Every Boat Ramp on Willapa Bay

About Willapa Bay

Willapa Bay is widely recognized as one of the cleanest and most pristine estuaries in the United States, spanning 120 miles of shoreline along the southwestern Washington coast in Pacific County. This shallow coastal bay, with a maximum depth of just 25 feet, is fed by the Willapa, Naselle, and North rivers, creating a rich mixing zone of fresh and salt water that supports extraordinary populations of shellfish, salmon, and sturgeon. The bay produces nearly one-sixth of all oysters harvested in the United States, earning it a reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest's great natural treasures.

Chinook Salmon fishing in Willapa Bay draws anglers throughout the summer and fall, with fish staging in the bay before ascending tributary rivers. Sturgeon fishing is a time-honored tradition in the deeper channels, where both white and green sturgeon can be targeted. Dungeness Crab are abundant in the bay's eelgrass beds, and the recreational oyster harvest is a unique experience found in few other locations. Steelhead enter the bay's tributaries during the winter months, adding another dimension to the angling calendar.

The communities of Long Beach, Raymond, and South Bend provide boat launch access and services for visiting anglers. South Bend, the county seat, bills itself as the "Oyster Capital of the World" and serves as a gateway to the bay's best fishing grounds. The bay's shallow, protected waters are well-suited for smaller boats, and its relatively uncrowded conditions offer a peaceful alternative to the busier fishing destinations found elsewhere along the Washington coast.

Nearest towns: Long Beach, Raymond, South Bend