Oregon ocean crabbing closes Oct. 16–Nov. 30; bays stay open

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Oct. 15, 2026, Crabbing and Clamming Report for the Marine Zone says ocean waters close to crabbing from Oct. 16 through Nov. 30. Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers, and jetties stay open year-round unless a toxin closure or a permanent rule applies. Check Oregon Department of Agriculture Shellfish Safety before harvesting; the hotline is 1-800-448-2474.

Razor clams are closed coastwide from the Washington border to the California border. Bay clams are open coastwide, and an ODFW advisory remains for the Alsea Bay estuary to avoid softshell and bay clams there. Mussels are open coastwide; still check ODA before harvest.

Port notes on the report: Tillamook is slow from boat and dock; Netarts is fair; Newport is fair from a boat and good for red rock crab from the dock; Waldport is fair; Charleston is slow from a boat and fair from the dock. Soft, recently molted male crab are common, and freshwater after rain can push crabs toward saltier ocean water. The European green crab daily limit is 35 of any size or sex.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: ODFW — Crabbing and clamming report, Marine Zone (Oct. 15, 2026).