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Effective Thursday, March 26 at 11:59 p.m. the Columbia River will close to all salmon and steelhead fishing.
ODFW offices close to public access
Beginning March 23, all ODFW offices will be closed to visitors. ODFW staff will be available by phone and email.
ODFW hatcheries closed to public, visitors
Effective March 18, all state-owned fish hatcheries are closed to public access and visitors. Trout stocking in lakes and ponds continues for now.
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.
Off Oregon's coast, the marine zone provides crabbing for most of the year.
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.
Explore Related Articles
Where to clam and crab
Crabbing can be good year-round but the best catches are in the winter. Tidal flats throughout the bay produce lots...
Where to clam and crab
Coos Bay is Oregon’s largest bay. The lower bay (areas from the ocean entrance to the airport) is “marine dominated”,...
Where to clam and crab
Lower Yaquina bay is “marine dominated” meaning there is little freshwater influence, and offers many shellfishing oppurtunities.
Additional Resources
Incoming and outgoing tides can affect several marine fisheries. For example, clamming is best during low and negative tides.
Learn more about the biotoxins that occasionally shut down razor clamming, and sometimes crabbing, on the Oregon coast.
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.
Current conditions and opportunities to crab and clam. Updated weekly by shellfish biologists.