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Marine Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
July 24, 2024
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Announcements
E-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon, halibut and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
For the latest regulations, including in-season changes
See the Regulation updates section above.
Saltwater News Bulletins
Be among the first to know about in-season changes! You can subscribe to receive emails and text message alerts for marine topics that interest you. It's easy to unsubscribe at any time. Your contact information will remain confidential. Three different lists of interest to ocean enthusiasts are available: bottomfish, halibut and ocean salmon.
Ocean salmon
See the season details here (dates, places and other regulations).
To check the quota status, visit the Ocean Salmon Management Program catch index page.
The selective coho (fin-clipped) season from Leadbetter Point, Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon has a daily bag limit of 2 salmon but no more than 1 Chinook, and all coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip. Total landings for the season (Oregon and Washington combined) through July 21 are 15,682 coho and 706 Chinook out of the quotas of 39,900 coho and 12,510 Chinook.
With improved weather last week, ocean salmon angler trips in the Columbia River area nearly doubled from the week prior. Catch rates remained strong, and preliminary estimated Oregon angler trips, catches, and released salmon for the week of July 15-21 include:
- Astoria: A total of 2,139 coho and 153 Chinook salmon landed in Oregon with 1.57 salmon per angler. Anglers also released 1,065 coho and 162 Chinook.
The selective coho (fin-clipped) season open from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border has a daily bag limit of 2 salmon but all coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip.
For the week of July 15-21, improved ocean conditions resulted in the highest participation levels seen so far this season. Total area catch rates decreased slightly to 0.61 salmon per angler compared to 0.86 salmon per angler the previous week. In this week, catch rates were highest in Pacific City and Garibaldi, with 1.09 and 0.91 salmon per angler, respectively.
Preliminary estimated ocean salmon angler trips, catches and released salmon for the week included:
- Garibaldi: 1,005 salmon angler trips with 879 coho and 35 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.91 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 1,059 coho and 6 Chinook.
- Pacific City: 466 salmon angler trips with 506 coho for an average catch rate of 1.09 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 776 coho and 6 Chinook.
- Depoe Bay: 587 salmon angler trips with 452 coho and 9 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.78 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 633 coho.
- Newport: 1,693 salmon angler trips with 940 coho and 29 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.57 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 1,024 coho and 6 Chinook.
- Winchester Bay: 1,218 salmon angler trips with 499 coho for an average catch rate of 0.41 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 1,671 coho and 46 Chinook.
- Charleston: 216 salmon angler trips with 29 coho and 2 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.14 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 97 coho.
- Brookings: 579 salmon anger trips with 133 coho and 21 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.27 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 194 coho and 5 Chinook.
All other ports not listed were not sampled.
A guide to ocean salmon identification is available here.
Pacific halibut
Pacific halibut seasons continue along the Oregon coast. See the season details here (dates, places and other regulations). To view quota status, visit the Pacific halibut estimates page. Additional information on Pacific halibut fishing can be found on the sport halibut page.
The Columbia River subarea spring all-depth halibut season closed effective July 1, though nearshore halibut fishing will remain open Mondays through Wednesdays. The all-depth fishery may reopen in August and/or September -- if quota remains.
The Central Oregon Coast subarea spring all-depth halibut fishery will remain open July 1 through July 31, seven days per week, with a two-fish bag limit per angler.
Port by port reports:
- Garibaldi: Effort was low, and catch averaged about one fish for every two anglers.
- Depoe Bay: Effort was very low; however, some anglers landed the bag limit of two fish.
- Newport: Effort was high, and an average of one fish was landed per angler.
- Charleston: Effort was low and catch averaged over one fish for every two anglers.
- Brookings: Effort was high, but catch was limited.
Thinking about combining your halibut trip with other species? Check out what you can combine with halibut, for a useful guide.
Bottomfish
A few reminders:
- Cabezon opened on July 1, 2024 with a daily sub-bag limit of one fish and a minimum length of 16 inches.
- Retention of quillback rockfish and yelloweye rockfish remains prohibited.
- Click ‘Regulation Updates' above to see what's new for 2024 or visit the sport bottomfish seasons page.
Port by port reports:
- Garibaldi: Catches improved last week with most anglers landing three fish, mostly consisting of black, canary, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod landings were about one fish for every two anglers.
- Depoe Bay: Catches improved with an average of three fish per angler, with a mix of black, deacon, yellowtail, and canary rockfishes. Lingcod landings were about one fish for every two anglers.
- Newport: Anglers brought in an average of about three fish, with a mix of black, yellowtail, and canary rockfishes. Lingcod remained slow.
- Charleston: Catches improved with near bag limits, containing a notable mix of black, canary, deacon, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod remained slower than other parts of the coast.
- Brookings: Anglers landed about two fish per angler, with a mix of black, blue, deacon, and canary rockfishes coming aboard. Lingcod remained slow.
The offshore longleader fishery gives anglers an opportunity to catch more fish and to distribute effort away from nearshore species.
NEW for 2024: The daily bag limit for the longleader fishery is 12-fish per angler. Learn more about the gear and the fishery.
Bottomfish fishing resources:
What can I keep and how many? Keep up with in-season regulation changes.
Know what you've caught with some helpful rockfish identification tips (including online quizzes and video).
Waypoints for fathom lines and other restricted areas.
Albacore
Albacore tuna showed up in the catch in several Oregon ports for the week of July 15-21 due at least in part to favorable ocean conditions last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Most albacore were reported from 30-50 miles offshore.
Anglers generally want to focus their effort in areas where the chlorophyll level is approximately 0.25 mg. and sea surface temperatures are 58oF or higher. Chlorophyll and sea surface temperature data is available from the Oregon Coastal Ocean Observing System (OrCOOS).
By port, ODFW samplers observed the following from recreational boats:
- Garibaldi: 5.76 albacore per angler
- Depoe Bay: 17.5 albacore per angler
- Newport: 4.71 albacore per angler
- Winchester Bay: 10.36 albacore per angler
- Charleston: 9.45 albacore per angler
Learn more about Tuna Fishing in Oregon.
Shore and estuary fishing
Daily bag limits, seasons and licensing requirements for shore-based anglers are the same as for boat-based anglers.
There are plenty of rocky or sandy fishing sites up and down the coast where shore anglers can drop a line for saltwater fish. Read about how and where
Lingcod and many other bottomfish species are available year-round to shore anglers fishing in rocky areas. A common setup for lingcod is a jig head with a rubber swim bait – it's simple but effective. Also pack a measuring device for lingcod: the minimum legal size is 22 inches.
Surfperch are available in the surf year-round along sandy beaches and rocky shores, with the best fishing (and safest fishing) occurring when swells are small. Learn about ocean surfperch fishing.
Want more opportunities that don't include a boat? Check out the crabbing and clamming recreation report for updates on crabs, clams, mussels and more!
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.
Regulation Updates
Looking for the latest crabbing and clamming updates?
Regulation updates as of February 15, 2024
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.
Ocean salmon
Information can be found on the Oregon ocean salmon sport regulations page
Pacific halibut
Information can be found on the PACIFIC HALIBUT PAGE
2024 Pacific halibut regulations map (pdf)
Sport bottomfish
Information can be found on the SPORT BOTTOMFISH SEASONS PAGE
What Can I Keep and How Many Sport Bottomfish Regulations
Reminders
- Yelloweye and quillback rockfish are prohibited at all times and in all waters.
- Every vessel fishing for or possessing bottomfish, Pacific halibut, or flatfish in the ocean must have a functional descending device on board, regardless of depth. The device must be used to release any rockfish outside of 30 fathoms.
For more information contact your local ODFW office:
- Marine Resources Program Main Office (541) 867-4741
- Additional Marine Resources Program Contacts