How to Catch Salmon from Shore: The Complete Guide

Fishing for salmon from shore can be an extremely rewarding experience. Landing one of these mighty fish without the help of a boat is quite the accomplishment. While it may seem intimidating, salmon fishing from shore is easier than you think with the right techniques and gear.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about fishing for salmon from the shore. You’ll learn how to locate fish, choose the best bait and tackle, and use effective fishing techniques to put more salmon on the bank. Let’s get started!

Picking the Perfect Shore Fishing Spot

The first step is finding a promising shore fishing location. Ideal salmon shore fishing spots have a few key features:

• Salmon often swim and feed in deeper pools and channels because they are easy to get to. Pay attention to shorelines that drop off quickly or that let you get to deep water in just a cast or two.

• Structure – Points, ledges, underwater humps, and submerged logs are salmon magnets. They break up currents, creating prime ambush points for feeding

• Moving water – Look for areas with current flowing past. Salmon use currents to conserve energy while searching for prey. Shoreline eddies and seams between fast and slow water are especially productive.

• Shade – Salmon retreat to shady spots on sunny days Target shaded banks and pockets during bright conditions.

Shore anglers have excellent salmon opportunities at river mouths, harbor jetties, and along lake shorelines. Scouting at low tide is the best way to get an underwater layout of structure, depth changes, and current speed.

Gearing Up for Shore Salmon

Proper tackle selection is critical for success. You need gear that is strong enough to pull big fish out from shore and sensitive enough to feel small bites. My go-to salmon gear for shore fishing includes:

• Rod – A 7-9 foot medium-heavy power, fast action rod. Longer length allows you to cast farther and use more leverage.

• Reel – A quality reel with a smooth drag in the 15-20 lb line capacity range. Make sure it’s resistant to saltwater corrosion.

• Line – I prefer 12-15 lb monofilament or braided lines. Use a 3-6 foot fluorocarbon leader for low visibility.

• Hooks – Single hooks in 3/0 to 5/0 sizes are ideal. Carry an assortment of hook styles like octopus, kahle, and circle hooks.

• Weights – Have an assortment of egg, barrel, and pyramid sinkers in 1/4 to 2 ounce sizes. Heavier weights for high current areas.

• Terminal Tackle – Swivels, beads, corkies, divers, and flashers help trigger bites. Make sure to have bait thread and needle.

• Net – A long handle landing net is extremely helpful when shore fishing. I recommend at least an 8 foot reach.

Best Salmon Shore Fishing Techniques

You can catch salmon from shore using a variety of techniques. Drift fishing, bobber fishing, and casting lures are my top three approaches:

Drift Fishing

This technique involves drifting a weighted bait rig with the current. It allows you to thoroughly cover structure and seamlessly adapt to changing currents. To drift fish:

• Rig your line with a walking sinker, leader, and baited hook
• Cast slightly upstream and pay out line as the current takes your rig downstream
• Let the setup drift along the bottom, maintaining bottom contact
• Repeat, working different currents speeds, depths, and structure

Bobber Fishing

Bobber fishing suspends bait off the bottom, keeping it dancing enticingly in the salmon’s strike zone. It’s an excellent way to precisely target specific structure. Follow these bobber fishing steps:

• Set your bobber stop 3-6 feet up the line based on depth
• Add a bobber bead and slip bobber above the stop
• Use a walking sinker below bobber to match conditions
• Bait hook and cast into promising spot
• Let the current sweep the bobber downstream while watching for bites

Casting Lures

Aggressively working spoons, spinners, and plugs is a great way to cover water. The flash and action of lures also frequently triggers reaction bites. My best tips for casting lures from shore:

• Use bright colored and heavily vibrating lures to get attention
• Vary retrieval speeds until you dial in what triggers bites
• Work lures along current seams and structure edges
• Cover water thoroughly – persistence pays off!

No matter which technique you use, target salmon in the lower 3-15 feet of the water column. This is their prime feeding zone in shoreline areas.

Using Proven Salmon Shore Bait

While lures certainly produce, nothing beats live bait for consistent action. The best baits for shore-caught salmon include:

• Herring – Cut or whole herring is a salmon staple. I tip jigs and rig chunks on bottom rigs.

• Anchovies – Another highly effective baitfish that stays on hooks well. Fillet and rig strips, or tip jigs.

• Prawns – Fresh or frozen shrimp are a universal salmon bait. Try whole prawns threaded on hooks.

• Sandworms – Always keep a few in your bait arsenal. Thread onto hooks or tip lures and jigs.

• Eggs – Cured salmon or steelhead eggs fished in bags or behind a dodger are reliable.

Make sure to match bait size to hook size and salmon mouth size. I prefer whole smaller baits over chunks on shore. It keeps bait secure during long casts.

Vital Shore Fishing Retrieval Tips

How you work your bait makes a huge difference in tempting salmon to bite. Here are some key retrieval tips:

• Keep bait moving just fast enough to give action, but slow enough to look natural
• Vary speeds – start slow and gradually increase speed
• Impart sporadic twitches, pauses, and direction changes
• Let baits swing at the end of drifts before lifting to recast
• Stay engaged! Strike quickly at any tentative plucks and taps.

Patience and persistence are also vital. Shore fishing is often a numbers game. Make repeated casts to find and engage active biters.

Proper Salmon Handling from Shore

Once you hook up, use extreme care bringing salmon to shore. Their delicate mouths easily tear.

• Keep a tight line and avoid slack at all costs
• Walk the fish to calmer shallow water if possible
• Use steady, heavy pressure to tire the fish out
• Hand-line the salmon once it’s worn down and keep it in water
• Use a big net with fine mesh to safely secure your catch

Always vent and bleed salmon immediately and keep them cool. Take several photos, but quickly get fish into a cooler and back in the water. Avoid excessive handling and air exposure.

Plan a Successful Shore Salmon Mission

With the right game plan, shore-fishing for salmon can be lights out. Follow this blueprint for a successful trip:

• Find Fish – Put in scouting time to locate high percentage spots. Check tide charts and current direction.

• Time It Right – Target early mornings, evenings, and moving tide stages when salmon are most active.

• Prepare The Essentials – Pack adequate gear and bait for conditions. Bring rain gear, food, water, sunscreen, etc.

• Work The Water – Employ a mix of techniques to find what’s working. Adapt and fine-tune your approach based on fish feedback.

• Stay Safe – Always be aware of footing, surf, and weather. Don’t take unnecessary risks.

• Enjoy The Experience – Appreciate the sights, sounds, and thrill of battling strong fish from shore.