Nothing compares to the exhilaration of boating over waters where the Columbia River, having reached journey’s end, rushes into the Pacific Ocean. Add the thrill of catching large game fish and the experience will be imprinted in memory forever.

Fortunately, these excursions are available to anyone, thanks to charter boats berthed at the Port of Ilwaco. Charters provide outings ranging from sightseeing to bottom- and deep-sea fishing. Everything is provided except personal clothing and favorite refreshments.

Many anglers also fish from private boats, a great option if you’re prepared for the conditions.

The view of the land from the seaward side – lighthouses, Astoria, Saddle Mountain and Haystack Rock – are often breathtaking. Crossing the bar, where river and ocean meet, is an exciting time on the boat as the skipper skillfully maneuvers through often-turbulent waters to reach open sea.

Sea lions bask on jetty rocks. Seals’ heads pop out of the water here and there, and seagulls fly overhead hoping for a handout.

Sometimes the boats stop and anchor for bottom fishing that produces a variety of fish including sturgeon, red snapper, sole, bass, ling cod, rock cod and cabazon. Sturgeon are an especially exciting catch. Other times boats drift while passengers fish for salmon.

Many charter passengers, strangers at the excursion’s beginning, become friends before day’s end, caught up in the camaraderie of boating and fishing together.

For anyone who has never ventured on ocean waters but harbors a deep desire to at least once in their lives ride the waves, charter boats offer a safe, educational and thrill-filled opportunity.

Another big Columbia fishery is the season on white sturgeon, a long-lived species, with the typical longevity pegged at 30 to 80 years. The fish is popular among sport fishers because of the challenge to anglers; the broodstock fish weigh anywhere from 100 to 500 pounds and are known for putting up a good fight when hooked.

The white sturgeon stock in the lower Columbia downstream from Bonneville Dam is the most productive of its species. During the past 20 years, the sport and commercial sturgeon fishery has grown in popularity, partly because of diminished salmon fishing opportunities and partly because of an increased abundance of sturgeon.

Fish and Wildlife staff from both states have worked to track the positive trend in sturgeon and set sustainable harvest guidelines that allow enough fish to spawn and replenish the broodstock population in balance with the natural mortality of broodstock-sized sturgeon.

Off River

Landlubbers, get out your hooks, lines and sinkers because you’re going to love fishing Pacific County.

There are many out-of-the-way quiet fishing holes where you don’t have to fight with motorized boats and where fly fishing is fine and dandy. While ocean fishing at the beach is nationally known, many forget there are numerous rivers, streams and lakes perfect for family outings.

Between Ilwaco and Seaview lies Black Lake which offers trout fishing to all ages. The lake was stocked in April with large and smaller trout and opened to public fishing at the Black Lake Fishing Derby last month. There is a picnic spot adjoining the lake. Fishermen can cast off the dock or walk the trail around the lake’s perimeter to find a personal fishing niche. Follow statewide rules for size and daily limit.

Island Lake is a little more isolated and farther north on the Peninsula, but is perfect for canoeing and fishing. Travel north on SR103, take a right on Cranberry Road, follow Cranberry Road and take a left onto Birch Lane until it curves to the right. There are no restroom facilities here and parking is limited. However, there is a space to load and unload canoes. Expect to get wet.

Another popular fishing hole is Loomis Lake. Continue north on SR103 and just north of 188th Place and on the right is the road for Loomis Lake. The lake is open for all game fish and statewide rules apply to the size and daily limit. The road leads to a fishing dock, parking and rest room facilities.

Traveling from the Peninsula, the Naselle River can be seen as you drive around the bay road, U.S. 101 and SR4, to the town of Naselle. In addition to trout fishing, salmon fishing is allowed in several areas of the Naselle River in season. The same is true on the WILLAPA RIVER near Raymond and South Bend and the NEMAH on the east side of Willapa Bay. For complete rules on seasons, sizes and additional rules see the sport fishing rules pamphlet edition for fishing in Washington. These are available where fishing licenses are sold.

About a 10-minute drive from the Naselle River, fishermen can go to the hills for some upland lake fishing. Radar Lakes are reached by logging roads and the state of these roads depends largely on traffic, weather and repairs. Turn near Naselle Youth Camp.

How can you catch a trophy-sized sturgeon if you don’t have a boat. Simple, head east of the Chinook Tunnel a couple of miles and get ready for a fun day of sports fishing on a budget.

You will need a stout 9 or 10-foot rod and spinning reel large and strong enough to crank up at least 200 yards of 40-pound test line. A sliding swivel that can accommodate 6 to 16 ounces of pyramid sinker goes above the Dacron leader and 2/0 or 3/0 hook is at the end of your gear.

Bait of choice seems to be sand shrimp, but anchovy or smelt or anything else a scavenging sturgeon will engulf will do the trick. Cast toward Astoria, sit back to enjoy the comfort of your own rock, and wait for a bite.

But be careful when you rear back to set the hook, as the highway is only inches from your back and trucks, cars, and RVs zip past at 50 miles per hour.