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Educational classes/events cancelled through at least May 31
Includes all hunter education classes/field days, workshops, Family Fishing events and other volunteer-led events.
Steelhead closes early to protect poor Chinook return.
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.
Effective Feb 1 through June 30, 2020, retention of hatchery Chinook salmon is allowed on the mainstem Umpqua River. Retention of wild Chinook salmon is prohibited.
Recreation Report
Marine Zone
Regulation Updates
Looking for the latest crabbing and clamming updates?
Regulation updates as of March 11, 2020
These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis or adopted after the regulation book was printed. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.
ODFW Staff Recommended Pacific Halibut Seasons
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will finalize the seasons at their meeting on April 17, 2020.
Columbia River Subarea:
All-Depth Season: Open on Thurs April 30, Sun May 3, Thurs May 7, Sun May 10, Thurs May 14, Sun May 17, and Thurs May 21. If any quota remains after those dates, may be open every Thurs and/or Sun until the quota is taken or Sept. 30. Quota = 17,949 pounds.
Nearshore: Open every Mon-Wed, inside the 40-fathom line off of Oregon, beginning May 4, until the earlier of quota attainment or Sept 30. Quota = 500 pounds.
Central Oregon Coast Subarea:
Spring All-Depth Season:
- Fixed Dates: May 14-16; May 21-23; May 28-30; June 11-13; June 18-20, and July 9-11.
- Back-up Dates (available if quota remains): July 23-25.
- Quota = 171,103 pounds.
Summer All-Depth Season: Opens Aug 6-8, then every other Thurs, Fri and/or Sat until the earlier of quota attainment or Oct 31. Quota = 67,898
Nearshore: Opens May 1, seven days per week, inside the 40-fathom line, through the earlier of quota attainment or Oct 31. Quota = 32,591 pounds.
Southern Oregon Subarea:
Opens May 1, seven days per week through the earlier of quota attainment or Oct 31. Quota = 8,000 pounds.
Sport Groundfish
More information can be found on the sport bottomfish seasons page
New for 2020
- There is a sub-bag limit of one China rockfish, one copper rockfish OR one quillback rockfish
- The seasonal 40-fathom depth restriction will be in place from June through August
Reminders
- Bottomfish anglers are allowed to fish at any depth through May 31.
- Yelloweye rockfish is prohibited at all times and in all waters.
- The general marine fish daily bag limit is 5 fish, no more than 1 of which may be a China rockfish, copper rockfish OR quillback rockfish; and no more than 1 of which may be a cabezon when the cabezon season is open.
- Cabezon is closed until July 1 and then the season will be open through Dec. 31 or until the quota is reached, whichever comes first.
- Descending devices are mandatory.
Recreation Report
Attention anglers – we want your photos!
Whether you’re out after trout or bass, steelhead or salmon, surfperch or rockfish, we’d love to see photos of your adventure. When you submit your photos to ODFW they could appear on our website or signs, or in social or brochures. What a great way to share your experience with others!
Recreational marine fishing remains open as long as participants are following the Governor’s Executive Order. However, many access points are closed, be sure to check with your local port/harbor/ramp, etc. on what facilities are open.
Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing remain open
Access may be tricky – know before you go
Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing in Oregon remain open. However, Oregon State Parks as well as several cities and counties have closed parks, boat ramps and other facilities that could hinder access to your favorite spots. This list of closures changes quickly, so it’s a good idea to call the land manager and confirm access before you go.
ODFW COVID-19 updates
Find the latest information on all ODFW closures and cancellations, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about fishing, hunting and recreating outdoors.
Saltwater News Bulletins
You can subscribe to receive e-mails and text message alerts for marine topics you are interested in. It’s easy to unsubscribe at any time. Your phone and e-mail information will remain confidential. Six different lists of interest to ocean enthusiasts are available: Bottomfish (recreational), Halibut (recreational), Ocean Salmon (recreational), Ocean Salmon (commercial troll), Commercial Nearshore Groundfish, and Marine Reserves.
BOTTOM FISHING
There is minimal, if any, recreational bottomfish fishing occurring at this time. There will be no updates to this section until after Governor’s Executive Order restrictions are eased.
Excited to go bottomfish fishing but find yourself wondering what you can keep and how many? Click here
The bottomfish fishery is open at all depths. The General Marine Species bag limit is 5 fish.
Beginning January 1, 2020 there is a one-fish sub-bag limit for China, copper, or quillback rockfish. That means that out of the 5-fish daily bag limit, no more than one may be a China, copper, OR quillback rockfish. Cabezon will open July 1, 2020 with a one-fish sub-bag limit. Lingcod has a separate 2-fish bag limit.
Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited by all anglers.
Anglers participating in the offshore longleader fishery frequently catch limits (10 fish) of large canary rockfish and yellowtail rockfish. The longleader gear fishery outside of the 40-fathom regulatory line is open all year. At least one trip was reported with limits for all last week.
Want to work on your identification skills of commonly caught bottomfish? Try the Common Bottomfish online quiz by clicking here. And also try the “Yelloweye Rockfish or Not?” quiz.
Vessels fishing for or retaining bottomfish (including flatfish) species or Pacific halibut in the ocean are required (1) to have onboard a functioning rockfish descending device, and (2) use it to descend any rockfish released when fishing outside of the 30-fathom regulatory line. For more information and videos, please see the rockfish recompression webpage.
In addition to the descending device rule, ODFW continues to encourage anglers to use a descending device when releasing ANY rockfish with signs of barotrauma. Signs of barotrauma, such as bulging eyes and a gut protruding from the mouth, are reversible when fish are returned to depth with a descending device. Use a descending device to safely return fish to a depth of 60 feet or more. Even fish that are severely bloated can survive after being released at depth.
Waypoints (for fathom lines and other restricted areas)
2020 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations
PACIFIC HALIBUT
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission was set to finalize the 2020 season dates at their meeting on April 17 in Reedsport. However, due to COVID-19 that meeting will likely now occur via remote participation (webinar). The staff recommended dates can be found, along with other information on the ODFW halibut management webpage.
OCEAN SALMON
The all salmon except coho season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened on March 15 with a limit of 2 salmon per day (closed to coho): Chinook minimum size of 28 inches total length and steelhead 20 inches total length. This season is expected to continue through Oct. 31, but will not be finalized until early May when the Pacific Fishery Management Council finalizes seasons for 2020, and then is approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce.
Details for the 2020 ocean salmon season, full catch and quota updates will be available here.
You’ll find a guide and tips to identification of salmon and steelhead on the Ocean salmon fishing page here.
SHORE AND ESTUARY FISHING
Surfperch are available in the surf year-round along sandy beaches and rocky shore, with the best fishing (and safest fishing) occurring when swells are small. Learn about ocean surfperch fishing.
When fishing from shore or inside estuaries and bays, it is important to check the tide. Many fish that swim into estuaries and bays, including salmon, surfperch, and Pacific herring, tend to come in with the tide. Catch of these species is more likely to occur closer to slack tide. Additionally, the accessibility of some areas can be completely dependent on the tide. Do not allow the incoming tide to become a safety issue.