2024 ODFW Fishing Regulations
Southwest Zone
Chetco River
Mouth to Nook Cr
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Open for Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Mar 31 and May 22 - Dec 31.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season (see page 35).
- Gear Restriction: Angling restricted to fly fishing (must include a strike indicator) or bobber fishing from RM 2.2 to Nook Cr Sep 1 - Nov 3. (See Salmon/Steelhead Bobber Fishing Rule General Statewide Regulations).
Above Nook Cr
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
Elk River
Mouth to Bald Mt Cr
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Mar 31.
- Open for Chinook salmon May 22 - Dec 31.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
Euchre Creek
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
Floras Creek and New River
- Open for hatchery steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and May 22 - Dec 31.
- Open for Chinook salmon May 22 - Dec 31, mouth to bridge at MP 1.5 on Floras Cr Rd.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
- Artificial flies and lures only.
Hubbard Creek and Tributaries (Curry Co.)
- Closed.
Hunter Creek
Mouth to North Fork
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for Chinook salmon Oct 1 - Dec 31, mouth to Mateer Bridge; Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
- Closed for trout.
- Closed to angling on tributaries.
Mussel / Myrtle Creek and Tributaries (Curry Co.)
- Closed.
Myers Creek and Tributaries
- Closed.
Pistol River
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for Chinook salmon May 22 - Dec 31, mouth to Deep Cr; Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
Rogue River
The following apply to open sections from mouth to Cole Rivers hatchery dam: *
- Open for hatchery rainbow trout Jan 1 - Mar 31 and May 22 - Dec 31.
- 5 hatchery rainbow trout per day.
- Wild rainbow trout and cutthroat trout must be released.
- Open all year for hatchery steelhead.
- Wild steelhead over 24 inches may be harvested Feb 1 - Apr 30; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open all year for hatchery coho salmon.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
- Gear Restriction: Any attached weight may be no more the 6ft above the lower most hook, in addition to statewide Hook and Weight regulations (General Statewide Regulations).
* Mouth to Hog Cr boat ramp
- Wild steelhead over 24 inches may be harvested Jan 1 - Apr 30 and Dec 1-31; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - May 31.
- Open for Chinook salmon Jun 1 - Dec 31.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies and lures Sep 1 - Oct 31 from Foster Cr to Whisky Cr.
- Closed from ODFW markers 400 ft below Rainie Falls to Rainie Falls (RM 66).
* Hog Cr boat ramp to Fishers Ferry boat ramp
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - May 31.
- Open for Chinook salmon Jun 1 - Sep 30.
- Use of bait allowed.
- Closed for Chinook salmon Oct 1 - Dec 31.
- Closed from Gold Hill boat ramp (RM 121) up to Gold Hill municipal water intake.
* Fishers Ferry boat ramp to Dodge Bridge
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Jun 30.
- Open for Chinook salmon Jul 1 - Aug 31.
- Artificial flies and lures only Nov 1 - Dec 31.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies Sep 1 - Oct 31, no added weights or attachments except a bubble or similar floating device attached to the line.
- Closed for Chinook salmon Sep 1 - Dec 31.
* Dodge Bridge to Shady Cove Park boat ramp
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Jul 31.
- Artificial flies and lures only Nov 1 - Dec 31.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies Sep 1 - Oct 31, no added weights or attachments except a bubble or similar floating device attached to the line.
- Closed for Chinook salmon Aug 1 - Dec 31.
* Shady Cove Park boat ramp to Hwy 62 bridge at McGregor Park
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Jul 31.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies Sep 1 - Oct 31, no added weights or attachments except a bubble or similar floating device attached to the line.
- Closed for Chinook salmon Aug 1 - Dec 31.
* Hwy 62 bridge at McGregor Park to ODFW markers 1,200 ft below fish ladder entrance markers (RM 157) at Cole Rivers Hatchery
- Open for hatchery Chinook salmon Jan 1 - Jul 31.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies Sep 1 - Oct 31, no added weights or attachments except a bubble or similar floating device attached to the line.
- Closed for Chinook salmon Aug 1 - Dec 31.
- Closed from 8pm to one half hour before sunrise Apr 1 - Jul 31.
- Closed to all angling in the Cole Rivers Hatchery outflow channel to confluence with the main river channel.
* ODFW markers 1,200 ft below fish ladder entrance markers (RM 157) to Cole Rivers Hatchery Dam
- Closed to all angling from Apr 1 - Jul 31.
- Closed for Chinook salmon all year.
- Use of bait allowed except restricted to artificial flies Sep 1 - Oct 31, no added weights or attachments except a bubble or similar floating device attached to the line.
- No angling from a floating device.
- Closed from ODFW markers below fish ladder entrance to hatchery dam.
Cole Rivers Hatchery Dam to Lost Cr Dam
- Catch-and-release all year.
- Fly fishing only, barbless hooks required.
Mainstem and tributaries above Lost Cr Dam
- Open all year for trout, 5 per day (brook and brown trout not included in bag limit).
- Only 1 trout over 20 inches per day, no steelhead present all rainbow trout are considered trout.
- Use of bait allowed.
Sixes River
Mouth to Edson Cr
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for Chinook salmon May 22 - Dec 31.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
Edson Cr to South Fork
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
Winchuck River
Mouth to Wheeler Cr
- Open for steelhead Jan 1 - Mar 31 and Dec 1-31.
- Wild steelhead may be harvested; 1 per day and 3 per season.
- Open for Chinook salmon May 22 - Dec 31.
- Wild Chinook regulations are determined on an annual basis. Visit myodfw.com
- No angling from a floating device.
- Gear Restriction: Angling restricted to fly fishing (must include a strike indicator) or bobber fishing Sep 1 - Nov 3 (See Salmon/Steelhead Bobber Fishing Rule General Statewide Regulations).
Marine Zone Highlights
Ocean Salmon
Seasons and bag limits are announced in April/May. The 2023 ocean salmon sport regulations are now available on the ocean salmon webpage.
Pacific Halibut
October 31 is the last day for the 2023 recreational Pacific halibut fishery. The quota for 2024 will be available from the International Pacific Halibut Commission in late January 2024. Preliminary staff recommended season dates will be available late February.
Additional information on halibut fisheries can be found on the recreational halibut webpage.
Rockfish / Cabezon / Lingcod / Etc.
Information for the 2023 sport bottomfish regulations can be found on the sport bottomfish webpage.
Surfperch
15 fish aggregate of all species per day.
Flatfish
25 fish in aggregate. Flatfish refers to flounders, soles, sanddabs, and California halibut.
Note: Skates and rays are not “flatfish”. See the 2023 sport bottomfish regulations.
Tuna and other offshore pelagic species
25 fish per day.
Fishing in the Marine Zone
Pacific Halibut
Halibut can get big – upwards of 100 pounds and almost 70-inches long – making them one of the most popular marine fish. Hauling in these sometimes huge, very flat fish can be back-breaking work, but the reward is a delicious fish large enough to feed more than a few family members and friends. Halibut seasons are announced in February, and fishing generally occurs from May through August, but can last into October. These are quota fisheries that can close early, so it’s important to double-check the open dates before fishing. If you're up for a halibut fishing adventure, but you don't have a boat or halibut gear, there are charter boats in most Oregon ports that can take you out for a day of fishing.
Ocean Salmon
Before they enter fresh water to spawn, ocean coho and Chinook stage in coastal waters near the mouths of bays and rivers. Ocean salmon seasons are announced in May, and fishing is usually best in July and August as migrating coho and feeder Chinook salmon are readily available. Many of the ocean salmon seasons are based on quotas and may close early, so it’s important to double-check the status of the fishery before fishing. Charter fleets in several Oregon ports offer salmon fishing trips.
Surfperch
Surfperch are the perfect ocean fish for anglers who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground. These disc-shaped fish can reach up to 15 inches and come in a variety of colors. Fish for redtail and silver surfperch in the surf off sandy beaches. Striped and pile perch congregate near rocks, jetties, docks and pilings in the bays. There is a liberal bag limit for surfperch (up to 15 fish per day including all species). But since we don’t know a lot about surfperch populations, we recommend you keep only enough for a good meal (they are excellent eating) and release the rest.
Rockfish
Ranging in color from black to orange or red, more than two dozen species of rockfish are found along the Oregon coast. Many rockfish species are full-size at about 16 inches (41 cm). Some species, such as black rockfish, hang out in schools while others are solitary. Individuals of some species can live more than 100 years. Rockfish can be caught from jetties, but most are taken by boat in deeper ocean waters. Charter fleets in several Oregon ports offer day-long rockfish fishing trips.