Recreation Report
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Recreation Report
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Always check for closures at the ODA Shellfish Safety page before clamming or crabbing.
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.
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
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.
Clatsop beach
Clatsop Beach clammers should expect a high abundance of razor clams 3 to 4 inches with plenty of larger ones available. 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. With lots of smaller clams available, clammers need to remember to retain the first 15 regardless of size or condition.
Clatsop Beach low tides can be found here.
Other beaches
Other areas such as Indian Beach (Cannon Beach); Cannon Beach; Cape Meares Beach (Tillamook); Agate Beach (North of Newport); North Beach and South Beach (Newport); Waldport Beach; North Umpqua Spit (Winchester Bay); Bastendorff Beach and North Spit (Coos Bay); Whiskey Run (Bandon); and Meyers Creek Beach (Gold Beach) will also have razor clams.
Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting, for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Oregon State Parks have tide tables post on their website.
Crabs
Crabbing along the coast has been average for this time of year. Depoe Bay and Garibaldi have been seeing a handful of crabs per person. Crab numbers out of Brookings have been picking up a bit.
In addition to Dungeness crab, another Oregon native present in some of Oregon’s estuaries is the red rock crab. Look for them in larger bays with jetties and other rocky habitats. Crabbers can retain 24 red rock crabs of any sex or size. There have also been higher numbers of Pacific rock crab in Yaquina Bay. This crab counts as your “Other” shellfish, which has a daily bag limit of 10 in aggregate with other species that fall in this category (see page 82 of the fishing synopsis for more details). While they look very similar to red rock crab, their long antennae and large claws distinguish them; they sometimes have spots on their abdomen.
Some crabbers in estuaries may also encounter non-native European green crab in their catch this year. While they look similar to Oregon’s native shore crabs, identify them by the three prominent bumps between the eyes and 5 spines down the side of the carapace. They are not always green and color is not a good identifying feature. The daily catch limit for European green crab has just been increased to 35 per person per day. European green crab can be any size or sex. Learn more about this species.