2023 Fishing Regulations in Oregon

There’s no doubt about it – Oregon offers some of the best fishing opportunities in the country! With popular sportfish to monster species roaming around the pristine waters, it’s an angler’s dream to visit Oregon to get some of that action!

But with amazing fishing opportunities also comes great responsibility and planning. Not only will you need to plan your trip and book a charter, but you’ll also need to be aware of the rules behind the sport.

That’s right, there are 2023 fishing regulations in Oregon you must follow to help with the population of various species. If you’re a bit overwhelmed with what the rules are, we give you a simple breakdown of major regulations to remember. Read on!

2023 Fishing Regulations in Oregon

As mentioned, learning all about the 2023 fishing regulations in Oregon can be quite overwhelming. For instance, certain species have strict open and closed seasons, along with bag limitations, which is why it’s crucial to stay updated with the ODFW.

Here are the important things to note ohe next time you’re fishing:

2023 Free Fishing Days

Free Fishing Days are considered days wwhenyou can fish without needing a license. This is the perfect opportunity for beginner anglers to try fishing without having to commit to purchasing a license.

In Oregon, 2023’s fishing days are as follows:

• President’s Day Weekend on February 18-19, 2023
• FThe firstweekend of June on June 3-4, 2023
• Thanksgiving weekend on November 24-25, 2023

Note that these dates are only applicable ftoOregon and that there are different free fishing days per state.

Fishing License

All anglers over 12 years old will need to buy a valid fishing license before they can cast their lines. The state takes conservation seriously, and you can see it in titslicensing process.
Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to avail aof  fishing license and there are various types to choose from depending on what you’ll be fishing. Do note that you may need to purchase additional endorsements, depending on where and what you’re fishing.

You can purchase a fishing license and other requirements online or in local shops. If you plan on joining a fishing charter, chances are you won’t need to avail aof  license as the charter already has one that covers all participants. Check with the charter captain before you purchase a license.

Bag and Possession Limits

Bag and possession limits will apply to all waters and across zone boundaries. They will also apply to all fish and shellfish in one’s possession in the field no matter their condition.

Here are the annual bag limits applying to the following species:

• White sturgeon: 2
• Pacific halibut: 6
• Salmon and steelhead: 20 when recorded on your Combined Angling Tag
• Hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead don’t count towards your salmon and steelhead limit provided it’s legally recorded on your Hatchery Harvest Tag.

As for the possession limit, this refers to the maximum number of fish you can lawfully possess in the field or when in transit to your place of permanent residence.

In Oregon, the possession limit is 3 daily bag limits for every species as well as jack salmon. Here are the following exceptions:

• Pacific Halibut: 1 daily bag limit on the vessel or 3 daily bag limits on la and
• All marine finfish, shellfish, and other marine invertebrates on the Marine Zone: 2 daily bag limits
• Fish from the Columbia River: 1 daily and annual bag limit
• There are no possession limits for adult steelhead and salmon

When fishing, there are also size limits you must take note of! Here are the size limits for the salmon and steelhead, two of the most popular targeted species in Oregon:

• Chinook Salmon: 14-24 inches for Jacks and over 24 inches for adults
• Coho Salmon: 15-20 inches for Jacks and over 20 inches for adults
• Sockeye Salmon: All are considered adults
• Steelhead: Longer than 16 inches in NW and SW zones and shorter than 20 inches in other zones
• Trout: Longer than 16 inches in NW and SW zones and shorter than 20 inches in other zones

Other General Restrictions

Here are other general restrictions and 2023 fishing regulations in Oregon you should know about. Mainly, these are unlawful activities you must not do:

• Use over one rod or line unless you have a two-rod validation, are younger than 12 years old, or angling outside three miles from shore
• Not attending to rods and tubes closely
• Use gurdies, winches, and reels affixed to boats to land fish unless when retrieving carb rings and pots
• Use drones, radio-controlled boats, and unmanned vehicles to aid in angling
• Snagging gamefish
• Angling through human-made ice holes over 12 inches long
• Attempting to take fish through chumming
• Angling for the same fish species even after reaching the bag limit
• Catching all or part of someone else’s bag limit unless it’s provided for through Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit
• Buying and selling fish or shellfish caught and taken for personal use,unless it is the skeletal remains of ocean food and eggs from ocean-caught salmon. If this is the case, you can sell them to licensed fish and bait dealers.
• Not releasing undersized, oversized, or unwanted fish species
• Wasting fish, shellfish, and other marine intertidal invertebrates
• Taking fish with radio tags
• Angling on private properties without permission
• Removing, altering, or stealing ODFW signs
• Taking fish from state and federal hatchery facilities

Wrapping It Up

We hope that you learned a lot about the 2023 fishing regulations in Oregon. Make sure you continue to stay updated with the new rules and changes that may come up before your trip

To help lessen your hassle about remembering all the regulations, you can book a fishing charter. The charter captain and crew are well-knowledgeable about the different 2023 fishing regulations in Oregon already, letting you know what is allowed and what isn’t. Contact us now for more details when booking a charter!