Nehalem Bay Fishing
A coastal bay in Tillamook County, about 5,253 acres of tidal habitat.
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Nehalem Bay for a first saltwater trip in Oregon
About 5,253 acres (2,126 hectares) of estuary carry the name Nehalem Bay in Tillamook County, per PMEP. PMEP lists it as riverine estuary. The Central Oregon Coast Subarea covers the ocean beyond it. From the estuary point it is about 6 miles to Rockaway Beach.
8 launch sites put boats on it. For fishing on foot there are 2 dock, pier or jetty sites. It has its own ODFW crabbing and clamming page. 3 marine reserves or protected areas lie within 10 miles.
Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership estuary extent (PMEP), read November 2, 2026. Census 2023 places.
Getting afloat on Nehalem Bay
- Aldervale boat ramp on North Fork Nehalem RiverNorth Fork Nehalem River; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, use fee; Tillamook County
- Brighton Marina on Nehalem RiverNehalem Bay; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Private
- Jetty Fishery Marina on Nehalem RiverNehalem Bay; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Private
- Mohler Sand & Gravel boat ramp on Nehalem RiverNehalem River (Lower); trailered launch; parking; Private
- Nehalem Bay County RampNehalem Bay; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee, life jacket loaner station; Tillamook County
- Nehalem Bay State ParkNehalem Bay; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
- Roy Creek Park on Nehalem RiverNehalem River (Lower); trailered launch; parking, restrooms, use fee; Tillamook County
- Wheeler Waterfront Park on Nehalem RiverNehalem Bay; 1 lane, trailered launch; parking, restrooms, short-term tie-up, marina, life jacket loaner station; City of Wheeler
Piers, docks and jetties at Nehalem Bay
- Wheeler waterfront park on Nehalem Bayfishing pier
- Nehalem Bay State Parkshore site
Marinas that serve Nehalem Bay
- Wheeler Waterfront Park
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.
Bays and channels inside Nehalem Bay
- Gallagher Sloughgut
- Nehalem Baybay
USGS GNIS supplies these feature names within Nehalem Bay.
USGS GNIS domestic names inside the PMEP estuary extent, read November 2, 2026.
Where ODFW points clammers in Nehalem Bay
Here is the ODFW text for Nehalem Bay:
Nehalem Bay offers both beach and boat access to softshell and purple varnish clam beds. These charts depict popular, productive shellfishing areas. Many other areas have these species but may be less popular to access. Additionally, many other species of shellfish, some popular for harvest (e.g., bait shrimp, razor clams, etc.) may be present, but not represented here.
Area 1: Requires a boat for access. This area is a large mud flat containing mostly softshell clams and walking can be difficult. A shovel or clam gun would be best to use in this area.
Area 2: Requires a boat for access. As with Area 1, this area contains softshell clams, and walking can be difficult. A shovel or clam gun would be best to use in this area.
Area 3: Again as with Areas 1 and 2, you will find softshell clams however the sand is a little firmer and walking isn’t as difficult. A shovel or clam gun would be best to use in this area.
Area 4: Can be reached by either boat or bank/walk-in. Bank/walk-in access is obtained from Nehalem Bay State Park boat ramp area and by walking south. A mix of softshell and purple varnish clams can be found in this area. Here, a shovel or clam gun would be best.
Where to crab & clam in Nehalem Bay, myodfw.com, read November 2, 2026.
Tide predictions for Nehalem Bay
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval; station page for live data.
- NehalemNOAA tide predictions
- North Fork, Nehalem RiverNOAA tide predictions
- BrightonNOAA tide predictions
- BarviewNOAA tide predictions
- North Jetty, Tillamook BayNOAA tide predictions
- GaribaldiNOAA tide predictions
Bar crossings and clam tides at Nehalem Bay both hinge on these stations.
NOAA CO-OPS stations and tide predictions, read November 2, 2026.
Marine Zone limits for Nehalem Bay
| 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. |
Ocean seasons for Nehalem Bay
| 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.
At Nehalem Bay the Marine Zone table applies to bay fish, crab and clams.
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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Ocean salmon, halibut and bottomfish seasons off Nehalem Bay follow the Central Oregon Coast Subarea: Spring All-Depth Season: May 1 through July 31, seven days per week, or until the quota is caught.
No-take and limited-take areas by Nehalem Bay
- Cape Falcon Shoreside Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: recreational take of fish by hook-and-line from shore., 0.24 sq mi
- Cape Falcon West Marine Protected AreaAllowed take: salmon by troll, crab., 7.37 sq mi
- Cape Falcon Marine ReserveNo extractive activities allowed., 12.36 sq mi
ODFW Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area Boundaries (layer), read November 2, 2026; full rules on oregonmarinereserves.com.
Where Nehalem Bay ranks among close bays
| Bay or estuary | Distance | Acres (PMEP) | OSMB launches | Shore sites | Marinas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nehalem Bay | 5,253 | 8 | 2 | 1 | |
| Tillamook Bay | 12 miles south | 14,028 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Ecola Creek estuary | 15 miles north | 54 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Netarts Bay | 21 miles south | 2,634 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Sand Lake | 29 miles south | 1,177 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nestucca Bay | 36 miles south | 2,766 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
PMEP extents, OSMB launches, DLCD and ODFW shore sites, Clean Marina list; read November 2, 2026.
Country behind Nehalem Bay for a second day
Further current close to the Nehalem Bay
- North Fork Nehalem River2 miles
- Miami River9 miles
- Nehalem River9 miles
- Kilchis River14 miles
Lakes in the same part of Oregon as Nehalem Bay
- Nedonna Lake5 miles southwest
- Lake Lytle6 miles southwest
- Cape Meares Lake13 miles south
- Lost Lake (Clatsop County)17 miles northeast
Where to buy bait on the way to Nehalem Bay
- Wheeler Marinabait and tackle shop, Wheeler, under a mile
- Port of Garibaldi Harbormarina, Garibaldi, 10 miles
- Tillamook Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Tillamook, 16 miles
- Tillamook Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Tillamook, 16 miles
- Wyld Edge Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Tillamook, 17 miles
- Bi-Mart (Seaside)sporting goods store, Seaside, 20 miles
Hiring a guide for Nehalem Bay
- Garibaldi Charterscharter, Garibaldi, (503) 322-0007
- Haystack Fishingcharter, Pacific City, (503) 679-9028
- Jb and Water Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Garibaldi, (503) 322-3474
- Kerri Lin Charterscharter, Rockaway Beach, (503) 355-2439
- Meanwhile Charters LLCcharter, Garibaldi, (503) 410-0289
- Nor'wester Charterscharter, Cloverdale, (503) 965-2238
- Siggi-G Ocean Charterscharter, Garibaldi, (503) 322-3285
Base towns for a trip to Nehalem Bay
- Rockaway Beach6 miles
- Bay City12 miles
- Cannon Beach14 miles
Which Oregon counties Nehalem Bay reaches
- Tillamook Countyseat: Tillamook
Piscifun reels and line chosen with Nehalem Bay in mind
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photographs from the shoreline near Nehalem Bay
Photo: Rick Obst, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Bonnie Moreland, Public domain
Photo: Verdance, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: m01229, CC BY-SA 2.0
Questions Oregon anglers bring to Nehalem Bay
Which part of Oregon has Nehalem Bay?
Search Tillamook County, about 6 miles from Rockaway Beach on the map.
How many acres of estuary is Nehalem Bay?
PMEP maps about 2,126 hectares, near 5,253 acres.
How many OSMB launches reach Nehalem Bay?
Use Aldervale boat ramp on North Fork Nehalem River or another of 8 launch sites.
Is Nehalem Bay good for crabbing?
ODFW names spots in its guide, quoted above. The shellfish license is separate from angling.
What are the limits at Nehalem Bay?
Razor Clams: First 15 dug (no sorting or releasing).
Which Oregon license and endorsement do I need at Nehalem Bay?
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 fishing pier at Nehalem Bay?
Try Wheeler waterfront park on Nehalem Bay, one of 2 shore sites.
Which Oregon shop is handy for Nehalem Bay?
Wheeler Marina, under a mile away, heads our shop list.
Is there a tide table for Nehalem Bay?
Check Nehalem in the tides band.
Which protected areas sit near Nehalem Bay?
Cape Falcon Shoreside Marine Protected Area, Cape Falcon West Marine Protected Area and Cape Falcon Marine Reserve are close; check what take is allowed.
Put Nehalem Bay on the coast list
Fees, tags and zone limits sit together on one page.