Good weather allowed some fishers to venture out into the ocean this week.

Average catches of rockfish were about two per angler coastwide. Species illustrations and descriptions are in the The Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (page 98) and The Red Rockfish Identification Guide.

About one in two of the fishers going after lingcod were successful except out of Newport where success was one fish per angler. The minimum length for lingcod is 22 inches, for cabezon it is 16 inches and for greenling it is 10 inches. Fishing for cabezon from a boat is closed, but cabezon may still be caught from shore and by shore-based divers.

Fishing for bottom fish outside of the 40-fathom curve opened to anglers on Oct. 1. Remember: yellow eye rockfish and canary rockfish may not be retained. Also, the Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area approximately 15 miles west of Newport is closed to the harvest of rockfish, ling cod and flat fish.

The marine daily bag limit for 2007 is six fish (including rockfish, greenling and other marine species) and two lingcod and 15 surfperch. Complete regulations are in the 2007 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and other Marine Fish Species.

Fishing for Pacific halibut north of Humbug Mt. is closed for the year.

All salmon in the ocean closed Oct. 31 except: Tillamook Fall Chinook Terminal fishery from Pyramid Rock on the south to Twin Rocks on the north and out three miles, which is open until Nov. 15, and the Elk River Ocean Terminal Fall Chinook Salmon Fishery from Humbug Mountain on the south to Cape Blanco on the north and out three miles, which is open until Dec. 15.

Clams

A series of minus tides in the evening starting Oct. 25 and continuing through the end of the month will provide good opportunity for clam diggers with lanterns. The entire Oregon coast is open for the harvest of razor clams. The daily limit for razor clams is the first 15 taken regardless of size or condition.

More information on Oregon’s razor clams, including tips on how to dig razor clams

Mussel harvesting is closed from north of Siletz Bay to the Columbia River. All other shellfish species are open at this time. shellfish hotline, 503-986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474

Information on domoic acid

recreational bay clams

Crabs

Crabbing is closed in the ocean until Dec. 1, but bays and estuaries remain open. Crabbing success is good, but many crab have recently molted and have a “soft shell” condition. This causes the crab meat to be watery and of poor quality. Check for this by gently squeezing a leg section closest to the crab’s body. If it doesn’t feel hard, it’s a good idea to let him go so he can fill up with meat. For sport crabbers the minimum size for Dungeness crab is 5¾ inches measured in a straight line across the back immediately in front of, but not including, the points. For a photograph and diagram see page 97 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.