Walking along the marina, you get a mix of scenes— boats heading out to sea, recreational vessels bobbing in the slips, and kayakers launching into the water. There’s a six-lane boat launch that’s open year-round, and it’s great for people with anything from small crafts to fishing boats. I spotted a few folks launching kayaks and paddleboards, and they disappeared into the calm waters of Coos Bay.

The overlook provides a clear, elevated view of Simpson Reef and the nearby Shell Island. These offshore rocks are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which means they’re protected from human interference. That protection has allowed a staggering number of marine mammals to call this place home—or at least a seasonal getaway.

A Charleston institution since 1979, Portside sits right by the harbor. They have a Friday night seafood buffet, where you can pick your own live Dungeness crab or lobster from the tanks. The lounge comes alive on weekends — mellow live music and occasional karaoke.

After the tide changed, I moved closer to the rocks and fished for lingcod and rockfish. I brought out a heavy-action jigging rod with 50-pound braid and dropped big leadhead jigs tipped with swimbaits straight to the bottom. The rockfish were hitting hard, and I pulled up two good-size blacks before the lingcod came in. One of them nailed my jig just off the rocks, a mean 27-incher with a mouth full of attitude. If you like bottom fishing, this is the spot.