Mid-August is when the north coast outdoor calendar starts to shift. Hatchery coho in the ocean is about to close south of Cape Falcon, fall Chinook are technically open in the Tillamook basin but still mostly at sea, razor clams require careful map-checking, and archery tags are available for only a short while longer.
Here’s a practical look at what state agencies are reporting this week.
Ocean Salmon
The recreational mark-selective hatchery coho season south of Cape Falcon is scheduled to close to coho retention at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, August 18. Managers reported that roughly three-quarters of the 47,600-fish quota had already been taken by early August, and leaving the season open to the original August 23 end date would likely exceed the limit.
Chinook fishing remains open south of Cape Falcon under a two-salmon daily bag with a 24-inch Chinook minimum. After the coho closure, managers will finish the catch accounting and may open a September any-coho fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain if unused quota allows. Anglers should check the latest ODFW ocean salmon updates before heading out, as quotas can change quickly.
The Bays and Rivers
Fall Chinook opened August 1 in the Tillamook basin (Tillamook Bay and the Miami, Kilchis, Wilson, Trask, and Tillamook rivers). ODFW’s recent Northwest Zone report notes that significant numbers of fish are not expected in the bay or rivers until later this month or into September. The in-season bag for adult wild Chinook is one per day and five for the season through November 30.
The Nehalem is the current local exception. It receives an early component of the fall Chinook run, and August is typically the peak for that bite. The Nehalem wild adult Chinook bag is also one per day and five for the season (July 1–November 30).
Summer steelhead have been fair to good on the Wilson and Nestucca, with fish spread through the fisheries. Water is low and clear, so early-morning fishing and a stealthy approach are recommended. Sea-run cutthroat are in tidewater and beginning to move upstream.
A few local closures to keep in mind:
Tillamook Bay and the Tillamook River upstream of the Highway 131 bridge are closed to all sturgeon angling, including catch-and-release.
Three Rivers from the mouth to the hatchery deadline is closed to angling July 16–September 30.
The Trask “hatchery hole” (200 feet above and 900 feet below Gold Creek at Trask Hatchery) is closed July 16–October 15. The hatchery access road has damage; park up top and walk down.
On Tillamook Bay, the North jetty remains the bank-angling option for rockfish and kelp greenling. The South jetty is still under repair.
Crab and Clams
Sport harvest of mussels, bay clams, and crab remains open coastwide, but anglers and diggers should call the Oregon Department of Agriculture shellfish safety hotline (800-448-2474) or check the ODA closures page before harvesting.
Razor clamming from the Washington line to Tillamook Head is closed for conservation until October 1 (unless biotoxins keep it shut). From Tillamook Head south to Cape Blanco—including local beaches such as Cape Meares—razors are open for biotoxin purposes but still subject to the hotline and ODFW rules.
Tillamook and Netarts crabbing has been fair from a boat and slow from the dock. Soft, recently molted male crab are common; they are legal but often lighter on meat. ODA continues to recommend gutting crab and discarding the “butter” before cooking.
The Oregon Health Authority maintains an advisory on softshell clams along the entire Oregon coast due to naturally occurring arsenic levels.
Hunting
General western Oregon archery for deer, and general archery for elk in units that remain open, runs August 29–September 27. The tag sale deadline for those general archery tags is August 28. Coast rifle elk seasons come later in November, and western Oregon any-legal-weapon deer season is October 3–November 6. Fall bear is already open.This overview is based on the most recent agency reports and is not a substitute for the current regulation booklet or in-season updates. Always verify the latest rules before heading out.
