Fishing | Southern Oregon (2024)

LAKE AND POND FISHING REPORTS - PRESENTED BY:

Lake and Pond Report highlights for Southern Oregon;

Most of the ponds across interior southwestern Oregon are red hot for panfish and perch fishing. This is a great way to introduce kids to fishing where the action comes fast! All you need is a bobber and worm. Suspend the worm at least two feet below the bobber. Bluegills, crappie, and red ear sunfish are great fun to catch on ultra light tackle. Perch are great eating fish. The fillets are perfect for fish tacos. In Oregon they are invasive. That means you can keep all of them you want with no limit.

Even with the hot summer temperatures, anglers are still catching some nice fish in Howard Prairie, Hyatt and Fish lakes, and Lost Creek reservoir.

Trout stocking maps

Check out theODFW fishing and trout stocking mapsto find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.

FEATURED REPORTS: -

APPLEGATE RESERVOIR: trout, spring chinook, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie

Brought you by:

All boats ramps are useable. Water levels are such that there is planty of water in all arms of the reservoir.

All boat ramps are open as well as Hart-Tish. Fishing has been good at Applegate throughout the lake with boat anglers trolling and still fishing picking up larger fish but there are plenty of options for bank anglers that will produce fish. Fishing near the dam in deep water and at the upper end of the lake where the tributaries enter are good bets. Powerbait, night crawlers and spinners are all good techniques. ‌

Bass fishing has also been productive for anglers fishing around submerged trees and boulders. Applegate has been stocked with 10,000 legal-sized trout numerous times this year and larger holdover trout are always available. ‌

There is a longstanding health advisory for consumption of resident species due to elevated levels of mercury. See Oregon Health Authority consumption guidelines or the 2022 sportfishing regulations for more information.

DIAMOND LAKE: rainbow trout, tiger trout, brown trout

Brought to you by:

DO NOT EVER USE LIVE BAIT IN DIAMOND LAKE!! IT IS AGAINST THE LAW AND IT DOES NOT WORK ANY WAY. IF YOU SEE PEOPLE USING LIVE BAIT IN DIAMOND LAKE, REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY.

Diamond Lake has now installed a live cam to show the conditions at the lake! I tell you I have sure requested that. I am betting others of you have too. And now, it is here! To see that webcam, click here

While there are fires near the lake, allfacilities are open. Smoke has been an issue in the mornings. But, it has been clearing in the afternoons.

Anglers are doing well for rainbow trout. Most success has been on PowerBait in water over 20 feet deep.‌

Lure fishing for brown trout also has been good (catch-and-release only) with some anglers catching fish in the 24-inch range.‌

Diamond Lake has been stocked with tiger and brown trout. Anglers targeting brown trout have been doing fantastic lately with high catch rates and some great brown trout being caught (and released). These fish are intended to assist in controlling illegally introduced tui chub. These trout are catch-and-release only and need to be released immediately and unharmed if caught.

Anglers can check fishing and water conditions atDiamond Lakeon the Diamond Lake Resort Facebook page, or call 541-793-3333 for updates. Diamond Lake is open year-round.

FISH LAKE:rainbow trout, brook trout, spring Chinook

Fish Lake is 65 percent full and anglers continue to do well catching recently stocked trout and holdovers. Additionally, Fish Lake has been stocked with 5,000 legal-size trout numerous times during the spring/early summer so fishing should be good. ‌

Tiger trout have been caught recently, so please remember that any tiger trout caught should be immediately released unharmed. Anglers are encouraged to report their catch or any other fish stories to Rogue Fish District Staff 541-826-8774.

HOWARD PRAIRIE RESERVOIR: trout, bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill

Brougfht to you by

Howard Prairie is 49 percent full. The boat ramp at the marina and the marina are now open. Klum boat ramp is also open as well as the improvised gravel boat ramp at the dam. As of this week, anglers continue to report catching 14- to 18-inch trout but a little less consistently now that summer has set in. Still fishing with PowerBait early in the morning worked well for one angler recently.‌

Techniques include using a green wedding ring spiked with a nightcrawler piece behind a small egg sinker still fishing and trolling. PowerBait, night crawlers and spinners have also been productive.

Jackson County parkcampgrounds are open. Boats can be launched on the concrete boat ramp at the main marina for the first time in several years. Small boats can be launched at Klum boat ramp.

HYATT LAKE:largemouth bass, smallmouth bass

Brought to you by;

Hyatt is currently 50 percent full. Fishing has been good so far this season at Hyatt and trout continue to bite even with the heat. Powerbait, night crawlers and spinners have all been productive for trout. Boat anglers have had success in the deeper water and bank anglers continue to do well fishing near the dam. Trolling with red or green wedding rings spiked with Power Worms was productive, but the use of a dodger helped. ‌

Anglers are catching largemouth bass, so bass did survive the worst conditions of the current drought cycle a couple of years ago. Most of the bass are small. It will take time for older age classes to dominate the bass fishery again. ‌

Please note that a line of weeds is present between the concrete ramp and the main channel of the lake. Weeds at the surface are generally creating problems for trollers.‌

Please handle fish carefully. ODFW has received reports of anglers at Hyatt wasting smaller trout due to poor handling at release. This is even more important during hot weather. Remember that smaller trout now are the big holdover trout next year. ‌

Wildcat Campground boat ramp is open for sure, and BLM is allowing weekend access to one concrete boat ramp at the main campground.

LAKE SELMAC: trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, bullheads

Selmac was stocked a while ago with 5,000 legal-size rainbow trout but with the warmer weather trout fishing is likely difficult. Largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie fishing are the best bet right now as these fish are more active with the warm weather.‌

Lake Selmac has its share of non-native aquatic hitchhikers. Boat anglers are asked to do their part to remove as much vegetation as possible before leaving the ramp, as well as drain and dry their vessel before boating in another waterbody.‌

Please help stop the spread of Oregon's aquatic hitchhikers!

Lake Selmac facilities including most campgrounds, day use, and boat ramps are operated by Josephine County Parks are currently open. More information about Josephine County Parks can be found on theirwebsite.

LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brown trout, spring chinook, bass, bullheads

Brought to you by

Lost Creek's current elevation is about 1,839 feet or 66 percent full and dropping. The Takelma and Stewart boat ramps are available for access by trailered boats.‌

Trollers have had good success at Lost Creek on holdover and stocked trout using a variety of gear: Apex lures, Brad's cut plug lures with scent, red hoochies, and wedding rings. Trout have been caught at the surface and down to about 50 feet with a downrigger. The lures are often fish behind dodgers, and can be spiked with corn, worms or power worms. Bank fishing on both sides of the dam can be very effective using PowerBait. Stocked spring Chinook are also available but they will be deep and mostly found around Peyton Bridge.‌

Anglers can get the latest reservoir details by calling the US Army Corps Lost Creek Lake and Applegate Reservoir projects information line at1-800-472-2434.

Joseph Stuart Recreation Area is a Jackson County Park. If you’re a frequent user of day use facilities here, a Jackson County Parks season pass is $40 and covers many other local Rogue Valley fishing destinations, as well. More information can be found on the Jackson County Parks website.

WILLOW LAKE: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegills, brown bullhead, perch:

We have not received a report from Willow within the last few weeks, but Willow Lake offers fishing for trout and a variety of warmwater species in a beautiful setting. Willow is now full offering plenty of open water to fish and fishing for trout and warmwater fish has been good recently for boat and bank anglers. Willow Lake has been stocked numerous times this spring and these fish are still providing a good opportunity for anglers.‌

Anglers catching illegally introduced yellow perch are always encouraged to take as many of these as they want. This illegal introduction has only resulted in stunted perch and negative impacts to the bass and trout fishery in this lake and numerous others around the Southwest District. Anglers are reminded that using live fish as bait is prohibited. If you see someone transporting live fish from or into a waterbody, please get a photo and/or call OSP with this information.

Campgrounds at Willow Lake are open. Day use is open, and fees are collected. A yearly Jackson County Park pass are also available for $40. For more information please visit the Jackson County Parkswebsite.

For a complete look at Southwestern Oregon fishing reports, click the image below;

For a complete look at Southeastern Oregon fishing reports....including Lake of the Woods, and all of Klamath and Lake Counties, click the image below;

For detailed Central Oregonfishing information, click the banner

For General Recreation,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,click image

RIVER FISHING REPORTS

Reports brought to you by:

River Report Roundup -

ALWAYS consult the fishing regulations before fishing rivers and streams in Southern Oregon. You can get to the regulations by clicking here.

The upper Rogue summer steelhead fishery is off to a good start..

Anglers continue to catch some large smallmouth bass in the mainstem Umpqua.

Anglers are still catching spring Chinook in the Rogue Bay.

Late July/early August can be a good time to target sea-run cutthroats in the lower Sixes River..

Rogue River, lower: salmon, steelhead, trout

Brought to you by;

For today Aug. 2nd,we have a flow of 2,020 cfs.from Agness.

Although summer steelhead are moving upriver this time of year, warmer water conditions make for some tough fishing. Anglers interested in summer steelhead fishing this time of year should fish early morning when water temperatures are the coolest for best success. ‌

ODFW annually monitors the run of Chinook, steelhead, and coho at Huntley Park (approximate 8 miles upstream from the mouth) on the Rogue River. To learn more about the project, people can visit theODFW websiteto receive this years' two-week updates and to see the historical catch. ‌

Anglers targeting Chinook in the Rogue Bay are finding mixed success. The weather this year has kept anglers guessing on what the conditions are going to be in the Bay. Some days it may be flat, while other days cold, windy, and foggy. The best advice to anglers planning on trolling the bay is to check the weather and plan for the worst. Most anglers are trolling flashers and anchovies, but anglers trolling straight anchovies or putting a spinner blade in front of the anchovy are catching fish. Most of the angling pressure is from Hwy 101 downstream to the mouth.‌

Anglers fishing the Rogue Bay should always check regulations before heading out. This year the ocean is open to salmon fishing through Aug. 31. The regulations on gear type and legal salmon that can be kept is different in the ocean than the river. The two big differences and reasons anglers will get a game violation while fishing in the ocean are 1) fishing with more than two single point hooks in the ocean, barbed hooks in the ocean, and 2) having Chinook salmon under 24 inches in the boat while fishing in the ocean.‌

Anglers fishing with a guide should also understand and know the regulations. The licensed angler will be issued the violation, not the guide. A couple of the most common violations are failure to tag your fish prior to putting your fishing gear out again and continuing to fish after keeping your adult salmon bag limit.‌

Anglers that see a game violation can report the violation to *OSP (*677) on a mobile device or call 1-800-452-7888. Anglers can also file complaints or potential violations concerning guides to theOregon State Marine Board.

For a current view of the Rogue from the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge in Gold Beach, check out theODOT’s camera.

Rogue River, middle: steelhead, chinook salmon, trout

For today Aug. 2nd,Grants Pass has a flow of 1,436 cfs. The temp is 70 degrees.

There are no reports this week for this section of the Rogue but summer steelhead and trout are the best bets in this section of the Rogue right now as most spring Chinook are upriver and not many more are expected to come out of the canyon. A few more summer steelhead have been reported so fly-fishing or a Blue Fox spinner might catch one of those.‌

Anglers are reminded that trout fishing opened back up May 22. Only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout may be retained. All wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Consult the fishing regulations for more information. ‌

Current flow, temp and turbidity conditions for the Rogue can be found at the USGS stream gaugeshere, or checking the City of Grants Pass water page’s river datahere.

It is illegal to snag and keep a snagged fish, whether it’s wild or hatchery! Report violations to Oregon State Police by calling *OSP.

Rogue River, upper: steelhead, trout

The Rogue is closed to Chinook fishing above Dodge Bridge. Make sure to check the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for each section of river before you head out.

The flow at Cole Rivers Hatchery just below Lost Creek Dam is at 1706 cfs. The flow at Dodge Bridge is at 1,940 cfs.

9,393 spring chinook, and 359 summer steelhead have returned to Cole Rivers Hatchery as of 7/31.

Anglers can still fish for Chinook downstream of Dodge Bridge which should have a few fish available. ‌

Best bets for the upper river are summer steelhead and trout. Fly-fishing and spinners are the preferred methods this time of year. Fishing is good right now and will only get better for summer steelhead as we head into August. ‌

For up-to-date river levels, check all the USGS Rogue gaugeshere.

ROGUE RIVER ABOVE LOST CREEK RESERVOIR: rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout.

The Rogue above Lost Creek is open for fishing and with flows dropping fishing has been good. Stocking has taken place and will continue weekly but access to Minnehaha was blocked by downed trees so that site hasn't been stocked yet this year. Check with the Forest Service regarding open campgrounds.‌

The Rogue and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir remain open year-round, with a daily retention limit of 5 trout (no limit on brook trout).

UMPQUA RIVER, MAINSTEM: steelhead, sturgeon, chinook, bass, striped bass, shad, trout

As of this morning the height of the river is at 2.91 feet and the flow is 1,000 cfs at Elkton.

Some anglers are reportedly getting some large smallmouth. Early warm days are a great chance to catch some nice bass. There is no bag limit on bass caught in the Umpqua. There are a few reports of some striped bass being caught in the lower sections.‌

Open for catch-and-release only for trout.‌

The river remains open for hatchery Chinook and one adult wild chinook a day and five adult wild Chinook for the year from July 1 – Nov. 30.

UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: steelhead, trout, smallmouth bass

The South is open for trout and bass fishing. Trout fishing is catch-and-release only. Anglers can catch lots of smallmouth bass in sections with some cover for them to hide.

CHETCO RIVER: Sea run cuttthroat trout, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, steelhead

Brought to you by:

Lower flows and warmer water conditions in the mainstem of the Chetco have pretty much ended trout fishing on the mainstem Chetco. Anglers willing to explore some of the larger tributaries of the Chetco are finding some 12- to 14-inch cutthroat. Early morning is the best time to target these fish as the water temperatures are the coolest and the cutthroat are more active.‌

The regulations for the salmon in the Chetco River and mainstem until Sept. 1 are zone regulations. Starting Sept.1, the wild Chinook bag limit is reduced to 1 adult per day and 5 for the period. Anglers should always check for updated regulations prior to fishing.

ELK / SIXES RIVERS: Sea run cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, steelhead

This is a good time of year to do a little exploring in the upper river. The upper river is mainly public property with ample access from the road that parallels the river. Fly-fishing and using spinners are both effective. Early morning tends to be the best time to find cutthroat out feeding.

APPLEGATE RIVER: rainbow and cutthroat trout, steelhead

The Applegate River is open for trout fishing. This is mainly a catch-and-release fishery for cutthroat. Anglers will find them hanging out in the deep pools spread throughout the river but they're more numerous upstream of the town of Applegate where the water is colder. Only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout may be retained. All wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Consult the fishing regulations for more information.

ILLINOIS RIVER: trout, steelhead

The Illinois is open for trout fishing.Only adipose fin clipped rainbow trout may be retained. All wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released unharmed. Consult the fishing regulations for more information and locations open to fishing as the East Fork and West Fork Illinois are CLOSED to angling.

Much of the publicly accessible reaches of the Illinois River fall under the USFS Wild Rivers Ranger District. More information can be found on theirwebsite. For up-to-date flows check the USGSKerby gauge.

WINCHUCK RIVER: Sea run Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, steelhead

Slow. Water temperatures have picked up and flows have dropped. Early morning tends to be the best time to find cutthroat out feeding.

MARINE FISHING REPORTS -

Brought to you by:

For detailed Brookingsmarinefishing information, click here

For detailed Winchester Baymarinefishing information, click here

BOTTOM FISHING

Brought to you by

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 ofquillback rockfishandyelloweye rockfishremains prohibited.
• Click ‘Regulation Updates' above to see what's new for 2024 or visit thesport bottomfish seasonspage.

Port by port reports:‌

• Garibaldi:Catches improved last week with most anglers landing four fish, mostly consisting of black, canary, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod landings were about one fish for every two anglers.
• Depoe Bay:Catches stayed consistent with an average of three fish per angler, with a mix of black, deacon, yellowtail, and canary rockfishes, with quite a few cabezon! Lingcod landings were slower last week.
• Newport: Anglers brought in an average of about three fish, with a mix of black, deacon, yellowtail, and canary rockfishes. Lingcod remained slow.
• Charleston: Catches were consistent with near bag limits, containing a notable mix of black, canary, deacon, widow, and yellowtail rockfishes. Lingcod improved to about one fish for every two anglers.
• Brookings:Anglers landed about three fish per angler, with a mix of black, blue, deacon, and canary rockfishes coming aboard, with a few cabezon. Lingcod remained slow.

Theoffshore longleader fisherygives 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 somehelpful rockfish identification tips(including online quizzes and video).‌

Waypointsfor fathom lines and other restricted areas.‌

Ocean salmon

See theseason details here(dates, places and other regulations). ‌

To check the quota status, visit the Ocean Salmon Management Programcatch indexpage.‌

The selective coho (fin-clipped) season fromLeadbetter Point, Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregonhas a daily bag limit of 2 salmon butno 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 28 are 20,346 coho and 3,805 Chinook out of the quotas of 39,900 coho and 12,510 Chinook.‌

Preliminary estimated Oregon angler trips, catches, and released salmon for the week of July 22-28 include:‌

• Astoria:A total of 2,223 coho and 145 Chinook salmon landed in Oregon with 1.77 salmon per angler. Anglers also released 1,340 coho and 145 Chinook.

The selective coho (fin-clipped) season open fromCape Falcon to the Oregon/California borderhas a daily bag limit of 2 salmon butall coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip.‌

Reminder:Humbug Mountain to Oregon/California border selective coho season will be closing August 4.‌

For the week of July 22-28, total area catch rates increased slightly to 0.79 salmon per angler compared to 0.61 salmon per angler the previous week. In this week, catch rates were highest in Pacific City and Winchester Bay, with 1.03 and 0.90 salmon per angler, respectively. Total angler trips were lower than the previous week, partially due to effort switching to tuna fishing with improved ocean conditions.‌

Preliminary estimated ocean salmon angler trips, catches and released salmon for the week included:‌

• Garibaldi: 672 salmon angler trips with 434 coho and 14 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.67 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 555 coho.
• Pacific City: 388 salmon angler trips with 390 coho and 9 Chinook for an average catch rate of 1.03 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 491 coho.
• Depoe Bay: 543 salmon angler trips with 437 coho and 8 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.82 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 556 coho and 3 Chinook.
• Newport: 1,265 salmon angler trips with 1,051 coho and 51 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.87 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 1,279 coho and 11 Chinook.
• Winchester Bay: 412 salmon angler trips with 365 coho and 4 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.90 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 946 coho.
• Charleston: 88 salmon angler trips with 36 coho for an average catch rate of 0.41 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 34 coho.
• Brookings: 297 salmon anger trips with 69 coho and 27 Chinook for an average catch rate of 0.32 salmon/angler. Anglers also released 64 coho and 8 Chinook.

All other ports not listed were not sampled.‌

A guide to ocean salmon identification is availablehere. ‌

TUNA AND OTHER TROPICAL TO SUB TROPICAL SPECIES

Fishing effort for albacore tuna picked up across several Oregon ports for the week of July 22-28 due to favorable ocean conditions, particularly last Sunday. 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 58^oF or higher. Chlorophyll and sea surface temperature data are available from theOregon Coastal Ocean Observing System (OrCOOS). ‌

By port, ODFW samplers observed the following from recreational boats:‌

• Garibaldi: 6.10 albacore per angler
• Pacific City: 8.87 albacore per angler
• Depoe Bay: 4.5 albacore per angler
• Newport: 3.52 albacore per angler
• Winchester Bay: 7.52 albacore per angler
• Charleston: 7.74 albacore per angler

Learn more aboutTuna Fishing in Oregon.‌

Anglers generally want to focus their effort in areas where the chlorophyll level is approximately 0.25 mg. and sea surface temperatures are 58^oF or higher. Chlorophyll and sea surface temperature data is available from theOregon Coastal Ocean Observing System (OrCOOS). ‌

CRAB

Mark your crab buoys

Crabbers must mark all surface buoys with the owner's full name or business name and at least one of the following: phone number, permanent address, ODFW ID number, or vessel identification number. Remember to always maintain gear to ensure lines and buoys are in good working condition. See detailshere.‌

Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for crabs.Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 orODA shellfish closureswebsite before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.‌

Crabbing inNewportandWaldporthas been good. Crabbers are currently seeing a mix of hard and soft crabs.‌

When there has been a lot of rain, crabbing in bays is typically not good since the surge of fresh water from the rivers forces the crab to retreat to the saltier water of the ocean.‌

Shore and dock crabbing can be a great activity during the summer months. A good tool to try is the "castable folding crab trap." Usually attached to a fishing pole, these traps are great for kids because they are lightweight and can catch crab within minutes. No heavy pulling or long wait times! They are available for purchase at most local stores. Happy crabbing!‌

Some crabbers in estuaries may also encounter non-native European green crab in their catch. While they look similar to Oregon's native shore crabs,identify themby the three prominent bumps between the eyes and 5 spines down each side of their body (carapace). They are not always green and color is not a good identifying feature.The daily catch limit for European green crab is 35 per person per day.European green crab can be any size or sex. Learn more about thisspecies.‌

Want to know more about the invasive green crab and how you can help? Check outInvasive European green crabs threaten Northwest shellfish industriesproduced by the Oregon Field Guide on PBS.

RAZOR CLAMS

Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for razor clamming.Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 orODA shellfish closureswebsite before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.‌

Reminder:The annual conservation closure for razor clams from the WA border to Tillamook Head is July 15 to Sept. 30.‌

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 thisarticlefor more information on razor clams, including how to harvest. ‌

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. ‌

Oregon State Parks have tide tables post on theirwebsite.

Bay clams

Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for bay clamming.Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 orODA shellfish closureswebsite before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.‌

With summer in full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to get out in the mud and go clamming! Grab a shovel or rake and your shellfish license. Butter, co*ckle and gaper clams are waiting to be dug. Monitor the weather forecast and the swell and surf advisories before going out to make sure you can safely clam.‌

Check out theWhere to Clam articlesfor places to find bay clams. You can also get more clamming mapshere.‌

Beaver State Podcast:Bay clamming with Mitch Vance‌

Take a bay clamming trip with Mitch Vance, ODFW shellfish program leader, to learn about different clams and some of the challenges to be ready for when you clam.‌

Mussels

Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for mussels.Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 orODA shellfish closureswebsite before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.‌

Mussels, like clams, are filter feeders and those who like eating clams are likely to find mussels just as delicious. Mussels attach to rocks and other permanent habitat in the intertidal zone, so it is best to go looking for them during a low tide. When harvesting, wear gloves and use a twisting motion to pull mussels off rocks. Be careful when harvesting by the ocean and watch for sneaker waves. Each harvester will need a shellfish license and their own bucket. Learn morehere.‌

Pacific halibut

Pacific halibut seasons continue along the Oregon coast. See theseason details here(dates, places and other regulations). To view quota status, visit thePacific halibut estimatespage. Additional information on Pacific halibut fishing can be found on thesport halibutpage. ‌

TheColumbia River subareaall-depth halibut fishery will reopen Aug. 22 through Sept. 3 and Sept. 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29. Nearshore halibut fishing remains open Mondays through Wednesdays. This subarea will close on Sept. 30 or when quota is attained. The daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut.‌

TheCentral Oregon Coast subareasummer all-depth halibut fishery will open Aug. 1, seven days per week, with a two-fish bag limit per angler. This fishery will remain open at all-depths until Oct. 31 or when quota is attained.‌

Port by port reports:‌

• Garibaldi:Effort was moderate and catch was very low.
• 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 for every two anglers.
• Charleston:No halibut trips were observed last week.
• Brookings:Effort was low but catch improved to one fish for every three anglers.

Thinking about combining your halibut trip with other species? Check outwhat you can combine with halibut, for a useful guide.‌

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 oceansurfperch fishing.‌

Want more opportunities that don't include a boat? Check out thecrabbing and clamming recreation reportfor 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.