It’s Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon
Published 11:00 am Friday, February 16, 2024
- An angler casts his line out into the Grande Ronde River on Oct. 13. 2023, at the Wenaha Wildlife Area.
SALEM — This is Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon, so anyone can fish, clam or crab without a license anywhere in the state Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18.
Fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a combined angling tag, Columbia River Basin endorsement, two-rod Validation or Rogue-South Coast Steelhead validation/tag) are not required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free.
However, all other fishing regulations apply, including closures, bag limits and size restrictions, and will be enforced. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in-season regulation changes, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing.
Depending on water levels and conditions, fishing could be good for winter steelhead; again, be sure to check regulations first because not all rivers are open. Trout are also being stocked in the Willamette Valley and in the mid-coast area.
Currently, crabbing is open along the entire Oregon coast. Razor clamming is closed from Cape Blanco to the California border for high levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid.