Battery Russell was one of the most fascinating stops we made while exploring the Oregon Coast. If…read moreyou enjoy history, old military sites, or simply exploring places that feel a little mysterious, this is definitely worth visiting. The massive concrete structures are incredibly interesting to walk through. You can explore the old rooms, passageways, stairs, and gun emplacements while imagining what this place must have been like when soldiers were stationed here protecting the mouth of the Columbia River. What made the experience especially memorable for us was learning about Battery Russell's connection to World War II. In June 1942, a Japanese submarine surfaced offshore and fired shells toward Fort Stevens. Knowing that history while standing among these old military structures gave our visit an entirely different perspective. I also appreciated being able to explore at our own pace. There are plenty of opportunities for photos, and the weathered concrete and surrounding forest make the area incredibly atmospheric. Battery Russell is a great addition to a visit to Fort Stevens State Park, especially if you're already road-tripping along the northern Oregon Coast. I highly recommend taking some time to stop, walk around, read about the history, and explore. It's an unusual and memorable piece of Oregon history that I'm really glad we didn't skip!

Clean park with great hiking trails. Fairly clean restrooms. Drove down to the beach and took the…read moredogs to see the Peter irondale. This camping trip they had a free concert on the lawn by the battery. I love that the golf carts drive by to bring you firewood for a standard $7 fee. Terrible reception and cellular in the park. Overall great trip with lots of sunshine.

Curtis is a first rate guide. I can recommend him highly. I have been out with him three times in…read morethe last eight years and always came back with a fish.

My cousin Booked the whole boat for Salmon fishing, (August 15th 2025). The weather was not in our…read morefavor... Heavy Wind, Lots of Rain, Spotty Sea conditions, ETC... Curtis didn't bat an eye and rather than canceling the trip he approached it with can do attitude "Lets GO"! We had 3 adults and 3 "kids" 10, 14, and 14. Curtis was professional, courteous, and friendly. It was a great trip. We limited out and enjoyed the day regardless of the conditions. As someone who has worked in the boat industry, I can attest to the quality, maintenance, performance, and attention to detail Curtis has put into his boat. Keep up the good work and we are looking forward to future trips!

Can't say enough, this Charter is amazing!! I spent 3 days with Captain Brian and limited out all…read morethree days in a row. We got an early start and knocked it out of the park each day. He was very knowledgeable and we seemed to have boats following us where ever he stopped, but not able to duplicate what he was doing as we caught our limits and were back before lunch each day. The boat was perfect and the fishing one of a kind!! I have a freezer full of salmon but will be back for sure!!! If you're looking for a great guide, look no further...this is the spot!! Cant wait to come back!!!

From the owner: We specialize in fishing the Pacific Ocean and Lower Columbia River for salmon, sturgeon, rockfish,…read moreand crab. We also offer wildlife viewing, both in the river and the ocean.

Kelly took our 18 & 19 year-old sons fishing yesterday & they loved it! It was their first time…read morefishing on the Columbia & Kelly had them catching fish within an hour! They had a great time fishing all day & each brought home a beautiful salmon! They would go fishing again with you anytime!! Thanks for giving our boys a fantastic (& safe!) :) day on the water Kelly!!

Kelly is Awesome! I have been on two trips with Kelly this…read moreyear. He took my family and I crabbing in Siletz bay this July. And Myself, my son, and friends went fishing with him on Labor day in Astoria. He is professional and extremely knowledgeable, yet he seems to genuinely take care and time to be sure each person has a good experience. On both trips Kelly showed his commitment to making the trip a success and a good time for everyone. I highly recommend Kelly Short Outdoors Pro Guided Fishing.

I fished for sturgeon with Jeff and his first mate Julie. A group of 4. We had an incredible…read moretime! We hit 10 sturgeon in the first 70 minutes. We hit 20 total fish, lost 3 that spit the hook for a total of 17 sturgeon in 3 hours. Jeff is truly knowledgeable and knows the river, and his first mate was such a pleasure to fish with and support our whole day. Thank you both to a great outing. 100 pct recommend

Amazing Captain and First Mate!!…read more Great follow through and super honest! You will love going out with these folks.

My buddy & I went out with Leaf for Springers & had a great day fishing. Leaf is a great guide & a…read morelot of fun to be around. I highly recommend Leaf & Skookum Fishing Charters out of Astoria!!

Brilliant fisherman and even better company! Spent both days out on the water with Leaf and would…read morego again and again and again! Super skilled and very patient! And now we have a freezer full of fish!

Stayed in Small Rented RV $90 a night Very nice .., at least…read moreway better than an outside tent. But,,,,, Be aware you can't use rv bathroom or shower. The bathroom is a 5 min walk across the gravel parking lot. And Shower costs $2 every 5 min Very nice people and awesome crab & clams cooked for you Next time I'll try the larger RV to rent. Yes I would recommend if you don't mind the logging trucks loud coming down the hill at 5 am

We were so glad to stop by here for our last dinner of our Rockaway beach family vacation! This…read moreplace has it all! Camping, crabbing, market, and restaurant. There were plenty of parking in the lot and you walking the market store, the crabbing docks and some campsites on the walk to the outdoor restaurant part (also lots of fun photo ops too!) The menu prices were reasonable and displayed right at the ordering/cooking station. You tell them what you want and then you take the metal plaque inside to pay. We got 1 Dungeness crab (cleaned), 1 lb of clams, and 1 dozen oysters all steamed to try. Please do note all the accompaniments were sold separately such as butter, garlic, cocktail sauce, and lemons. They also had a microwave station for you to melt the butter along with all the tools you'll need for your yummy tray of fresh seafood. Eating crab is a labor of love but it was totally worth it! The crab meat was juicy and sweet, while the clams and oysters were briny and salty. If you want raw oysters you have to shuck them yourself due to cross contamination prevention. But the steamed oysters were actually so good too! Service was quick and friendly with everyone working hard cleaning, steaming, and dishing out orders. It's nice to have the hand washing stations and bathroom close to rinse off the stickiness from our seafood feast. Definitely recommend coming here to get your fresh seafood on if you are in the Rockaway Beach area!

Great park with a little bit of everything…read more We saw the sign and decided to check it out. First impression: lovely, quiet grounds that appear well-maintained. The park has a lot to offer: a beautiful lake and surrounding trees, picnic shelter, play area, docks, trails, birds & other animal viewing, large flat parking areas (one near each end of the lake), and flush toilets. We took the short, loop trail that starts near the parking lot...part a rolling path within the trees and part within mowed grasses along the lake. There's also an interpretive trail we didn't get to check out that starts near the beautiful, historic log home. Beautiful and peaceful spot to spend an afternoon for sure.

Amazing trip! These guys literally went the extra mile to get us on fish. Super impressive…read morewatching them use their experience along with their electronics to fine schools of tuna. The gear was right and tight. Can't say enough about the program and crew!

The "Shake N Bake" is about as good as it gets for sport fishing here in the PNW!…read more This 42ft sport fishing yacht is fast (twin turbo diesels) and smooth as it cuts through the waves taking you to where the fish are biting. Nothing but the best equipment and the deck hand takes care of everything. You can just enjoy catching fish!