Small and often overlooked, the Copalis River winds through forested coastal lowlands to the Pacific at Copalis Beach, between Ocean Shores and Pacific Beach. It’s about 2.5 to 3 hours from Seattle, and its lighter crowds make it a local favorite and an easy add-on to a beach day or a Grays Harbor fishing trip.
Seattle Fishing Company’s guide lays out a simple calendar. A jack salmon fishery runs through summer, while the main fall season from October through November centers on coho, which push in with the rain. Winter steelhead open in early December and fish until the season closes around March 1.
Most fishing happens from the bank on the lower river, with access near the Highway 109 crossing and a beach walk from Griffiths-Priday State Park to the river mouth, where fresh fish stage after rain. The guide recommends Blue Fox Vibrax spinners for coho and bobbers with steelhead jigs in the slow, winding winter water. Because the Copalis shares coastal regulations with nearby Grays Harbor rivers and rules can shift yearly, check current WDFW rules, including selective gear and barbless hook requirements, before heading out.
Read the full post here: Fishing the Copalis River
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