From Sportfishing
Fish Report for 1-5-2024
Area north of Cape Falcon opens Feb.1 to commercial Dungeness crab fishing
1-5-2024
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
NEWPORT, Ore – Commercial Dungeness crab fishing from Cape Falcon to Klipsan Beach, Washington begins Feb. 1. A fourth round of pre-season testing shows male crabs in this area were not quite ready for a January opening. The additional time will allow crab to continue to fill with meat before harvest.
Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed or partially opened so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs are not wasted.
This year’s season was partially opened (Cape Foulweather to the California border) Dec. 16 after a delay due to low meat yield in areas north of Cape Foulweather. Once meat yield met criteria, commercial crabbing began Dec. 31 from Cape Foulweather to Cape Falcon.
Ocean conditions that affect molt timing, food availability and quality, and the number of crabs competing for food could all affect meat yield in different coastal areas.
ODFW tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the commercial Dungeness crab industry.
Weekly season opening updates are posted online until the decision to fully open the season is made.
Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. A history of Oregon’s commercial crab landings is available online.
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OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, January 3rd
• Sturgeon retention closed in Bonneville, The Dalles pools after Jan. 3
Grande Ronde River: Grande Ronde River Report
Wallowa Lake : Wallowa Lake Report
Wallowa River: Steelhead fishing should pick up throughout the winter on the Wallowa River
Crooked River: The Crooked continues to fish well this winter
Hood River: Winter steelhead are starting to show up in the Hood River
Detroit Reservoir: Water is again being released out of Detroit to maximize storage for the winter
Foster Reservoir: Currently the reservoir water looks unusually turbid
Santiam River ( North Fork) : North Fork Santiam River Fishing Report
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,300 cfs at the Waterloo gauge as of Jan. 3
Walter Wirth Lake: Walter Wirth Lake Report
Kilchis River: There should be a few winter steelhead showing up in the Kilchis
Miami River: Access is limited on the Miami
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River should have hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery and wild fish showing up this month as well
Nehalem River: The only opportunity on the mainstem Nehalem will be wild winter steelhead
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem has hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery
Nestucca River: The best fishing will likely still be in the lower mainstem
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should have hatchery steelhead showing up
Trask River: There are fish in the Trask and more should be showing up as the winter progresses
Wilson River: Fishing on the Wilson should just keep improving as the season goes on
Ben Irving Reservoir: No recent reports from Ben Irving
Chetco River: River conditions have been excellent
Coos River: Steelhead fishing has been good in the Coos Basin rivers
Coquille River: Steelhead anglers have been catching hatchery winter steelhead
Diamond Lake: Some near shore ice may be present on some days
Lake Marie: Still no recent reports from anglers at Lake Marie
Lemolo Lake: No recent reports and snow may limit access
Plat I Reservoir: Conditions remain the same at Plat I
Rogue River- Lower: Very few boat anglers, but bank fishing pressure has picked up
Sixes River: Anglers are reminded that anglers fishing for steelhead in the Sixes are required to have the new wild steelhead validations
Umpqua River: Some winter steelhead have been being caught from Elkton to River Forks
North Umpqua River: Some steelhead have been spotted moving up the North Umpqua
South Umpqua River : Winter steelhead have started moving into the South Umpqua
Ana Reservoir: This reservoir does not ice over in winter and is a good place to catch rainbow trout and hybrid bass
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is likely starting to freeze
John C Boyle Reservoir: Large goldfish up 12 inches are also abundant but rarely caught
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Fishing Report
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is ice free but is starting to freeze
Phillips Reservoir: If colder weather returns, the ice may begin to thicken
Pilcher Reservoir: Ice conditions may not be suitable for fishing because of the mild weather this winter
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir currently is about 75 percent full and should slowly fill through the winter
Unity Reservoir: Recently, folks have had some good fishing from the bank at Unity Reservoir
McCloud River: There has been some good midge and Blue Wing Olive hatches
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