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Clam Watch, Crab Watch and Fish Watch provides the latest information available on local clam digging and crabbing conditions on the Oregon Coast to facilitate planning your crabbing, clam digging and fishing adventures.
Scroll down and click on the following links to view the latest information available on clam digging, crabbing and fishing conditions in Oregon's Coastal Waters. Please share your clam digging, crabbing and fishing adventures with us by emailing your comments, photographs or video clips to clamdigginginfo@gmail.com or post them to the Forum Page. Thanks Bill
Razor Clams: Harvesting razor clams reopened on 10/01 with a good population of carry over clams available for harvest. On 05/04 Bill from Bud's Campground reports limits of razor clams along the entire length of Clatsop Spit beaches. We recommend staying at Bud’s Campground budsrv.com/rv_park_photos.htm . Of all the R/V Parks along Hwy 101 in Seaside Bud’s Campground is the best. Bud’s is conveniently located 3 miles north of Seaside on the west side of Hwy 101. Bud's Campground is the only R/V Park that carries a complete line of razor clams digging equipment. Call Bud’s at:1-800-730-6855. Bill and Shirley will make your stay a pleasant one. I am often asked, "Where do you prefer to dig clams?" The answer is Seaside for razor clams. Netarts Bay is my favorite bay to dig bay clams on the North Coast, Coos Bay on the South Coast. That leaves all points between open for discovery and great adventures. As always good digging, Bill ODFW Crab Management ? We applaud ODFW’s ongoing crab study in some of Oregon’s bays but can we depend on ODFW for guidance when handling crabs and returning crabs to the water. Currently other than recommending that crabbers retain softshell crabs the ODFW does not have recreational management guidelines in place for handing of crabs. ODFW omits any discussion of the importance of the crab’s nervous system, the Thoracic Ganglion, when handling of releasing crabs. The thoracic ganglion is located underneath the crab near the tip of the abdominal flap. The thoracic ganglion is easily damaged when the crabs are handled roughly or thrown or dropped into the water from docks or boats. The solution is to return all unwanted crabs to the water gently. Statements attributable to ODFW staff encourage crabbers to retain legal sized soft shell male crabs because the crabs are going to die anyway. Some studies suggest that 45 percent mortality rate of softshell crabs occur as compared to hard shell crabs. Each year crabbers handle tens of thousands of soft shell crab. Where does that leave ODFW's crab management philosophy and practices? There are more questions than answers when it comes to the mortality of Dungeness crabs as applied to current harvest practices. There is no reason why ODFW cannot recommend the proper handling methods to safely return unwanted crabs to the water. Even though the limit of crabs is 12, keep only enough crabs for your immediate needs. Currently 05/04, Crabbing productivity in all of Oregon’s Bays should improve with the dry spring weather. The commercial crabbing while not as productive as in past seasons on the central and north coast is having a negative impact on the number of crabs entering Oregon’s Bay. Recreational crabbers are going to have to work harder than last year to take limits of crabs. The most productive crabbing usually occurs in the lower portion of the saltwater dominated bays, Coos Bay and Netarts Bay. Crabbers in Oregon’s Bays have to deal with the high river flows common during the rainy season usually from November through April. Crabbing in the smaller estuaries is over until next spring or early summer unless we have an extended period of dry weather. A check of the Northwest River Forecast shows river levels for all of Oregon's rivers have fallen to levels typical for the end of spring. Will the dry weather trend continue? Take advantage of the dry weather crabbing before the crabs begin to breed in late April and May. The smaller estuaries the Chetco, Rogue, Salmon, and Necanicum are the first to be affected by seasonal flooding followed by the larger estuaries Coquille, Siuslaw, Alsea, Siletz, Nestucca, Nehalem, Yaquina, Tillamook, Coos, Netarts and the Lower Columbia River Estuary. Conversely when river levels drop crabbing improves first in Sand Lake, Netarts and Coos Bays before improving in Oregon's other estuaries. The smaller estuaries the Chetco, Rogue, Salmon, and Necanicum are the first to be affected by seasonal flooding followed by the larger estuaries Coquille, Siuslaw, Alsea, Siletz, Nestucca, Nehalem, Yaquina, Tillamook, Coos, Netarts and the Lower Columbia River Estuary. Conversely when river levels drop crabbing improves first in Sand Lake, Netarts and Coos Bays before improving in Oregon's other estuaries. Columbia River Estuary: and scroll down the pages to view your area of interest: crabbing or fishing. The information on digging razor clams on Clatsop spit beaches is posted under Razor Clams. Necanicum River Estuary like the Salmon River Estuary is dominated by freshwater and crabbing productivity is limited to periods of extended clear weather. Digging razor clams at Seaside is the focus of recreational activity at the Necanicum River at Seaside. Cannon Beach: We need to hear from the diggers at Cannon Beach Nehalem Bay is one of Oregon's premier crabbing bays. The crabs enter Nehalem Bay along the channel that runs along the south side of the jetty channel. Tillamook Bay is Oregon's second largest bay and recreationally friendly. Crabbing, fishing and digging clams is very good in Tillamook Bay as shown the following video clip of 2 crabbers clean 4 limits of crabs at the Barview County Park. Avoid boating in the lower bay and jetty channel during the outgoing tide. Disabled boats are easily swept into the waves generated at the bar. Netarts Bay is noted more for the excellent crabbing and clam digging than for fishing. It is dangerous to attempt to cross the bar at Netarts Bay at anytime. Use caution when boating in the lower bay. The high velocity of the outgoing tide can pull a small boat across the bar into the surf........ Sand Lake is a multifunctional use area for off road vehicle use, hiking, fishing, crabbing and clam digging. Nestucca River Estuary: Salmon fishing for Chinook salmon is the focus on the Nestucca River Estuary. Economical R/V and tent space accommodations in the Three Capes Scenic Loop are extremely limited for the average fishermen. There are low cost alternatives to the high priced RV parks in Woods and Pacific City for R/V ers and tent campers. The Webb County RV Park is located just north of Kiwanda R/V Park and the Woods Campground and County Park is another low cost option for campers located nearby in Woods. Salmon River Estuary is unique. Visitors are surrounded by the incredible beauty of the flora and fauna every member of the family will embrace. Siletz Bay: Salmon fishing for Chinook salmon and excellent crabbing and digging purple varnish clam is the attractions at Siletz Bay. Depoe Bay Fishing and crabbing are the attractions here. Yaquina Bay Crabbing, Digging Clams and Fishing are the attractions here. Alsea Bay Crabbing, Salmon Fishing and Digging Clams are the attractions here. The Grim Reaper claimed another boater in the lower bay earlier this November foolish enough to get caught in the lower bay at the wrong time. His body washed out to sea and was never recovered. Siuslaw River Estuary Crabbing, Digging Clams and Fishing are the attractions here. Winchester Bay on the Umpqua River: The Crab Watch Report for the Umpqua River is provided by the outdoor reporter and writer, Pete Heley at the Stockade Market. Coos Bay - Oregon's premier crabbing, clam digging and fishing bay. Coquille Bay at the Port of Bandon Port Orford, Rocky Point and Other Small Estuaries Rogue River Estuary at Gold Beach A check of the Northwest River Forecast shows river levels for all of Oregon's rivers have returned to average levels. Look for river levels to rise with the return to seasonal rainfall beginning in late Fall into the Winter months. The smaller estuaries the Chetco, Rogue, Salmon, and Necanicum are the first to be affected by seasonal flooding followed by the larger estuaries Coquille, Siuslaw, Alsea, Siletz, Nestucca, Nehalem, Yaquina, Tillamook, Coos, Netarts and the Lower Columbia River Estuary. Conversely when river levels drop crabbing improves first in Sand Lake, Netarts and Coos Bays before improving in Oregon's other estuaries.
Click on Chetco River to display the height of the river level for the Chetco River near Brookings.
Click on the Illinois River level near Kerby. Click on the Rogue River levels. to view the river levels at Agate Dam, Grants Pass, at Raygold, Below Prospect, Lost Creek Dam, Near Agnes, Near Eagle Point, Near Mcleod, Near Prospect, Rogue River Valley Canal. Click on Rogue River to display the height of the river level for the Rogue River at Agnes Click on Coquille at Coquille to display the height of the river level for the Coquille River at Coquille Click on Coquille at Myrtle Point to display the height of the river level for the Coquille River at Myrtle Point Click on Siuslaw to display the height of the river level for the Siuslaw River near Mapleton. Click on North Umpqua River at the Winchester Dam to display the height of the river level at the Winchester Dam. Click on Umpqua River near Elkton to display the height of the river level for the Umpqua River near Elkton Click on Umpqua River at Reedsport to display the height of the river level for the Umpqua River at Reedsport Click on Alsea River at Lobster Creek to display the height of the river level for the Alsea River at Lobster Creek Click on Alsea River at Tidewater to display the height of the river level for the Alsea River – At Tidewater Click on Siletz to display the height of the river level for the Siletz River at Siletz Click on Nestucca to display the height of the river level for the Nestucca River near Beaver Click on Wilson for Tillamook to display the height of the river level for the Wilson River at Sollie Smith Bridge Click on Trask for Tillamook to display the height of the river level for the Trash River above Cedar Creek near Tillamook Click on Nehalem to display the height of the river level for the Nehalem River near Foss Click on the Northwest River Levels to view the height of the river level for the Columbia River. Click on FISHING INFORMATION to view all the fish species of interest to recreational fishermen found in Oregon's coastal waters. Saltwater News Bulletins You can subscribe to receive e-mails and text message alerts for marine topics that you are interested in. to sign up go to http://dfw.state.or.us/MRP/bulletins/index.asp and enter your phone for text alerts and e-mail information to subscribe to email updates. It’s easy to unsubscribe at any time. Your phone and e-mail information will remain confidential. Five different lists of interest to ocean enthusiasts are available: Bottomfish (recreational), Halibut (recreational), Ocean Salmon (recreational), Ocean Salmon (commercial troll) and Marine Reserves. Marine Reserves Prohibitions at Oregon’s marine reserves at Redfish Rocks and Otter Rock are in effect as of Jan. 1. Fishing, crabbing, clamming, hunting and gathering seaweed are all prohibited. Beach walking, surfing, bird watching, diving and other non-extractive uses continue to be allowed. See complete details and a map of the boundaries of the reserves: Our Response to Marine reserves: Let's see if we have it right. Umm, More Marine Reserves to protect essential marine habitat from encroachment for consumption. We are opposed the development of additional marine reserves because they prohibit the utilization of a renewable resource, marine species, for consumption. We love protecting essential marine habitat. As I recall we opposed NOAA’s plan to pound pilings into areas of Yaquina Bay with essential marine habitat and we opposed the natural gas docking facility in Coos Bay, again in an area of essential marine habitat. So where does that leave our support for development of the wave buoy energy program in areas of the ocean with soft bottoms? We oppose it for the same reasons proponents of Marine Reserves support them and the development of the Wave Energy Program. Bill ODFW Reports on 05/08 On 5/08 ODFW reported below PACIFIC OCEAN AND BEACHES: bottomfish, salmon, Dungeness crab, surfperch BOTTOM FISHING Starting April 1, bottom fishing is closed offshore of the 30-fathom line defined by latitude and longitude. Fishing for bottom fish continued to be good when weather and ocean conditions allowed fishers out on the ocean. Most anglers returned with limits of rockfish and lingcod. Fish Harvest Information
The fishing harvest information posted for each bay was compiled from the Recreational Fisheries Information Network a project of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and ODFW harvest tag records. The information posted for each bay and each fish species suggest fishing methods and discloses the migration patterns and run timings recorded over a period of decades. Boating Safety Click HERE and scroll down to Boating in Oregon's Coastal Waters and click on your bay of interest to view the boating hazards associated with boating in Oregon's Bays. Return to Oregon's Razor Clams Return to Oregon's Clams Return to Oregon's Crabs. Return to Oregon Coastal Rockfish. Return to Crab Max. Return to Crabbing 101. |
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