Oregon Fishing News
March 10, 2024 RECREATIONAL OCEAN SALMON ACTION NOTICE:
ACTION TAKEN (no action): The planned ocean Chinook salmon season (all-salmon-except coho) will open as scheduled from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. from March 15 through May 15. The bag limit will be two salmon, except closed to retention of coho, with minimum size limits of 24” for Chinook and 20” for steelhead.
RATIONALE: The recreational ocean salmon fishery off Oregon in March, April, and early May typically has very low effort and Chinook catch. Fishery managers and industry representatives agreed that this opening would not create any difficulty in developing the remainder of the ocean seasons for the 2024 fishing year. Seasons from May 16, 2024 through May 15, 2024 are currently being developed. Season alternatives will be reviewed and a final season recommendation made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council public meeting in Seattle from April 5-11, 2024. Interested members of the public should visit www.pcouncil.org for information on how to participate in the April meeting.
Visit www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmon/ for more information on Oregon's ocean salmon seasons and fisheries.
Two changes to the recreational bottomfish fishery beginning January 1, 2024
1. Cabezon will be prohibited for retention beginning January 1, 2024. Cabezon will reopen on July 1, 2024 with a sub-bag limit of 1 cabezon per angler as part of the marine bag limit of 5.
2. The longleader midwater fishery will have a bag limit of 12 fish per angler beginning January 1, 2024.
No other changes to the recreational bottomfish fishery as we enter the New Year.
ODFW staff recommendations for the 2024 recreational Pacific halibut season dates
Thank you to everyone who provided input via the public meeting, the online survey, phone calls, and e-mails. ODFW staff have used that input to develop our staff recommendations for the 2024 recreational Pacific halibut season dates, outlined below. Reminder, season dates are not final until the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts them at their April 19 meeting.
The information below is summarized in the Staff Recommended 2024 Pacific Halibut Sport Regulations Map.
For additional information see the ODFW recreational halibut webpage: https://myodfw.com/pacific-halibut-sport-regulations
From the Chetco/Brookings Harbor to the Mighty Columbia Oregon offers 363 miles of Pacific Ocean Coastline. The more famous and possibly safer ports are Brookings Harbor on the Chetco near the California Border; Port of Bandon, Coos Bay/Charleston, Winchester Bay on the Umpqua River all south coast; Newport/Yaquina Bay, Depot Bay ( Worlds smallest Port) and Tillamook/Garibaldi central Coast; and finally Columbia River with Warrenton and Astoria. Oregon coast offers great Rock and bottom fishing, World classs Salmon fishing. Lingcod, Halibut and Tuna. Many ports for you to put your own craft out or join the many Commercial charter fishing vessels.