 oz spoons
Key tip: Fish first light and the flooding tide. Retrieve fast with pauses.
Trolling spoons near the surface
Rig: Spoon 30-40 ft behind the boat, no flasher needed in fall
Bait/lure: 3.5-4" spoons in green/white
Key tip: Coho like speed: 2.5-3.5 mph is the sweet spot.
Baseline setup
- Rod: 9-10' spinning rod, medium
- Line: 20 lb braid, 10 lb fluorocarbon leader
- Terminal: Spinners, spoons, 2/0-3/0 hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Trolling rod · Best value
10'6" mooching/trolling rod (medium-heavy)
≈ US$120-180
Long soft action absorbs flasher load and keeps barbless hooks pinned.
Reel · Budget
Line-counter or mooching reel, 300 size
≈ US$70-110
Repeatable depth is half of salmon trolling; a counter makes it repeatable.
Terminal · Budget
11" flasher + anchovy teaser heads (2-pack)
≈ US$25-35
The chinook standard on this coast. Greens and chartreuse first.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
New to Coho Salmon? Start with a complete kit
Saltwater Shore Starter Kit — About $100–140 all-in · About $220–320 all-in
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