Razor Clam Closure

Razor clamming CLOSED to all harvest coastwide from the WA border to the CA border.

 

Recreation Report

Marine Zone

Recreation Report Regulation Updates

Table of Contents

Recreation Report

MARINE FISHING

October 1, 2026

Announcements

Report commercial derelict crab pots

If you are out on the ocean or in the Columbia River from now through the beginning of October, please report coordinates of any commercial derelict crab pots you see by emailing Jill.M.Smith@odfw.oregon.gov. These reports are distributed to derelict gear recovery permitted participants, enabling them to target gear recovery efforts now that the commercial crab season is closed in the ocean.

As of Jan 1, 2026, an Ocean Endorsement is needed for most recreational anglers fishing in the ocean. Check the Ocean Endorsement page for more information.

Report unusual fish and ocean conditions 

Have you encountered unusual fish or ocean conditions off the Oregon Coast this year? With warm El Niño waters pushing up the coast, we're starting to see unusual tropical visitors migrating north! Report your on-the-water observations to CaCurrent.Observations@noaa.gov (more information available here). Your observations are critical to understanding how changing ocean conditions affect what we see offshore.

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 interests to ocean enthusiasts are available: bottomfish, halibut and ocean salmon.

Albacore

We are approaching the end of the albacore season, with weather limiting opportunity. However, successful anglers were rewarded with a wonderful grade of fish last week. Albacore anglers generally want to focus their effort on areas where the chlorophyll level is approximately 0.25mg. and sea surface temperatures are 58oF or higher. Chlorophyll and sea surface temperature data is available from the Oregon Coastal Ocean Observing System (OrCOOS). For the week beginning September 21, the highest observed albacore catch rate was in Newport, where anglers reported an average of 6.13 albacore per angler.

Learn more about Tuna Fishing in Oregon. 

 

Bottomfish

A few reminders

 

Port by port reports for the week beginning Sep 21:

Garibaldi: Anglers landed 3.2 rockfish on average, mostly black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod landings were slow at 0.33 fish per angler.

Depoe Bay: Landings averaged 2.7 rockfish per angler, with mostly black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod catches were slow at 0.25 fish per angler.

Newport: Anglers landed 3.6 rockfish per person. Mostly black, deacon, and yellowtail rockfishes were observed. Lingcod was slow.

Charleston: Anglers landed around 3.3 rockfish, consisting of mainly black and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod was slow.

Brookings: Anglers caught 3.1 rockfish on average, mainly black, deacon, and canary rockfishes, with a decent amount of cabezon. Lingcod was slow at 0.33 fish per angler.

 

The offshore long-leader fishery gives anglers an opportunity to catch more fish and to distribute effort away from nearshore species. Learn more about gear and the fishery. 

Bottomfish fishing resources:

 

Ocean salmon

Reminder: Ocean salmon anglers are reminded that they are limited to one rod, and no more than two single point, single shank, barbless hooks (no treble hooks) and that retention of jack salmon is not allowed in the ocean.

Leadbetter Point, WA to Cape Falcon, OR

Ocean salmon fishing is closed in the recreational fishery in the area from Leadbetter Point, Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon. Possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited in the Columbia River Subarea. 

Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain

Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain remains open through October 31, 2026, for all salmon except coho, with a daily bag limit of 2 salmon. The minimum size limit for Chinook is 24".

Humbug Mountain to the OR/CA border

The area from Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California border is closed to ocean salmon fishing for the remainder of the year.

Ocean salmon fishing resources:

 

Pacific halibut

See Pacific halibut season dates or visit the sport halibut page for more information.

Port by port reports for the week beginning Sep. 14:

Garibaldi: No halibut were observed.

Depoe Bay: No halibut trips were observed.

Newport: No trips were observed.

Charleston: No halibut trips were observed.

Brookings: No halibut trips were observed.

 

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. Find surfperch and other learn to fish workshops and events here.

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.