July 31, 2024
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Always check for closures at the ODA Shellfish Safety page before harvesting shellfish, which includes clams, crabs and mussels.
Announcements
Mark your crab buoys
Crabbers must mark all surface buoys with the owner's full name or business name and at least one of the following: phone number, permanent address, ODFW ID number, or vessel identification number. Remember to always maintain gear to ensure lines and buoys are in good working condition. See details here.
Bay clams
Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for bay clamming. Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
With summer in full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to get out in the mud and go clamming! Grab a shovel or rake and your shellfish license. Butter, co*ckle and gaper clams are waiting to be dug. Monitor the weather forecast and the swell and surf advisories before going out to make sure you can safely clam.
Check out the Where to Clam articles for places to find bay clams. You can also get more clamming maps here.
Beaver State Podcast: Bay clamming with Mitch Vance
Take a bay clamming trip with Mitch Vance, ODFW shellfish program leader, to learn about different clams and some of the challenges to be ready for when you clam.
Mussels
Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for mussels. Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Mussels, like clams, are filter feeders and those who like eating clams are likely to find mussels just as delicious. Mussels attach to rocks and other permanent habitat in the intertidal zone, so it is best to go looking for them during a low tide. When harvesting, wear gloves and use a twisting motion to pull mussels off rocks. Be careful when harvesting by the ocean and watch for sneaker waves. Each harvester will need a shellfish license and their own bucket. Learn more here.
Razor clams
Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for razor clamming. Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Reminder: The annual conservation closure for razor clams from the WA border to Tillamook Head is July 15 to Sept. 30.
Spring and summer harvesting of razor clams can be a rewarding endeavor. Unlike the fall and winter, low tides are in the mornings and visibility is much better. Typical to the Oregon coast, the spring and summer brings better weather, which allows harvesters to see razor clams "showing" more readily.
Harvesters will still need to make sure to monitor swell and surf advisories as well as predicted wind prior to harvesting. Combined seas greater than 10 feet and winds greater than 20 mph will make harvesting difficult for all, including the most experienced harvester. Spring and summer harvesting can be greatly improved if harvesters actively "pound" to make clams show.
See this article for more information on razor clams, including how to harvest.
Beaches
Other areas such as Indian Beach (Cannon Beach); Cannon Beach; Cape Meares Beach (Tillamook); Agate Beach (North of Newport); North Beach and South Beach (Newport); Waldport Beach; North Umpqua Spit (Winchester Bay); Bastendorff Beach and North Spit (Coos Bay); Whiskey Run (Bandon); and Meyers Creek Beach (Gold Beach) will also have razor clams.
Oregon State Parks have tide tables post on their website.
Crabs
Please check the regulation update section above for those areas of the Oregon coast that are open for crabs. Always call the ODA shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or ODA shellfish closures website before harvesting for the most current information about shellfish safety closures.
Crabbing in Newport and Waldport has been good. Crabbers are currently seeing a mix of hard and soft crabs.
When there has been a lot of rain, crabbing in bays is typically not good since the surge of fresh water from the rivers forces the crab to retreat to the saltier water of the ocean.
Shore and dock crabbing can be a great activity during the summer months. A good tool to try is the "castable folding crab trap." Usually attached to a fishing pole, these traps are great for kids because they are lightweight and can catch crab within minutes. No heavy pulling or long wait times! They are available for purchase at most local stores. Happy crabbing!
Some crabbers in estuaries may also encounter non-native European green crab in their catch. While they look similar to Oregon's native shore crabs, identify them by the three prominent bumps between the eyes and 5 spines down each side of their body (carapace). They are not always green and color is not a good identifying feature. The daily catch limit for European green crab is 35 per person per day. European green crab can be any size or sex. Learn more about this species.
Want to know more about the invasive green crab and how you can help? Check out Invasive European green crabs threaten Northwest shellfish industries produced by the Oregon Field Guide on PBS.
