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To give hunters more time to report their hunts in the new electronic licensing system, the deadline to report 2018 hunts has been extended to April 15, 2019.
The 1 steelhead bag limit on several NE creeks and rivers, set to expire on Dec. 31, has been extended through April 30, 2019.
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Marine Zone
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of Jan. 31, 2019
These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
ABALONE SUSPENDED
Effective March 16, 2018, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission issued a three year closure for harvest of abalone in Oregon.
Harvest of scallops remains open, per the 2019 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Permits are issued through Charleston, Newport and Astoria offices.
DUNGENESS CRAB
- Recreational crabbing is closed on the southern Oregon coast from Bandon to the California border due to elevated levels of domoic acid. This includes Dungeness and red rock crab harvested in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.
- Recreational crab harvesting from Bandon north to the Columbia River (including the Coquille river estuary) remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties.
- For recreational crab harvesters, it is recommended that crab always be eviscerated prior to cooking, which includes removal and discard of the viscera, internal organs, and gills.
- Because of Oregon’s precautionary management of biotoxins, the crab and shellfish products currently being sold in retail markets and restaurants are safe for consumers.
- Before clamming or crabbing, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at: http://ODA.direct/ShellfishClosures
- The consumption of crab viscera is not recommended.
RAZOR CLAMS
- The annual conservation closure for the Clatsop County beaches (from Columbia River south to Tillamook Head) has been extended through Feb 28, 2019 due to small clam sizes.
- Open from Tillamook head south to Cape Blanco.
- Closed from Cape Blanco south to the OR/CA border.
MUSSELS
The entire Oregon coast is now open for mussel harvest.
Recreation Report
RAZOR CLAMS
Given the lower than average abundances of razor clams on popular beaches, harvesters will need to actively pound the sand for razor clams to show. Harvesters should plan to be on the harvest area at least two hours before low tide and focus on sections of the beach that show exposed sand bars as these areas could have more clams showing than other areas.
Reminder that the conservation area closure from the Columbia River to Tillamook Head will stay closed until at least March 1, 2019. The area from the Cape Blanco to the CA border also remains closed due to domoic acid.
BAY CLAMS
Bay clamming is open along the entire Oregon Coast from the Columbia River to the California border. Check out the Where to Clam articles for places to find them. During fall and winter, low tides generally occur in the evening. While clams can still be harvested, make sure you are familiar with the area before venturing out on the mudflats in the dark.
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.
CRAB
Due to elevated levels of domoic acid recreational crabbing is closed south of Bandon to the California border. The Coquille River estuary remains open.
Crabbing in the Coos Bay estuary and lower Coquille estuary have been limited. Crabbing by boat and setting pots near the jetties yields the most crab. Dock crabbers are picking up some legal Dungeness crabs on the docks at Weber’s Pier in Bandon.
Central coast crabbing in Alsea and Yaquina bays has been moderately good, especially by boat.
In addition to Dungeness crab, another Oregon native present in some of Oregon’s estuaries is the red rock crab. Crabbers can retain 24 red rock crabs of any sex or size. Some crabbers in estuaries may encounter non-native European green crab in their catch this year. While they look similar to Oregon’s native shore crabs, they can be identified by the three prominent bumps between the eyes and 5 spines down the side of the carapace. The daily catch limit for European green crab is 10 crab of any size or sex.