Oregon reference
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Oregon Marine Zone Rules
Bottomfish, crab, clams and shellfish rows, ocean seasons and the depth lines.
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Marine Zone
What the Oregon Marine Zone covers
The Marine Zone consists of the Pacific Ocean, coastal bays, and beaches.
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.
27Marine rows
20ocean season entries
14reserves and MPAs
$9Ocean Endorsement
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Marine Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Bag rows
Every Marine Zone row in the 2026 booklet
| 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. |
| 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 closed at anytime due . |
| Bay Clams (butter, littleneck, gaper, and cockle) | 20 in aggregate, only 12 may be gapers. | 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 closed at anytime due . |
| Purple Varnish Clams | 72 | 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 closed at anytime due . |
| Other Clams: (softshell, piddocks and others not listed) | 36 in aggregate. | 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 closed at anytime due . |
| Dungeness Crab | 12 (males only). | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day Exceptions: Ocean waters are closed for crabbing Oct 16 – Nov 30 Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties are open for crabbin. |
| Red Rock Crab | 24 of any size or sex. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day Exceptions: Ocean waters are closed for crabbing Oct 16 – Nov 30 Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties are open for crabbin. |
| Green Crab | 35 of any size or sex. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day Exceptions: Ocean waters are closed for crabbing Oct 16 – Nov 30 Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties are open for crabbin. |
| Scallops | 24 | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Mussels | 72 | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Shrimp (edible) | 20 lbs in the shell. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Sand and Mole Crabs, Kelp and Sand Worms, Mud and Ghost Shrimp | No limit. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Octopus | 1 | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Squid | No limit. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Purple Sea Urchin | 35 | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Red Sea Urchin, Snails, Shore Crabs, and all other marine invertebrates not list. | 10 in aggregate. | Waters open all year, 24 hours per day. |
| Oysters, Abalones, Sea Stars | No harvest allowed. | Closed. |
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Marine Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Ocean seasons
Oregon ocean salmon, halibut and bottomfish entries for 2026
| Fishery and area | Season as printed | Limit as printed |
|---|---|---|
| ocean salmon, Leadbetter Pt. to Cape Falcon (Columbia River subarea) | June 20 – August 24, and September 4-8 | 2 salmon; closed to Chinook retention and possession August 18-24 and September 4-8 (mark-selective coho) |
| 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, Columbia River Subarea (Cape Falcon, OR to Leadbetter Point, WA) | All-Depth Season: Closed for the remainder of 2026 | Daily bag limit Columbia River subarea: 1 Pacific halibut. No length limit. |
| 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, Southern Oregon Subarea (OR/CA Border to Humbug Mountain) | 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 |
| 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 |
| razor clam, North of Tillamook Head (Clatsop County) | Razor clams are closed Jul 15 to Sep 30 north of Tillamook Head (Clatsop County) | First 15 dug (no sorting or releasing). |
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.
Depth lines
The 30- and 40-fathom lines off Oregon
- 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 and waypoint files, read November 2, 2026.
General rules
Marine Zone general rules as printed
- The ocean is separated from rivers and bays by:Normal high tide lines along coastal beaches, where there are no jetties;Marine Zone
- The visible ends of the jetties, where they exist, except for the Columbia River;Marine Zone
- A north-south line running through Buoy 10 in the Columbia River.Marine Zone
Limits as printed in the 2026 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations (ODFW, eRegulations edition) (Marine Zone page), read November 2, 2026.
Fish photos
Picture key to the fish of Oregon Marine Zone Rules
Photo: Ed Bierman, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Dan Boone, Public domain
Answers
Marine Zone questions from Oregon anglers
What does the Oregon Marine Zone include?
Ocean waters, bays, estuaries, beaches, jetties and piers, for marine fish, crab, clams and other shellfish.
How many Dungeness crab may I keep?
12 (males only).
Is ocean crabbing open all year?
Waters open all year, 24 hours per day Exceptions: Ocean waters are closed for crabbing Oct 16 – Nov 30 Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties are open for crabbing all year, 24 hours.
Do I need the Ocean Endorsement?
Yes, for ocean fishing from a boat, beach or jetty, unless you fish only for salmon or steelhead; $9 a year.
What is the 30-fathom line?
Descending devices are mandatory; and must be used to release any rockfish outside of the 30-fathom regulatory line.
Where are the halibut seasons?
In the ocean season table above, one row per subarea as ODFW printed it, with the date the halibut page was updated.
Are marine reserves open to fishing?
Reserves prohibit take; some protected areas allow limited take. The marine reserves page lists what each allows.
Can clamming close without notice?
Yes; shellfish harvest can close at any time under a public health advisory, so check before digging.