Central Oregon Coast Subarea Fishing
ODFW ocean area from Humbug Mt., OR to Cape Falcon, OR.
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Central Oregon Coast Subarea summed up before the tide turns
Between the 42.675 N line at Humbug Mt., OR and the 45.767 N line at Cape Falcon, OR, ODFW manages the Central Oregon Coast Subarea as one ocean area. Its full ODFW title is Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon).
For 2026 the halibut entry reads: Spring All-Depth Season: May 1 through July 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught. The halibut bag reads: Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut Chinook length limit as printed: Chinook (south of Cape Falcon) = 24 inches.
Estuaries opening onto it include Nehalem Bay, Lake Lytle, Smith Lake, Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay and Sand Lake. The ports are Port of Alsea, Port of Bandon, Port of Coos Bay, Port of Garibaldi and Port of Newport. Inside it sit 11 marine reserves or protected areas.
ODFW ocean salmon landmarks and regulatory boundaries and the Pacific halibut sport regulations page (updated October 30, 2026), read November 2, 2026.
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| Landmark | Latitude as published | ODFW note |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Falcon, OR | 45°46'00" N. lat. | Standard fishery area boundary line and regulatory line (currently in use). |
| Twin Rocks (Tillamook), OR | 45°35'54" N. lat. | Current Northern boundary for Tillamook state waters fishery. |
| Pyramid Rock | 45°29'48" N. lat. | Current Southern boundary for Tillamook state waters fishery. |
| Cape Lookout | 45°20'30" N. lat. | Current Northern boundary for Nestucca fall chinook troll state waters fishery. |
| Cape Kiwanda | 45°13'00" N. lat. | Former Northern boundary for Nestucca fall chinook troll state waters fishery (not in use at this time). |
| Neskowin Creek | 45°06'00" N. lat. | Current Southern boundary for Nestucca fall chinook troll state waters fishery. |
| Cascade Head, OR | 45°03'50" N. lat. | Fishery area boundary. Not currently in use for season structure. |
| Cape Perpetua, OR | 44°17'30" N. lat. | Not currently in use. |
| Heceta Head, OR | 44°08'18" N. lat. | Fishery area boundary. Current Northern boundary for Siuslaw fall chinook troll state waters fishery. |
| Florence South Jetty, OR | 44°00'54" N. lat. | Was in use in 2003 as a boundary for commercial troll salmon, and for recreational halibut fisheries. Not currently in use. |
| Cape Arago, OR | 43°18'20" N. lat. | Southern boundary for Coos fall chinook troll state waters fishery. |
| Cape Blanco, OR | 42°50'20" N. lat. | Current Northern boundary for Elk River state waters fishery. |
These landmarks mark latitude lines, not points.
ODFW ocean salmon landmarks and regulatory boundaries (myodfw.com), read November 2, 2026.
Season dates for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
| Fishery and area | Season as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| ocean salmon, Cape Falcon to OR/CA Border | March 15 – August 31 (all salmon except coho; except as provided in the mark-selective coho season) | 2 salmon per day |
| ocean salmon, Cape Falcon to OR/CA Border | June 6 – August 18 (or quota) (mark-selective coho, open for all salmon) | 2 salmon per day, all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip |
| ocean salmon, Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. | Sept. 1 – 12, 20, and 26 (non-mark-selective coho, open for all salmon) | 2 salmon per day |
| ocean salmon, Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. | Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 (all salmon except coho, except as provided in non-mark-selective coho) | 2 salmon per day |
| pacific halibut, Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon) | Spring All-Depth Season: May 1 through July 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught | Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut |
| pacific halibut, Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon) | Summer All-Depth Season: August 1 through October 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught | Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut |
| pacific halibut, Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon) | Nearshore Season (if either all-depth season closes early; shore to the 40-fathom regulatory line): May 1 through October 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught | Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut |
| pacific halibut, Statewide | Pacific halibut possession limit: 1 daily bag limit at sea, 3 daily bag limits on land. Pacific halibut annual limit: 6. | |
| bottomfish, Ocean (rockfish / cabezon / lingcod / etc.) | Open at all-depths year-round, no seasonal depth restriction. | General marine species (rockfish, cabezon, greenling, skates, etc.): 4-fish daily bag limit per angler beginning January 1, 2026. |
| bottomfish, Ocean (cabezon) | No retention January 1 through June 30; 1-fish sub-bag beginning July 1, 2026. | Cabezon: 1-fish daily sub-bag limit per angler as part of the general marine bag limit beginning July 1, 2026. Minimum length of 16 inches. |
| bottomfish, Ocean (lingcod) | Lingcod: 3-fish daily bag limit per angler beginning January 1, 2026 with a minimum length limit of 22 inches. Lingcod are not part of the general marine species bag limit. | |
| bottomfish, Ocean (sablefish) | Sablefish: 10-fish daily bag limit per angler. | |
| bottomfish, Ocean (flatfish) | Open at all depths year round. | Flatfish daily bag limit is 25 fish for species of sanddab, sole, flounder, etc. Does not include Pacific halibut. |
| bottomfish, Seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line (offshore long-leader gear fishery) | The offshore long-leader gear fishery is open year-round outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line. | The daily bag limit is 10 fish per angler. For canary rockfish, there is a daily sub-bag limit of two fish per angler beginning January 1, 2026. |
| crab, Ocean waters | Ocean waters are closed for crabbing Oct 16 – Nov 30 | Dungeness crab 12 (males only); 5-3/4" minimum size |
Quotas can end a season before its printed date, so check ODFW updates the night before.
Ocean seasons as published by ODFW (myodfw.com, myodfw.com, dfw.state.or.us, eregulations.com), read November 2, 2026; ODFW changes ocean seasons in season.
Bottomfish depth rules for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- 30-fathom regulatory lineDescending devices are mandatory; and must be used to release any rockfish outside of the 30-fathom regulatory line.
- 40-fathom regulatory lineThe offshore long-leader gear fishery is open year-round outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line.
- Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation AreaThe Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (approximately 15 miles from Newport) is CLOSED to the long-leader gear fishery, as well as the regular bottomfish fishery.
ODFW sport bottomfish seasons page (myodfw.com), read November 2, 2026; waypoints in the linked ODFW PDFs.
Saltwater rules at Central Oregon Coast Subarea
| Species | Daily limit as printed | Season |
|---|---|---|
| General Marine Species: Rockfish ("sea bass", "snapper"), Greenling (“. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Flatfish (flounders, soles, sanddabs, turbots, and halibuts except Pac. | 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. |
| 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, swor. | 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. |
| Pacific Halibut | May be taken by angling with a single line, no more than 2 hooks; and by spear. Pacific halibut seasons are managed and enforced based on port of landing. | May be taken by angling with a single line, no more than 2 hooks; and by spear. Pacific halibut seasons are managed and enforced based on port of landing. |
| Razor Clams | First 15 dug (no sorting or releasing). | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day Exceptions: Razor clams are closed Jul 15 to Sep 30 north of Tillamook Head (Clatsop County) Shellfish harvests may be cl. |
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; ocean fishing from boats, beaches and jetties now also needs the Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual) unless you fish only for salmon or steelhead.
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Marine Zone page), read November 2, 2026. Fees as printed on the ODFW license, tag and permit fee page of the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (fees page), read November 2, 2026.
Estuaries along Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Nehalem BayTillamook County, about 5,253 acres (PMEP)
- Tillamook BayTillamook County, about 14,028 acres (PMEP)
- Netarts BayTillamook County, about 2,634 acres (PMEP)
- Sand LakeTillamook County, about 1,177 acres (PMEP)
- Nestucca BayTillamook County, about 2,766 acres (PMEP)
- Salmon River estuaryLincoln County, about 882 acres (PMEP)
- Siletz BayLincoln County, about 2,711 acres (PMEP)
- Depoe BayLincoln County, about 12 acres (PMEP)
- Little Creek estuaryLincoln County, about 12 acres (PMEP)
- Yaquina BayLincoln County, about 6,649 acres (PMEP)
- Beaver Creek estuaryLincoln County, about 240 acres (PMEP)
- Alsea BayLincoln County, about 3,562 acres (PMEP)
- Winchester Bay and the Umpqua estuaryDouglas County, about 12,418 acres (PMEP)
- Tenmile Creek estuary (Coos County)Coos County, about 1,329 acres (PMEP)
- Coos BayCoos County, about 20,566 acres (PMEP)
- Sunset BayCoos County, about 2 acres (PMEP)
- Fourmile Creek estuaryCoos County, about 82 acres (PMEP)
- Port Orford HeadCurry County, about 141 acres (PMEP)
Ports that serve Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Port of AlseaLincoln County, Port of Alsea and Port of Alsea Ramp
- Port of BandonCoos County, Bandon Sport Basin Pumpout, Port of Bandon and Port of Bandon Marina
- Port of Coos BayCoos County, Charleston Boat Basin "B" Dock, Charleston Boat Basin 'B' Dock Pumpout and Charleston Boat Basin 'G' Dock Pumpout
- Port of GaribaldiTillamook County, Crab Harbor Floating Restroom, Ghost Hole Floating Restroom and Port of Garibaldi Guest Dock
- Port of NewportLincoln County, East Paddle Launch, Port of Newport – South Beach Marina and Port of Newport Marina & RV Park
- Port of SiuslawLane County, Maple Street Landing, Maple Street Landing Pumpout and Mapleton Transient Float
- Port of ToledoLincoln County, Airport Ramp, Paddle Park and Port of Toledo
Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership estuary extent (PMEP), read November 2, 2026. Port names from the OSMB launch layer and the Clean Marina list.
Marine reserves near Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Cascade Head North Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: salmon by troll, crab, and recreational take of groundfish by hook-and-line from private boats., 12.21 sq mi
- Cascade Head Marine ReserveNo extractive activities allowed., 9.64 sq mi
- Cascade Head West Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: salmon by troll, crab., 1.29 sq mi
- Cascade Head South Marine Protected AreaNo net gear., 9.6 sq mi
- Otter Rock Marine Reserve AreaNo extractive activities allowed., 1.16 sq mi
- Cape Perpetua North Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: salmon by troll, crab, and recreational take of fish by hook-and-line from shore., 11.31 sq mi
- Cape Perpetua Marine ReserveNo extractive activites allowed., 14.07 sq mi
- Cape Perpetua Seabird Protection AreaNo take of Pacific herring, Pacific sardine, anchovies, smelt, or Pacific sand lance., 22.22 sq mi
- Cape Perpetua Southeast Marine Protected AreaNo trawl gear. No take of Pacific herring, Pacific sardine, anchovies, smelt, Pacific sand lance, or market squid., 7.5 sq mi
- Redfish Rocks Marine ReserveNo extractive activities allowed., 2.63 sq mi
- Redfish Rocks Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: salmon by troll, crab., 5.1 sq mi
Reserve boundaries are on the program site maps; take rules vary.
ODFW Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area Boundaries (layer), read November 2, 2026; full rules on oregonmarinereserves.com.
Tide stations around Central Oregon Coast Subarea
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval; station page for live data.
- 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
NOAA CO-OPS stations and tide predictions, read November 2, 2026.
Within an easy drive of Central Oregon Coast Subarea
More ODFW ocean areas
Picking up tackle for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Y Marina of Florencemarina, Florence, 12 miles
- Bi-Mart (Florence)sporting goods store, Florence, 13 miles
- Y Marina, 2520 Highway 101marina, Florence, 13 miles
- Angler's Manufacturing Incfly shop, Florence, 14 miles
- North Country Lures & Fliesbait and tackle shop, Florence, 14 miles
- Sportsmanbait and tackle shop, Florence, 14 miles
Booking a fishing guide for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Blue Max Inccharter, Depoe Bay
- Brand X Charters LLCcharter, Newport
- Captain's Reel Deep Sea Fishing Chartercharter, Newport, (541) 265-7441
- Craig A Calkinscharter, Depoe Bay
- Depoe Bay Fishing & Whale Watching Inccharter, Depoe Bay
- Dockside Charterscharter, Depoe Bay, (541) 765-2545
- Enterprise Marine LLCcharter, Newport
- Garibaldi Charterscharter, Garibaldi, (503) 322-0007
Towns that work as a base for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Florence13 miles
- Dunes City18 miles
- Waldport20 miles
- Reedsport32 miles
The counties around Central Oregon Coast Subarea
- Lincoln Countyseat: Newport
Rods, reels and braid from Piscifun for Central Oregon Coast Subarea
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Picture key to the fish of Central Oregon Coast Subarea
Photo: Ed Bierman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, CC BY 2.0
Answers on the Central Oregon Coast Subarea from the Oregon sources
Which landmarks bound the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
Between the 42.675 N line at Humbug Mt., OR and the 45.767 N line at Cape Falcon, OR, ODFW manages the Central Oregon Coast Subarea as one ocean area.
What is the 2026 halibut season in the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
For 2026 the halibut entry reads: Spring All-Depth Season: May 1 through July 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught. The halibut bag reads: Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut
What is the Chinook size limit in the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
Chinook length limit as printed: Chinook (south of Cape Falcon) = 24 inches.
Where do charters run from in the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
The ports are Port of Alsea, Port of Bandon, Port of Coos Bay, Port of Garibaldi and Port of Newport.
Do marine reserves affect the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
Yes: Cascade Head North Marine Protected Area, Cascade Head Marine Reserve, Cascade Head West Marine Protected Area and Cascade Head South Marine Protected Area.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish the Oregon Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
An Oregon angling license ($50 resident, $138 nonresident for 2026) covers anglers 12 and older; ocean fishing from boats, beaches and jetties now also needs the Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual) unless you fish only for salmon or steelhead.
Is there a depth limit for rockfish in the Central Oregon Coast Subarea?
Descending devices are mandatory; and must be used to release any rockfish outside of the 30-fathom regulatory line. The offshore long-leader gear fishery is open year-round outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line.
Are the Central Oregon Coast Subarea dates final?
The dates shown were current when read; ODFW notices override them.
Book a charter for the Central Oregon Coast Subarea
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