I lived in Portland before moving down here to San Diego, I can say that Pacific City is a great spot, the Cape (Kiwanda) really protects the launch, making for easy launching in less than ideal conditions! As far as beauty it is unsurpassed, lots of birds and sea life all around. If you go a few miles off-shore you can find a nice flat gravel bar that is full of Pacific halibut. The parking on the beach is awesome, as is the Pelican Brewing Co, nothing better than sitting down with a good pint and watching the sunset behind the haystack rock and the cape!! AND you can catch salmon on the troll up there. Enjoy! PM me if you want some more pointers, but you seem to have a pretty good idea of where the fish are.
Also sign up for NWKA and go to the seminars and meetings, great bunch of guys up there. They have a HOW chapter up there as well!!