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
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.
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.