WILD BLOG: Safety the key as the heart of Buoy 10 madness begins
NEW Aug. 7, 2009 / 10:30 a.m

The mouth of the Columbia is known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific" and it's said that more ships and boats have sunk here than any other place in the world.

It's a big area and it can get dangerous, but if you respect it you can have a lot of fun.  Remember that no fish is worth you life, and if in doubt, D-O-N-T G-O!

Having a GPS with a chart has made fishing here a whole new world, I suggest that if you can have one of these units on board.  It's also a good idea to have a compass in case there's a dead battery.

On the web: There are several helpful websites to get safety info and conditions for the B10/Astoria area.

Columbia River Bar Buoy: This buoy is 20 miles off shore but at least it will give you a hint of what it's like out there.

Oregon State Marine Board Coastal Waters/Columbia page: The OSMB page is a good read about the area around the Columbia mouth.

NOAA's Marine Forecast: Good basic weather information.

SaltwaterTides.com Oregon info: Use this to get information on the tides.

A word on the wind: One thing to always remember, the wind will almost always come up in the afternoon.  If it ever comes up ad gets too rough to get back down river, cross the river above the bridge at least a couple hours either side of the low and then catch a cab from the East Mooring Basin back to your truck.