Free Fishing, Clamming, Crabbing, Parking and Camping Day on Oregon Coast

Published 05/31/22 at 8:45 PM PST
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast) – Something is delightfully fishy along the Oregon coast this week, and throughout the whole of the state. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is hosting Free Fishing Day this first weekend in June, Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5. On those two days, no one will need a license to go fishing, clamming or crabbing. It's free, no cost involved – but you'll still have to stick to catch limits. (Above: Fishing Rock near Depoe Bay, photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

One of those days comes with free camping and parking in state parks, too: June 4 you won't have to pay for either.

Free Fishing Day is open to Oregon residents only, and it means no fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) will be required.

Along the Oregon coast, some of the area's most popular activities will be more wide open than usual. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) hosts free camping and parking for Oregon State Parks Day. About 26 of the over 100 state parks in Oregon charge parking fees, and those are all waived. These parks include Cape Lookout, Shore Acres near Coos Bay, Fort Stevens near Astoria and Nehalem Bay State Park, among others.

State Parks Day brings free RV and tent site camping as well as special events to the Oregon coast. A full list of parking fee parks is here.

This Oregon-grown holiday has been a tradition since 1998 as a way to thank Oregonians for their support of the state park system over many decades.

“State parks are here because Oregonians know our state parks are special. You’ve invested in them, helped care for them and kept them open to all. Thank you.” said OPRD Director Lisa Sumption. “This year’s State Parks Day is even more meaningful in light of our centennial. We hope you will come out and wish Happy 100th Birthday to Oregon State Parks.”

Among the special events includes one at Cape Blanco State Park near Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast. There, Cape Blanco Heritage Society will host a celebration of the state parks centennial and the 150th anniversary of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse. The event, scheduled at the lighthouse grounds, will feature live music, raffles, a lighthouse diorama presentation, food by the Rotary Club of Port Orford and a Coast Guard flyover at 2 p.m.

Fishing in Coos Bay, courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast

On June 4 and 5, crabbing and clamming get a sizable boost along these shores. At the moment, crabbing is open in coastwide in bays, beaches, estuaries, tidepools, piers and jetties along the entire Oregon coast and in the ocean.

Summer is prime for clamming because of low tides hitting the beaches and bays in late mornings and early afternoons. See MyODFW.com for even more.

However, there is a razor clamming closure from Cape Blanco down to the California border at this time because of domoic acid toxin levels in the clams.

For those headed to the Oregon coast, ODFW suggests surfperch fishing from the bank, bottomfish or halibut if the area where you are fishing is open. Surfperch can be especially scenic as you're doing this from the shore or from a rocky area.

For fishing regulations and any closures, see the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, which also includes bag limits and size restrictions (which still apply). See any shellfish closures

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