Little Creek estuary Fishing
A coastal estuary in Lincoln County, about 12 acres of tidal habitat.
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Opening notes on Little Creek estuary
Little Creek estuary covers about 5 hectares on the PMEP map of Lincoln County, near 12 acres. The class on file is riverine estuary. Past the bar lies the Central Oregon Coast Subarea. The nearest Census place is Newport, about 3 miles from the estuary point.
Shore anglers get 3 dock, pier or jetty sites. Within 10 miles are 1 marine reserve or protected area.
Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership estuary extent (PMEP), read November 2, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Where boaters put in for Little Creek estuary
OSMB maps no put-in at Little Creek estuary, so it is shore or kayak water.
Public docks by Little Creek estuary
- Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area on Little Creek estuaryjetty
- Newport Bayfront and Abbey Street Pier on Little Creek estuaryjetty
- Newport Marina and Fishing Pier on Little Creek estuaryjetty
Oregon State Marine Board Boating Access Sites layer (OSMB ArcGIS), read November 2, 2026; status as OSMB publishes it. Oregon Coastal Management Program (DLCD) Shoreline Access Inventory (layer) and the ODFW shore access map, read November 2, 2026.
Reading the tide at Little Creek estuary
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval; station page for live data.
- YAQUINA USCG STA, NEWPORTNOAA tide predictions
- SouthbeachNOAA tide predictions
- Weiser Point, Yaquina RiverNOAA tide predictions
- TOLEDONOAA tide predictions
- Depoe BayNOAA tide predictions
The NOAA stations near Little Creek estuary show when the flats drain.
NOAA CO-OPS stations and tide predictions, read November 2, 2026.
Crab, clam and fish limits on Little Creek estuary
| 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. |
Open dates offshore in Little Creek estuary
| Fishery and area | Season | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| crab, Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties | Open for crabbing all year, 24 hours per day. | Dungeness crab 12 (males only); 5-3/4" minimum size |
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.
The Marine Zone rows set the bag at Little Creek estuary unless a river exception says otherwise.
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.
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The Central Oregon Coast Subarea sets the ocean seasons off Little Creek estuary; for halibut ODFW says: Spring All-Depth Season: May 1 through July 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught.
Protected areas off Little Creek estuary
- Otter Rock Marine Reserve AreaNo extractive activities allowed., 1.16 sq mi
ODFW Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area Boundaries (layer), read November 2, 2026; full rules on oregonmarinereserves.com.
Little Creek estuary in a table with nearby estuaries
| Bay or estuary | Distance | Acres (PMEP) | OSMB launches | Shore sites | Marinas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Creek estuary | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Yaquina Bay | 8 miles southeast | 6,649 | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Depoe Bay | 10 miles north | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Beaver Creek estuary | 11 miles south | 240 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Siletz Bay | 16 miles north | 2,711 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| Alsea Bay | 16 miles south | 3,562 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
PMEP extents, OSMB launches, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, Clean Marina list; read November 2, 2026.
Freshwater and Oregon towns inland of Little Creek estuary
Rivers neighbouring the Little Creek estuary
- Yaquina River4 miles
- Siletz River17 miles
- Alsea River17 miles
- Yachats River25 miles
Reservoirs and lakes that neighbour Little Creek estuary
- Newport Reservoir2 miles southeast
- Olalla Reservoir7 miles east
- Eckman Lake18 miles south
- Devils Lake (Lincoln County)22 miles north
Tackle and bait counters close to Little Creek estuary
- Carver Inc Port Dock 5marina, Newport, 3 miles
- Harry's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Newport, 3 miles
- Sawyer's Landing Marina & RVmarina, Newport, 5 miles
- Port of Newportmarina, Toledo, 8 miles
- Shrimp Daddy Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Waldport, 16 miles
- Sunset Landingbait and tackle shop, Lincoln City, 16 miles
Paid trips on Little Creek estuary
- 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
- Gracie K LLCcharter, Newport
Beds and campgrounds handy to Little Creek estuary
- Newport3 miles
- Toledo7 miles
- Siletz8 miles
Little Creek estuary by county
- Lincoln Countyseat: Newport
Piscifun tackle that suits a trip to Little Creek estuary
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Shorelines and riffles near Little Creek estuary, photographed
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, CC0 1.0
Answers on Little Creek estuary from the Oregon sources
How do I reach Little Creek estuary on the Oregon coast?
Point the car toward Lincoln County, about 3 miles from Newport.
What area does PMEP map for Little Creek estuary?
Some 5 hectares on the PMEP extent.
Is there an OSMB boat ramp at Little Creek estuary?
The OSMB layer lists none.
Can I crab or clam at Little Creek estuary?
ODFW writes no where-to-clam page for it. Buy the shellfish license first.
Does the Marine Zone cover Little Creek estuary?
Razor Clams: First 15 dug (no sorting or releasing).
What should I buy before fishing Little Creek estuary?
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.
Can I fish Little Creek estuary without a boat?
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area on Little Creek estuary is one of 3 shore sites.
Where can I rent crab rings near Little Creek estuary?
Carver Inc Port Dock 5, roughly 3 miles away, is where our list starts.
Which NOAA station covers Little Creek estuary?
YAQUINA USCG STA, NEWPORT is the nearest prediction station listed.
Is there a marine reserve near Little Creek estuary?
Nearby: Otter Rock Marine Reserve Area.
Pick a minus tide for Little Creek estuary
Check the in-season updates before a fish goes in the cooler.