Astoria · 17th & Duane · Fish & chips from a boat
Bowpicker Fish & Chips
A 1932 Columbia River gillnet boat turned walk-up fry shack, serving one thing only: beer-battered albacore tuna and steak fries, across from the maritime museum
Opens Bowpicker’s site, which points to its X (Twitter) feed for the day’s hours. There’s no menu to browse: it’s albacore fish and chips, half or full order.
Details checked November 2026
Price
$
One dish, in half and full orders
Hours
Seasonal, weather permitting
Closes early in wind or when the fish runs out
Parking
Small lot & street parking
No RV parking; come in the tow car
Start here
What to order
There’s no menu to study. The boat does one dish, albacore fish and chips, in a half order (three pieces) or a full order (five), with malt vinegar and tartar sauce on hand.
The only thing on the menu
Albacore fish and chips
Chunks of Pacific albacore tuna in a light beer batter, fried to order and piled on thick steak fries. Tuna is firmer and meatier than cod or halibut, which is a big part of why people line up. Prices aren’t posted online.
Pro tip: Arrive near opening on a calm day. Lines can stretch down Duane Street in summer, the boat closes when the fish sells out, and high wind shuts the fryers down.
More to try
- Half orderThree pieces of albacore with steak fries, enough for one.
- Full orderFive pieces; good for a hungry eater or two to share.
- Malt vinegarThe traditional splash for fish and chips.
- Tartar sauceFor dipping, if vinegar isn’t your thing.
The Bowpicker story
A 1932 gillnetter with fryers on board
Ron Ford opened Bowpicker around 2000 in a 28-foot Columbia River gillnet boat christened in 1932. A bowpicker is a local design: the net is worked over the bow, a style developed for the river’s salmon fishery. This one now sits on dry land at 17th and Duane with deep fryers built in.
More than two decades on, it’s still a family operation, it still serves one dish, and it’s the stop most people mention first when the talk turns to fish and chips on the Oregon Coast. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is right across the street.
Why it made our list
- 4.7 on Google from 3,600+ reviews
- #1 of Astoria’s quick bites on Tripadvisor
- Albacore fish and chips served from a 1932 boat
- About 20 minutes from the Astoria KOA
What diners say about Bowpicker Fish & Chips
The restaurant report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked November 2026.
How the review sites compare
Average star rating on each site, out of 5
What diners often mention
Fish and chipsTunaWorth the waitBoatCrispy
Popular mentions Tripadvisor highlights in its reviews. Counts aren’t shown for these, so none are listed.
Good to know
Price rangePrices aren’t posted online
Special dietsOutdoor seatingDog-friendly tablesTakeout
SeatingPicnic tables or eat in the car
Scores as published by Google and Tripadvisor in November 2026. The weighted score combines both by review count. We couldn’t confirm a current Yelp star rating, so Yelp isn’t shown. Confirm details with the restaurant.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Bowpicker Fish & Chips
- Address1634 Duane St, Astoria, OR 97103
- HoursSeasonal, weather permitting
Closes early in wind or when the fish runs out - Phone(503) 791-2942
- OrderingWalk-up window; no reservations. Sources disagree on cards, so bring cash too
- ParkingSmall lot & street parking
Bowpicker sits in a small lot at 17th and Duane, across Marine Drive from the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Seating is a few outdoor picnic tables; when they fill up, plenty of people eat in their cars. Downtown streets are tight, so leave the rig at the park.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Bowpicker Fish & Chips
Park the rig at the KOA by Fort Stevens and take the tow car into Astoria; it’s about 20 minutes. The other two parks are much farther south and are listed for planning a longer coast trip. Drive times are free-flow road estimates.
Astoria / Warrenton / Seaside KOA Resort
A big, year-round family KOA beside Fort Stevens State Park, with full-hookup sites up to 90 ft and a heated indoor pool.
Sea & Sand RV Park
Terraced full-hookup sites on a bluff above the Pacific just north of Depoe Bay, open year-round with a path down to the beach.
Darlings Marina & RV Resort
An old-time lake resort on Siltcoos Lake south of Florence, open since 1923, with lakefront and forest RV sites and boat rentals.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you head over.
Weather permitting
Craving fish and chips in Astoria?
Check the day’s hours, bring cash just in case, and grab a full order to eat at the picnic tables across from the maritime museum.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. The fish and chips photo is for illustration only and was not taken at Bowpicker. Fish and chips: Missvain on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0); Columbia River Maritime Museum: Tedder on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Video: Here is Oregon on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Bowpicker Fish & Chips unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the restaurant’s published materials and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, menus, policies and other details are set by the restaurant and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Bowpicker Fish & Chips at bowpicker.com or (503) 791-2942. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.