Coho Charters & Motel has been the heart of sportfishing in Ilwaco, Washington since 1956, making it a family-owned fixture on the lower Columbia River and Pacific Ocean for nearly 70 years. Known locally as “The Fish Finders,” the business combines a fleet of modern charter boats with a dockside motel, giving anglers everything they need for a full fishing trip in one location.
The charter lineup covers salmon, sturgeon, halibut, bottom fishing, and Dungeness crab trips, with captains bringing a combined total of more than 80 years of experience on these waters. Ocean salmon season runs seven days a week starting in late June with a two-fish limit, while sturgeon catch-and-release and bottom fishing trips begin in mid-May. Halibut season runs from early May through late September, with Coho Charters using Penn Electric reels on halibut trips to help anglers battle these powerful fish more effectively. Crab trips start in late September, offering a relaxed outing built around Dungeness crab and Pacific Northwest scenery.
Trips run 6 to 8 hours depending on the fishery, unless the boat limits out earlier, and pricing includes everything except lunch and a fishing license, which can be purchased at the office on arrival. For 2026, sturgeon and bottom fishing trips run $200 per person, ocean salmon trips run $200 per person, halibut trips run $350 per person, and crab trips run $140 per person, all including tax. Private six-person boat charters for salmon and sturgeon are also available at $275 per person, with larger group pricing available by calling the office directly.
The fleet features modern boats equipped with current electronics, heated cabins, and private bathrooms, aimed at keeping the day comfortable regardless of weather. After a day on the water, guests can stay at the on-site dockside motel, with clean, modern units featuring cable color TV, giving both solo travelers and larger groups a convenient place to unwind right by the fleet.
For anglers looking to fish salmon, sturgeon, halibut, or crab on the lower Columbia River and Pacific Ocean with a well-established, multi-generational Ilwaco charter operation, Coho Charters & Motel offers a full-service fishing and lodging experience in one stop.
