ODFW News Updates

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.

2024 Recreational Bottomfish Season Set

On Friday, December 15, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized the 2024 recreational bottomfish season and regulations. The only change from 2023 is a 12-fish bag limit in the longleader fishery. 

Bag Limits

  • General Marine Species: 5-fish bag limit
    Cabezon: 1-fish sub-bag limit ( see changes below)
  • Opens July 1, 2024
  • 16-inch minimum size limit
  • Lingcod: 2-fish bag limit
  • 22-inch minimum size limit
  • Flatfish: 25-fish bag limit
  • Longleader gear fishery: 12-fish bag limit (New bag limit in 2024) ( See changes below)
  • For a 12-fish bag limit to apply, longleader gear must be used outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line
  • 10 midwater rockfish species only
  • Retention of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes remain prohibited.

The bottomfish fishery will again be open at all-depths, year-round (no seasonal depth restriction).

Any vessel fishing for or possessing bottomfish, Pacific halibut, or flatfish in the ocean must have a functional descending device onboard, regardless of depth. Any rockfish released outside (seaward) of the 30-fathom regulatory line must be released at depth with the aid of a descending device.

Additional information on the recreational bottomfish fishery can be found on the ODFW sport bottomfish webpage and the What Can I Keep? informational page.


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.

2024 Recreational Pacific Halibut Season Set

On Friday, April 19, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized the 2024 recreational Pacific halibut season and regulations.

The information below is summarized in the 2024 Pacific Halibut Sport Regulations Map.

Columbia River Subarea

All-Depth

  • Daily bag limit: 1 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 18,112 pounds
  • Open every Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday May 2-26 and every Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday May 30 through June 30 or until the quota is caught. Closed on Tuesday, May 28. If quota remains, can be open starting August 1 through September 30 up to seven days per week.

Nearshore

  • Daily bag limit: 1 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 500 pounds
  • Open Mondays through Wednesdays inside the 40-fathom regulatory line off Oregon beginning May 6 through September 30 or until the quota is caught.

Central Oregon Coast Subarea

Spring All-Depth Season

  • Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 167,681 pounds
  • Fixed dates: May 1 through June 30, seven days per week
  • Back-up dates available (if quota remaining): July 1-31, seven days per week

Summer All-Depth Season

  • Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 66,540 pounds
  • Open August 1-3, then every other Thursday through Saturday until October 31 or the quota is caught.

Nearshore

  • Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 31,939 pounds
  • Open May 1, seven days per week, inside the 40-fathom regulatory line, until October 31 or the quota is caught.

Southern Oregon Subarea

  • Daily bag limit: 2 Pacific halibut
  • Quota = 8,000 pounds
  • Open May 1, seven days per week, until October 31 or the quota is caught. 

 

Lake Fishing

Oregon has some of the most beautiful lakes.  From small mountain cascade lakes filled with ice cold water and  mountain cutthroat trout.  Large natural lakes Like the Klamath with giant Landlocked Steelhead, Lake Trout, Bass and Catfish. Lakes in
every  corner of the state filled  with Bass, Perch, sunfish, catfish  and every species of trout. The lower cascade lakes offer Rainbow, Brown and Kokanee ( a landlocked salmon variety).   Some larger reservoirs offer lake trout and bass.  Many of the lowland and eastern Oregon lakes and reservoirs offer bass, sunfish, crappie, catfish and some even have Walleye.

Rivers and Streams

From the mighty Columbia River to our gorgeous mountain streams.  Oregon offers a wide variety of fishing pleasure.  Trolling or drifting the Columbia for Salmon, Striped Bass or the fighting Sturgeon.  Drift or shore fishing the beautiful Rogue, Umpqua, Mckenzie, Deschues and Snake for Salmon and Steelhead is both exciting and relaxing.  Whether fly fishing or bait fishing our mountaiin streams filled with cutthroat, brook or rainbow trout you will find it not only rewarding but peaceful.  Spring and Summer Steelhead fill the coastal rivers and streams, as well as Salmon.  Coast Sea run cutthoats are a pleasure to catch and eat.

Deep Sea Fishing

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.

Sports in the great outdoors
– strengthen your body
and your mind

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