Free Fishing, Clamming and Crabbing in Oregon This Weekend
It’s free to fish, crab or clam in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday, August 17-18, 2019.
During these two days, no fishing licenses or tags are required to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon for both residents and non-residents.
Although no licenses or tags are required, all other fishing regulations apply. If you are fishing for salmon, steelhead or rockfish, remember to check the Fishing section of the Recreation Report for the zone you want to fish to find the latest regulations.
Updated every Wednesday, look for the latest on fishing conditions and regulations at ODFW’s Weekly Recreation Report.
Here are some tips from the pros:
- Water in higher elevation mountain lakes, both drive-to and hike-in, stays cooler in the summer. This keeps trout on the bite, and provides some relief for anglers looking to beat the heat.
- Rockfish, albacore tuna and ocean salmon fishing have all been fair to good and, according to the forecast, ocean water conditions should be cooperating. Landlubbers can target surfperch off the beaches and jetties.
- And for the areas in between mountains and sea, bass and other warmwater fishing remains the bright spot.
If you are on the coast this weekend, ocean fishing for rockfish, tuna and coho salmon has been good. Surfperch can be targeted (how do I do that?) from beaches and jetties by those staying on shore. Or try crabbing, which is currently open along the entire Oregon coast.