Crabbing & Clamming
Zones
Oregon's crabbing and clamming zones include the beaches, bays and estuaries of the northwest and southwest zones, the mouth of the Columbia River, and the ocean itself for ocean crabbing.
Shellfish regulations only apply to Columbia River downstream of Tongue Point/Rocky Point line at the mouth of the Columbia River.
The northwest zone provides many opportunities for crabbing and clamming. This zone encompasses Alsea Bay, Clatsop beaches, Nehalem Bay, Nestucca Bay, Netarts Bay, Siletz Bay, Siuslaw River, Tillamook Bay and Yaquina Bay.
The southwest zone includes Coos Bay, Coquille River, Umpqua River, Port Orford and the Rogue River - all of which offer shellfishing.
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Where to clam and crab
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Coos Bay is Oregon’s largest bay. The lower bay (areas from the ocean entrance to the airport) is “marine dominated”,...
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Lower Yaquina bay is “marine dominated” meaning there is little freshwater influence, and offers many shellfishing oppurtunities.
Additional Resources
Check the tide table
Incoming and outgoing tides can affect several marine fisheries. For example, clamming is best during low and negative tides.
Clams and Biotoxins
Learn more about the biotoxins that occasionally shut down razor clamming, and sometimes crabbing, on the Oregon coast.
Buy a shellfish license
Fall and winter can be excellent times for crabbing and clamming. And shellfish licenses are quite affordable ($10) for youth and adults 12 and older.
Check out the current Recreation Report
Current conditions and opportunities to crab and clam. Updated weekly by shellfish biologists.