ODFW Recreation Report

Best bets for weekend fishing

If you want to go fishing this weekend, you’ve got choices!

• Spearfishing for smallmouth on the Coquille. Learn more about this unique opportunity.
• Halibut fishing in the Central Coast and Southern Oregon subareas, where the bag limit has been increased to 2.
• Shad fishing in the Willamette. The Oregon City/Gladstone area has been hot.
• Summer Chinook and shad on the Columbia. The summer season begins June 16.
• There will be some early morning negative tides for better clamming.
• Surfperch move closer to shore during the early summer for spawning.
• It’s a great time to fish for cutthroat trout on north and south coast rivers. 7 tips for catching coastal cutthroat.

Need more intel or ideas? Check out the zone reports.

Summer salmon seasons open on Columbia June 16

Summer fishing seasons open on Columbia June 16 with a reopening to Chinook retention above and below Bonneville Dam, see season details here.

Ocean salmon begins June 17

The season begins June 17 below Cape Falcon and June 24 above. Remember, fishing is restricted to coho until September below Cape Falcon due to low Chinook returns to California rivers (these fish can be caught in Oregon waters until early fall). See season details here.

No selfies with seals and/or sea lions

Instead, please keep your distance from seals and sea lions resting on the beach or rocks. Harbor seal pupping is in full swing, and you might see a lone pup on the beach while Mom is off feeding. She’s unlikely to rejoin her pup if you’re too close. Here are more reasons to keep your distance from wildlife on the beach.

Didn’t draw a tag?

Bummer. But there are ways to still have a great fall hunting season. Check out these options.