Charter your next adventure

Taking a trip on a charter boat can be a great way to experience the ocean and its inhabitants without having to buy your own boat.

Several charter boat operators offer packages that include bottom fishing for rockfish and lingcod, or tuna, halibut or salmon fishing. Some even offer whale-watching trips during the gray whales' annual migrations in the spring and fall.

Fishing boats often make two trips a day for bottom fish, the first trip leaving port in the early morning and returning around noon. For tuna and halibut, fish that are farther offshore, a trip lasts a whole day.

Most companies can supply all the equipment necessary for a good day's worth of fishing and also have one-day fishing licenses available. Many of the vessels are also handicapped-accessible.

Regulations change periodically and the skippers and deckhands will let you know how many fish you can keep, what kinds and what sizes.

For the adventurous, some companies offer jet boat trips up the Rogue River. Scuba diving instruction and excursions also can be arranged through local companies.

To take advantage of a charter boat trip, set the alarm clock for the early morning hours, dress in layers, bring the camera and be ready for some great ocean scenery.

For information on charter boat operators, those interested can call the local chambers of commerce.

Catch a wave, ride

Though cold, the South Coast surf is plentiful and ideal for many.

It's nothing a wet suit can't remedy and they are readily available for rent or purchase at local shops.

Well-known by advanced surfers near the Bay Area is Bastendorff Beach. The waves are good, with smooth swells when the wind is light. For beginners, Lighthouse Beach, south of Bastendorff Beach, is the place to be. It requires a short hike to the ocean from Cape Arago Highway.

For medium difficulty, Sunset Beach is easily accessed from Cape Arago Highway by way of a parking lot.

Expect a two-hour time frame for the good surf, as tide and wind conditions constantly change.

Another popular location on the South Coast is Bullards Beach just outside Bandon.

Find Coquille River Lighthouse on U.S. Highway 101 and you're on the beach.

South, at Port Orford and Gold Beach, are other attractive spots. Pistol River, south of Gold Beach, is a hot spot and hosts a contest during the summer.

For more information, call Rocky Point Surf and Sport at (541) 266-9020 or Sessions Surf Co. at (541) 412-0810.

Windsurfing: Feel the rush of wind and water

The South Coast is home to one of the best windsurfing spots in Oregon. Floras Lake, located at Boice-Cope Park just south of Langlois and west of U.S. Highway 101, provides consistent wind and smooth water for experts and beginners. Its geographical location makes it ideal for windsurfing. Only 150 feet from the ocean, the lake is exposed to the consistent, prevailing northwest winds common during the summer months. Water temperature remains in the low 60s throughout the sailing season, making it a relatively comfortable place to windsurf.

One interesting facet of the lake, and favorable to beginners, is the depth of the lake: It averages only 5 to 6 feet deep across the entire lake!

Floras Lake Windsurfing is located at the lake. Specializing in instruction, the business offers lessons for the beginner or the advanced windsurfer. Equipment rentals also are available. Those interested can call Floras Lake Windsurfing at (541) 348-9912.

Scuba Diving: Dive into an underwater adventure

Some of the South Coast's richest treasures are under the sea: giant sea anemones that resemble overgrown chrysanthemums, brightly colored rock-dwelling China rockfish and jungles of kelp that rival the beauty of a South American rainforest. Beyond the beauty, catching fish and shellfish for dinner can be an adventure in itself.

Getting there can be a problem. Sunset Sports in the Pony Village Mall in North Bend (756-3483) is a popular starting point. The store carries the gear necessary for an underwater adventure and can help arrange for lessons and an undersea trip. Central Coast Watersports in Florence also can guide you in the direction of a new dive park that is being developed. That business can be reached at (541) 997-1812.

Local destinations such as Orford Reef and Cape Arago are popular, but the boat operator and divers must remember it's dangerous around reefs. "Wash rocks" are hidden right below the surface and currents can run strong between the pinnacles and rock walls under water. There are several marine gardens and marine reserves along the coast, and regulations vary for taking home fish and shellfish. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife fishing regulations identify areas in which and how many animals can be taken.

Swimming: Splash into area pools

Sea lions aren't the only mammals who enjoy making a splash. While wave dodging is not for everyone, there still are plenty of warmwater places for humans to swim on the South Coast.

North Bend High School has the largest public swimming facility in the Bay Area. The North Bend Pool is located next to the high school at 1600 Pacific Ave. Call 756-4915 for more information on pool hours.

Two major options for the serious swimmer in Coos Bay can be found at Mingus Park near downtown and the Bay Area Athletic Club. Mingus Park has an outdoor pool while the athletic club has an indoor pool, and both are equipped for lap swimming. For information about summer swimming hours at the Mingus Park pool, those interested can call Coos Bay City Hall at 269-1181.

Another public pool on the South Coast is Highland Pool in Reedsport, located at 2605 Longwood Drive. Swimmers can call 271-9111 for more information.

In Coquille, the community pool is scheduled to open during the summer. The pool is located behind the community building at 115 N. Birch.

For the more adventurous cold-blooded swimmers, there are swimming holes scattered everywhere. For example, check out Loon Lake northeast of Reedsport off Highway 38, which also is known as a great place to water ski; Tenmile Lakes in Lakeside; the Coos and Millicoma rivers; and, of course, the Pacific Ocean.

Explore marine biology in a tidepool

On a trip to the coast's rocky shore, it's impossible for most visitors to stay away from the tidepools. Tide-pooling can be fun and educational, but should be approached with some caution in mind.

There are all kind of plants and animals to be seen at low tide in the pools of saltwater left behind in rocky areas. It's a harsh environment for the plants and little critters surviving the crashing waves, blasting wind and baking sun.

Sunset Beach offers one of the many favorite spots in the area to explore. The Coast to Crest Interpreters League leads many tidepool tours throughout the year, especially for schoolchildren.

Tidepools are best viewed at low tide. Those who visit the tidepools are asked to walk carefully on the tops of the rocks. It's best to avoid stepping in pools or on covered rocks. Besides being slippery, it can harm the tidepool inhabitants. It's OK to lift an occasional rock to see what lives underneath, but be sure to replace the rock precisely as you found it.

Tide-poolers also should not ignore the ocean or the tide and be aware of sneaker waves. These large waves are responsible for drownings on the coast each year.

For more information about tide-pooling and other programs offered at Sunset Bay State Park, those interested can call 888-3778.

Waterskiing: Get behind a boat and hang on

Slather on the waterproof sunscreen and get ready to ride.

Boating and skiing enthusiasts can show off their water skiing skills at a couple different lakes in the area, including Tenmile Lakes in Lakeside, Loon Lake east of Reedsport and Woahink Lake south of Florence.

The Coos County Parks Department operates a boat ramp at Tenmile Lakes, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has a boat ramp on Loon Lake and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has a boat ramp at Woahink Lake State Park.

Those who ski will need to bring along their boats and gear.

Kayaking: Row and relax

In a land where water flows and wildlife flourishes, much can be observed from the middle of a lake, especially paddling down a river. Kayakers have found the South Coast has an abundance of places to relax in kayak.

Surf jetty kayaking at Winchester Bay's south jetty may be the best in the state, but strong currents and riptides present dangers and boaters should be cautious.

Seeking some flatwater? Try paddling on Eel Lake, near Lakeside in Tugman State Park. Boat traffic is minimal.

The lazy waterway of the Siltcoos River Trail provides the opportunity for kayakers to experience lakes, rivers and oceans.

This trip begins at the Tyee campground, 13 miles north of Reedsport on the east side of U.S. Highway 101. You will travel 2 and a half miles, about an hour, passing under the main highway, then to a portage. Otters frequent the area, as do mink, beaver, raccoon and an occasional black bear.

The river winds through sand banks, with ample opportunity to pull out and find a trail heading northward to the Siltcoos Beach Access Road.

River rules require life jackets or personal flotation devices for each person, with PFDs worn at all times by children 12 and younger. Be sure to scout all waterways before putting in.

Cruise wild Rogue on a mail boat

Visitors to the South Coast can experience a unique excursion on a mail boat up the Rogue River. The jet boat trips first started in 1895 out of a need for mail delivery service into the river canyon. Now they are a six-month tourist event into the wilderness back country of Curry County.

Thousands of passengers a year take a ride into the wild and scenic areas of the Rogue River where everything from black bears upriver to sea lions at the mouth of the river can be spotted as the boats speed over shallow waters.

Jerry's Rogue Jets and Rogue River Mail Boats both offer rides up the river. Trip opportunities include shorter scenic trips to view plant and wildlife, as well as longer trips through rugged canyon scenery and whitewater rapids. All trips include a break and a meal stop.

The mail boats run seven days a week from the beginning of May through October. Morning and afternoon departures are available in July and August. Plan for a full day of fun. For more information, those interested can call Jerry's Rogue Jets at (800) 451-3645 or Rogue River Mail Boats at (800) 458-3511 for full schedules and pricing.