10-26-2007, 11:10 PM
A break in the weather allowed some fishers to venture out into the ocean this week.
Average catches of rockfish were about two per angler coastwide. Species illustrations and descriptions are in the The Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (page 98) and The Red Rockfish Identification Guide.
About one in two of the fishers going after lingcod were successful except out of Newport where success was one fish per angler. The minimum length for lingcod is 22 inches, for cabezon it is 16 inches and for greenling it is 10 inches. Fishing for cabezon from a boat is closed, but cabezon may still be caught from shore and by shore-based divers.
Fishing for bottom fish outside of the 40-fathom curve opened to anglers on Oct. 1. Remember: yellow eye rockfish and canary rockfish may not be retained. Also, the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area approximately 15 miles west of Newport is closed to the harvest of rockfish, ling cod and flat fish.
Waypoints for the Stonewall Bank YRCA
The marine daily bag limit for 2007 is six fish (including rockfish, greenling and other marine species) and two lingcod and 15 surfperch. Complete regulations are in the 2007 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and other Marine Fish Species.
Fishing for Pacific halibut north of Humbug Mt. is closed for the year.
Salmon fishers out of Garibaldi reported catching two fish per angler last week. All salmon except coho remains open through Oct. 31 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. Ocean salmon fishing North of Cape Falcon and from Humbug Mt. to Ore./Calif. Border is closed.
Clams
A series of minus tides in the evening starting Oct. 25 and continuing through the end of the month will provide good opportunity for clam diggers with lanterns. The entire Oregon coast is open for the harvest of razor clams. The daily limit for razor clams is the first 15 taken regardless of size or condition.
More information on Oregon's razor clams, including tips on how to dig razor clams
Information on domoic acid
shellfish hotline, 503-986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474
recreational bay clams
Dungeness Crabs
-Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife -<br />
Crabs
Crabbing is closed in the ocean until Dec. 1, but bays and estuaries remain open. Crabbing success is good, but many crab have recently molted and have a "soft shell" condition. This causes the crab meat to be watery and of poor quality. Check for this by gently squeezing a leg section closest to the crab's body. If it doesn't feel hard, it's a good idea to let him go so he can fill up with meat. For sport crabbers the minimum size for Dungeness crab is 5¾ inches measured in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but not including, the points. For a photograph and diagram see page 97 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.
VIEWING
A northern fulmar passes by a sperm whale.<br />
- Photo by Greg Gillson-
Brown pelicans patrol the coast
Flights of brown pelicans patrol the coast in precision formations this time of year. Gliding silently wing tip to wing tip just above the wave tops they make the unruly "V" of flapping, honking Canadian geese flying south look like amateurs.
Watch those waves!
Large waves buffet the Oregon coast this time of year providing an impressive display of the Pacific's majestic power. The big curlers hurl everything from large logs to small Japanese floats onto the beach making the days following a storm perfect for beach combing. Don't become so entranced by what you find that you stop paying attention to the ocean, however. A large wave could do more than just get you wet if it drags you out to sea or causes logs on the beach to shift and injure you. For your safety, don't turn your back on the ocean and stay off beached logs. To view a video of a sneaker wave in Washington go to: www.uscg.mil/d13/publicaffairs/av/sneakerwave.wmv
Fall Migrants
Nestucca Bay, Siletz Bay and Bandon Marsh are excellent places to watch for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Waterfowl that will winter along the coast begin to arrive at this time.
Average catches of rockfish were about two per angler coastwide. Species illustrations and descriptions are in the The Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (page 98) and The Red Rockfish Identification Guide.
About one in two of the fishers going after lingcod were successful except out of Newport where success was one fish per angler. The minimum length for lingcod is 22 inches, for cabezon it is 16 inches and for greenling it is 10 inches. Fishing for cabezon from a boat is closed, but cabezon may still be caught from shore and by shore-based divers.
Fishing for bottom fish outside of the 40-fathom curve opened to anglers on Oct. 1. Remember: yellow eye rockfish and canary rockfish may not be retained. Also, the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area approximately 15 miles west of Newport is closed to the harvest of rockfish, ling cod and flat fish.
Waypoints for the Stonewall Bank YRCA
The marine daily bag limit for 2007 is six fish (including rockfish, greenling and other marine species) and two lingcod and 15 surfperch. Complete regulations are in the 2007 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and other Marine Fish Species.
Fishing for Pacific halibut north of Humbug Mt. is closed for the year.
Salmon fishers out of Garibaldi reported catching two fish per angler last week. All salmon except coho remains open through Oct. 31 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. Ocean salmon fishing North of Cape Falcon and from Humbug Mt. to Ore./Calif. Border is closed.
Clams
A series of minus tides in the evening starting Oct. 25 and continuing through the end of the month will provide good opportunity for clam diggers with lanterns. The entire Oregon coast is open for the harvest of razor clams. The daily limit for razor clams is the first 15 taken regardless of size or condition.
More information on Oregon's razor clams, including tips on how to dig razor clams
Information on domoic acid
shellfish hotline, 503-986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474
recreational bay clams
Dungeness Crabs
-Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife -<br />
Crabs
Crabbing is closed in the ocean until Dec. 1, but bays and estuaries remain open. Crabbing success is good, but many crab have recently molted and have a "soft shell" condition. This causes the crab meat to be watery and of poor quality. Check for this by gently squeezing a leg section closest to the crab's body. If it doesn't feel hard, it's a good idea to let him go so he can fill up with meat. For sport crabbers the minimum size for Dungeness crab is 5¾ inches measured in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but not including, the points. For a photograph and diagram see page 97 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.
VIEWING
A northern fulmar passes by a sperm whale.<br />
- Photo by Greg Gillson-
Brown pelicans patrol the coast
Flights of brown pelicans patrol the coast in precision formations this time of year. Gliding silently wing tip to wing tip just above the wave tops they make the unruly "V" of flapping, honking Canadian geese flying south look like amateurs.
Watch those waves!
Large waves buffet the Oregon coast this time of year providing an impressive display of the Pacific's majestic power. The big curlers hurl everything from large logs to small Japanese floats onto the beach making the days following a storm perfect for beach combing. Don't become so entranced by what you find that you stop paying attention to the ocean, however. A large wave could do more than just get you wet if it drags you out to sea or causes logs on the beach to shift and injure you. For your safety, don't turn your back on the ocean and stay off beached logs. To view a video of a sneaker wave in Washington go to: www.uscg.mil/d13/publicaffairs/av/sneakerwave.wmv
Fall Migrants
Nestucca Bay, Siletz Bay and Bandon Marsh are excellent places to watch for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Waterfowl that will winter along the coast begin to arrive at this time.