Hey Dan, I'll be back down there by then, stop in at M24 and havve a good cup of that Costco coffee.
The "CR" is the official mouth of the river and is about 10 miles SW of bouy 10. For some reason the area right around that CR can is always a rather steady producer of fish.
The "bar" migrates depending on the flow and conditions but it seems like past bouy 6 things get better. You can start getting bumped around starting right around B10. If you hit it on the flood and the ocean is calm, you can usually just set the throttles and enjoy a nice boat ride. Don't take the bar lightly, you have to play on it's terms, but I've often seen folks out there in 16', open, tiller steer boats (albeit stupid folks with a death wish)
Crab pots, bring them, throw them in just under the lighthouse along the north jetty or in Baker Bay. Be sure to have plenty of weight in them or you'll loose them.
Ilwaco channel- use caution, the markers can be decieving and you will run aground if you don't stay in the twisty channel. It is well marked and plenty wide but every year many folks will miss a marker and try to cut a corner and end up walking.
Bring extra money to leave at the bakery in downtown Longbeach
see ya around