Oregon Coast Fishing
Three ocean subareas, the bays and estuaries, Marine Zone limits and tides.
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Ocean subareas, bays and estuaries
ODFW splits the Oregon ocean into three subareas for salmon and halibut: the Columbia River Subarea north of Cape Falcon, the Central Oregon Coast from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, and the Southern Oregon Subarea down to the California line. Between them sit more than twenty bays and estuaries, from the Columbia mouth to the Chetco, where most crabbing and clamming happens.
Columbia River Subarea
ocean area, Clatsop County
Coast pageCentral Oregon Coast Subarea
ocean area, Lincoln County
Coast pageSouthern Oregon Subarea
ocean area, Curry County
Coast pageLower Columbia River estuary
estuary, Clatsop County
Coast pageEcola Creek estuary
estuary, Clatsop County
Coast pageNehalem Bay
bay, Tillamook County
Coast pageTillamook Bay
bay, Tillamook County
Coast pageNetarts Bay
bay, Tillamook County
Coast pageSand Lake
estuary, Tillamook County
Coast pageNestucca Bay
bay, Tillamook County
Coast pageSalmon River estuary
estuary, Lincoln County
Coast pageSiletz Bay
bay, Lincoln County
Coast page
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- Lower Columbia River estuaryestuary, Clatsop County
- Ecola Creek estuaryestuary, Clatsop County
- Nehalem Baybay, Tillamook County
- Tillamook Baybay, Tillamook County
- Netarts Baybay, Tillamook County
- Sand Lakeestuary, Tillamook County
- Nestucca Baybay, Tillamook County
- Salmon River estuaryestuary, Lincoln County
- Siletz Baybay, Lincoln County
- Depoe Baybay, Lincoln County
- Little Creek estuaryestuary, Lincoln County
- Yaquina Baybay, Lincoln County
- Beaver Creek estuaryestuary, Lincoln County
- Alsea Baybay, Lincoln County
- Winchester Bay and the Umpqua estuarybay, Douglas County
- Tenmile Creek estuary (Coos County)estuary, Coos County
- Coos Baybay, Coos County
- Sunset Baybay, Coos County
- Fourmile Creek estuaryestuary, Coos County
- Port Orford Headestuary, Curry County
- Euchre Creek estuaryestuary, Curry County
- Whaleshead Creek estuaryestuary, Curry County
Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership estuary extent (PMEP), read November 2, 2026.
Oregon Marine Zone rows at a glance
| Species | Bag as printed | Season as printed |
|---|---|---|
| General Marine Species: Rockfish ("sea bass", "snapper"), Greenling (“sea trout”. | Bag limits are set after this book is printed. Check current regulations before fishing on the Sport Bottomfish Seasons page. Retention of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes is prohibited. | Waters are open 24 hours per day. The offshore long-leader fishery is limited to fishing seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line. Seasons are set after this book is printed. |
| Lingcod (including green-colored lingcod) | 3 fish. | Waters are open 24 hours per day. The offshore long-leader fishery is limited to fishing seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line. Seasons are set after this book is printed. |
| Sablefish (black cod) | 10 fish. | Waters are open 24 hours per day. The offshore long-leader fishery is limited to fishing seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line. Seasons are set after this book is printed. |
| Flatfish (flounders, soles, sanddabs, turbots, and halibuts except Pacific halib. | 25 fish in aggregate. | Waters are open 24 hours per day. The offshore long-leader fishery is limited to fishing seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line. Seasons are set after this book is printed. |
| Surfperch (includes all marine perch species) | 15 fish in aggregate. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day, unless noted under Management Designations for Marine Areas. |
| Herring, Anchovy, Sardine, Topsmelt, Jacksmelt, and true smelts | 25 pounds in aggregate. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day, unless noted under Management Designations for Marine Areas. |
| Offshore Pelagic Species: Includes all tuna and mackerel species, swordfish, bil. | 25 fish in aggregate. White shark, basking shark, mega-mouth shark, and oceanic whitetip shark are prohibited and must be immediately released unharmed. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day, unless noted under Management Designations for Marine Areas. |
| Striped Bass and/or Hybrid Bass | No limit | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day, unless noted under Management Designations for Marine Areas. |
| Sturgeon | Catch-and-release only. | Open all year. |
| Salmon and Steelhead | Ocean salmon and steelhead seasons and restrictions are set each April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Regulations are published each May and are available from license agents. | Ocean salmon and steelhead seasons and restrictions are set each April by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Marine Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
ODFW shore spots listed without a map point
- South Jetty, Fort Stevens SP Parking Area Dnorth coast map
- South Jetty, Fort Stevens SP Parking Area Cnorth coast map
- Manzanita Beachnorth coast map
- Nehalem Bay South Jettynorth coast map
- Pier's End Fishing Piernorth coast map
- Bayocean Spit and South Jetty Accessnorth coast map
- Northwest Natural Gas, Bay Roadcentral coast map
- Channel Marker 25, Bay Roadcentral coast map
- Yaquina Bay North Jettycentral coast map
- Yaquina Bay South Jettycentral coast map
- Florence Public Ramp and City Park Dockcentral coast map
- South Jetty and Pier, Oregon Dunes NRAcentral coast map
- Sparrow Park Road Beach Accesscentral coast map
- South Jetty and Triangle Jetty, Winchester Baycentral coast map
- North Bend Rampsouth coast map
- South Jetty, Coos Baysouth coast map
- North Jetty, Coquille Riversouth coast map
- Port of Bandon and Weber Piersouth coast map
- South Jetty, Coquille Riversouth coast map
- Gold Beach Visitor Centersouth coast map
- South Jetty and Pier, Chetco Riversouth coast map
ODFW marine shore fishing access maps, read November 2, 2026.
NOAA tide stations on the Oregon coast
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval; station page for live data.
- Brookings, Chetco CoveNOAA tide predictions
- Gold Beach, Rogue RiverNOAA tide predictions
- Port OrfordNOAA tide predictions
- Bandon, Coquille RiverNOAA tide predictions
- Rink Creek Entrance, Coquille RiverNOAA tide predictions
- CHARLESTONNOAA tide predictions
- Coos BayNOAA tide predictions
- EmpireNOAA tide predictions
- Sitka Dock, Coos BayNOAA tide predictions
- Umpqua River Entrance, Half Moon BayNOAA tide predictions
Oregon coast questions
How does ODFW divide the Oregon ocean?
Into the Columbia River, Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon subareas, each with its own salmon and halibut rows.
How many Oregon bays and estuaries have pages?
22.
Is crabbing open in the bays all year?
Yes; bays, beaches, estuaries, piers and jetties stay open, while ocean crabbing closes from mid-October to the end of November.
Do I need the Ocean Endorsement in a bay?
The fee page ties it to ocean fishing; check the license page for which waters it covers.
Where do the bay outlines come from?
The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership estuary layer.
Which ports have charters?
Astoria, Garibaldi, Depoe Bay, Newport, Winchester Bay, Charleston, Bandon, Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings are listed on the bay pages.
Are tide predictions on these pages?
Each bay links its nearest NOAA prediction stations.
Are marine reserves closed to fishing?
Reserves prohibit take; the protected areas around them allow some. See the marine reserves page.