Recreation Report
Marine Zone
Recreation Report
May 30, 2023
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
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Always check for closures at the ODA Shellfish Safety page before harvesting shellfish, which includes clams, crabs and mussels.
Announcements
Mark your crab buoys
Open-ocean and bay crabbers must mark their buoys. See details here.
Bay clams
With the arrival of spring, bay clamming opportunities increase with early morning low tides. As negative tides switch from night to daytime, clammers should use caution when visibility is low. Monitor the weather forecast and the swell and surf advisories before going out to make sure you can safely clam.
An easy clam to target is the cockle. The cockle is a fun “starter” clam because they live very shallow in the mud. The best method for collection is by raking the top couple inches of mud or sand. Be careful not to uproot eelgrass (an important habitat for many fish and shellfish!) while raking for cockles. Required tools include a pair of rubber boots or waders and a 3-pronged, metal rake. Each person will also need a shellfish license and their own bucket. Learn more here.
Check out the Where to Clam articles for places to find bay clams. You can also get more clamming maps here.
Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Razor clams
As of June 1, the recreational harvest of razor clams is CLOSED from Tillamook Head, just south of Seaside, to Seal Rock, and from the south jetty of the Siuslaw River to the California border for elevated levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid. Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Clatsop beach
Spring and summer harvesting of razor clams can be a rewarding endeavor. Unlike the fall and winter, low tides are in the mornings and visibility is much better. Typical to the Oregon coast, the spring and summer brings better weather, which allows harvesters to see razor clams “showing” more readily.
Harvesters will still need to make sure to monitor swell and surf advisories as well as predicted wind prior to harvesting. Combined seas greater than 10 feet and winds greater than 20 mph will make harvesting difficult for all, including the most experienced harvester. Spring and summer harvesting can be greatly improved if harvesters actively “pound” to make clams show.
See this article for more information on razor clams, including how to harvest.
Targeting the largest “show,” greater than a nickel in diameter, will greatly increase the odds of harvesting a larger clam. Clammers should plan to be on the beach at least two-hours before low tide to ensure plenty of time for a successful harvest. Any low tide that is negative is sufficient to harvest clams on Clatsop Beach if the seas are less than 10 feet. Clammers need to remember to retain the first 15 regardless of size or condition.
Clatsop Beach low tides can be found here.
Crabs
May tends to be a slower month for crabbing while we wait for their migration into the bays for molting. As a result of molting, crabs get bigger and legal to keep. Size and abundance will usually start to increase by late June and into July. Crabbing is currently poor to fair out of Depoe Bay, Newport and Waldport.
Shore and dock crabbing can be great activities as our weather starts to improve. A good tool to try is the “castable folding crab trap.” Usually attached to a fishing pole, these traps are great for kids because they are lightweight and can catch crab within minutes. No heavy pulling or long wait times! They are available for purchase at most local stores. Happy crabbing!
Some crabbers in estuaries may also encounter non-native European green crab in their catch. While they look similar to Oregon’s native shore crabs, identify them by the three prominent bumps between the eyes and 5 spines down each side of their body (carapace). They are not always green and color is not a good identifying feature. The daily catch limit for European green crab is 35 per person per day. European green crab can be any size or sex. Learn more about this species.