Author Archives: Sophia Troeh

Tide Pooling on the Oregon Coast

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 The Oregon Coast has some excellent areas for tide pooling, which amazes and attracts visitors of all ages. Tide pooling is going out to rocky shores at low tides to touch and observe critters that live there.

During low tide, organisms that live in zones between the high and low tide are exposed from the water. They can be seen stuck to rocks or swimming and crawling in small tide pools of water. Some cannot withstand being exposed to air for very long. 

As tides go out, more delicate organisms will be visible. Therefore, it is important to track low tides and times before planning a tide pooling trip.

Resources

There are many resources for identifying wildlife in tide pools and along the beaches, such as ID guides found in bookstores or that can be printed online. In addition, some Oregon State Parks offer interpretive walks and other programs open to the public.

Guides

There are also opportunities to hire guides for tide pooling, such as Wavecrest Discoveries. By going tide pooling with a guide, you get much more out of the experience than just being able to identify different species. You also learn more about the area, hear additional stories about the organisms, and gain more information that you could never learn independently.

Giant Green Anemones and Sea Stars are reveled at lower tides. Photo by Susan Dimock

When tide pooling, it is important to wear proper footwear, as many of the rocks are went and covered with algae and can be very slippery. The marine layer can also lead to variable weather, so wearing multiple layers will provide the most comfort.

Rocks covered in kelp provide habitats for many species that are fun to look at. Photo by Justin Myers

For more information about tide pooling on the Oregon Coast, visit http://oregontidepools.org/. 

Charleston Charters

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Charleston is well known as a small town with beautiful views of the marina and excellent fishing. The best way to experience fishing in the area is going out with one of the three charter companies.

Captain John Blanchard at Sharky’s Charters

Captain John Blanchard single handedly runs Sharky’s Charters. John started as a commercial fisherman but decided to switch to guiding and has lead charters for four years now.

He is the captain and typically takes out smaller groups of four to six. This is a great way to get more valuable one-on-one instruction.

When asked what his favorite part of being a guide was, he said that he likes meeting people and forming friendships with his customers, who frequently return for fishing trips. He also loves sharing his passion with others and remarked “If you do what you love, you don’t work a day in your life.”

Captain Kurt Smith at Betty Kay’s Charters

Captain Kurt Smith is one of the two captains at Betty Kay’s Charters and has about 18 years of experience. He will be taking over as owner of the company in the upcoming months.

Kurt takes pride in his charter company’s commitment to customer service and making sure that every customer has a fun trip and great experience. He thinks that the value provided by hiring a guide is immeasurable, as they have all the “local insight” and know where the fish are better that any visitor could figure out on their own.

Betty Kay’s is able to accommodate larger groups and more people depending on trips, fitting about 20 passengers on a boat.

Weather dependent

Fishing charters are universally weather dependent. If the ocean is too rough or winds are too strong, trips must be canceled for that day. Flexibility is critical for having a safe trip.

If you or someone you know is interested in fishing in the Charleston area, try giving one of the local charter companies a call!

Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail

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If you are looking for the best way to experience food on the Southern Oregon Coast, look no further than the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail. The mission of the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail is to advertise businesses from farms to craft breweries that produce, source or cook local foods.

It is open for visitor participation year-round and includes a number of establishments along the Southern Oregon Coast broken into different categories. The trail started as just a farm trail from Bandon to Port Orford.

Now, just three years later, the food trail has grown to 40 participating businesses spanning from Reedsport to Brookings.

Following the food trail provides visitors with some of the most rewarding food-related experiences along the wild rivers coast. Seeing the logo in an establishment ensures guests that all the food they are receiving is local, fresh and sustainable. It is an easy way to identify delicious places to stop for a beer, food, or produce.

In addition, South Coast Tours offers guided van tours along the food trail, allowing you to get the most out of your adventure. They can accommodate you and your party to help you experience the best the trail has to offer, as well as give additional insight that only locals can provide.

For more information, go to the WRC food trail website at https://www.wrcfoodtrail.com.

Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail Logo