Clam and Crab Watch
Recreational crabbing in the ocean resumed on 12/01 and has been very productive for those who have been able to cross the bar. Dungeness Crabs are common to areas of the ocean with a sandy bottom but prefer a mixed bottom of sand and mud and in areas with extensive eel grass beds.
Crabbing like other saltwater related activities is dependent on the tides. The most productive crabbing tides occur during the series of Neap tides followed by the minor tidal exchange of the Spring tides just prior to and after high or low slack tide as the current velocity diminishes. Crabbing is also productive during the incoming tide between the high low tide and the low high tide of the minor tidal exchange of Spring tides or Neap tides. Crabbing is unproductive during the outgoing tide especially during the high velocity of the tidal current generated during the major tidal exchange of Spring tides because the crabs bury themselves in the sand to escape the increased current velocity, and crab pots and rings can be lost in the increased velocity of the outgoing tidal current.
Florence at the Siuslaw River Estuary on 01/01 Ken from the Port of Siuslaw Campground at the water’s edge on the bay last reports: crabbing in the lower bay has been slow because of all the freshwater in the river. Crabbing from the City Docks ranges to fair in late summer and fall with lots of juvenile crabs in the mix. The crabbing from Siuslaw Bay public crabbing dock located at the end of the South Jetty Road is excellent from late spring until the freshwater from winter rains force the crabs out into the ocean………….Jay rents crab pots and rings. He also carries a line of fishing equipment and clam digging shovels.
Softshell clams are the primary clams of interest in the Siuslaw River Estuary. Some cockles are raked and some gaper clams are dug on the tidal flats below the Harbor Vista R/V Park. Click HERE to see the tide tables for 2009 at entrance to the bar at the Siuslaw River and HERE to see the tide tables for 2009 for the City Docks at Florence. Click HERE for the 10 day weather forecast at Florence. Click HERE to see the navigation hazards for crossing the Siuslaw River bar.
Winchester Bay on the Umpqua River: The Crab Watch Report is provided by the outdoor reporter and outdoor writer, Pete Heley at the Stockade Market.
On 01/06 Pete reports: Crabbing in the lower bay from the Coast Guard dock in Winchester Bay is slow. Today 2 crabbers from a boat caught 3 crabs per hour of effort……….. Click on the Umpqua Post to view Pete’s Outdoor Report. Click HERE for additional information on Pete’s books about fishing on the Oregon Coast. The Stockade Market carries a complete line of fishing and crabbing equipment.
Clam Digging: Softshell clams are the dominate clam species in the Umpqua River Estuary. The tidal flats associated with Bolon Island and Gardiner area offers the digger the best access. View a video of softshell clams being dug on the Umpqua River at Steamboat Island below Reedsport by clicking on Umpqua River Estuary to view the video clip showing one of the best methods for digging softshell clams.
Coos Bay – Oregon’s largest bay is a salt water dominated bay that holds crabs longer than any other of Oregon’s Bays. Coos Bay offer the most productive winter crabbing for any of Oregon’s Bays……..
On 01/05/11 ODFW reports: There has been little effort lately for people crabbing from boats but those that venture out are being rewarded with good size Dungeness crabs. Crabbing from the docks continues to be slow. Red rock crabs are the main harvest at Carleston http://www.charlestonmarina.com/ . The best crabbing docks have been the B/C and D/E docks in Charleston. The best baits for crabbing are fish, chicken or turkey legs. The best time to crab in the bays is best at slack tide and during periods of neap tides with minimal movement of water between the high low tide and low high tide.
On 01/06 Joe from the Bites On located at 750 Newmark Ave in Empire or (541) 888-4015 reports: crabbing from boats in inside the jetty channel to Crab Island has been red hot……… Crabbing from the docks continues to be slow. ……..Crabbing from the Charleston docks and Empire docks is slow for Dungeness crabs. Red rock crabs still remain the main harvest from the docks. The best crabbing docks have been the B/C and D/E docks in Charleston. Crabbing from boats in inside the jetty channel to Crab Island has been good. When crabbing gets going in side the bay crabbing is hot all to from the jetty channel up above the Empire boat launch. ……… Joe made the point to remind crabbers to move to another location if crabbing is unproductive. Joe rents rings for 5.00 a day and sells crab bait for a 1.50 a pop. The best baits for crabbing are fish, chicken or turkey legs. The best time to crab is three hours before high tide 1/2 hour after. Remember crabbing in the bays is best at slack tide and during periods of neap tides with minimal movement of water between the high low tide and low high tide. The weather forecast for the greater Coos Bay area changes frequently. Click HERE to view the 10 day weather forecast at Coos Bay. Click HERE to see the navigation hazards for crossing the bar at Coos Bay.
Coos Bay offers the most productive clam digging for all species of clams found in any of Oregon’s Bays. The clam digging in Coos Bay for gaper clams, cockles and butter clams is exceptional. Click HERE to view a video clip of cockles being raked in South Slough. The most productive clam digging tides for both bay clam and razor clams are to come and offer clam digger the opportunity to harvest the clams of choice. Click on the following link to view one of the more productive methods for digging gaper clams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMcXLr8kSds .
Low Spring Tides offer clam diggers the best opportunity to harvest both bay clams and razor clams. The harvest of empire/gaper clams has been good at the North Spit and Clam Island. The best harvest areas are Empire/Charleston along Cape Arago Highway, and within Charleston, north and south of the Charleston Bridge. Butter, gaper, and cockle clams are abundant in these areas. Razor clams are dug in the Coos Bay area from the Charleston Boat Basin Sand Spit, North Spit, Bastendorff, and to the northern section of the Seven Devils Wayside beaches. There are some positive reports for the digging productivity of razor clams. Razor clam diggers took clams from Bastendorff Beach and razor clam diggers were working the beach at North Beach over the weekend.
Click HERE to see the tide tables for 2009 at Charleston. Scroll down the desired month. Always check the Oregon Department of Agriculture Web site for any recent shellfish closures or (503) 986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474 toll free outside of Oregon.
Coquille Bay at the Port of Bandon:
On 01/01 Tony from Tony’s Crab Shack 541 347-2875 reports: crabbing is slowed on Webers pier as well as for crabbers from boats. The bay is stained a dirty brown…………….. The food Tony serves is great. the fish Tacos umm umm good. Tony’s cooks crabs for 50 cents per crab and backs them for an additional 25 cents per crab. Read Tony’s all encompassing Fishing Report in the Bandon Western World newspaper or the online edition at Bandon Western World. Bandon Western World. Tony makes a killer fish taco. Tony’s cooks crabs for 50 cents per crab and backs them for an additional 25 cents per crab.
On 01/01 Diane at Bandon Bait and Tackle 541-347-3905 reports: Crabbing is pretty slow in the bay………………. Bandon Bait is conveniently located next to the boat launch Bandon Bait shop rents clam shovels, poles, and crab rings plus sells rods, reels, bait, tackle, and ice. Fishing gear repair services are available as well as professional guided trips on the Coquille, Sixes, and Elk Rivers. They also sell hamburgers, fish and chips, and fried prawns.
Bandon usually remains productive until the bay blows out with turbid brown stained water. Softshell clams dominate the tidal flats of the Coquille River Estuary at Bandon. Click HERE to see the tide tables for 2009 at the Port of Bandon. Scroll down the desired month. Click HERE for the 10 day weather forecast at Bandon. Click HERE to see the navigation hazards for crossing the bar at the Coquille River.
Clam digging in Coquille Bay is limited to digging softshell clams. The softshell clam beds are located in the bay above Bandon and a very limited number of littleneck and gaper clams are located in the lower bay along the south shore. Some purple varnish clams are dug from the large tidal flat on the north side fo the bay at the entrance to Bandon Marsh. Mussels are picked from the riprap along the south jetty during a minus tide. Razor clams are dug along the beach south of Coquille Point
Port Orford is the only port in Oregon that offers year around crabbing in the Ocean from a dock facility. Crabbing productivity varies from day to day and with the season. Recreational boaters do crab in the ocean south of the port in 60 to 80 feet of water. Click HERE to see the tide tables for 2009. Click HERE to see the 10 day weather forecast at Port Orford. Click HERE to see the unfavorable harbor conditions at Port Orford. We have asked the good folks at Port Orford docks repeatedly for information about crabbing and fishing from their docks but with no response. Bill
Razor clams in Southern Oregon: Click on the following link to view the location of the most productivity razor clam digging beaches south of Seaside. http://www.goldbeachoregon.com/recreation/beaches/meyers-beach.html
We need input on the razor clam digging conditions in Southern Oregon. Do you part contribute by sharing your clam digging experiences with us at williamlackner001@msn.com.
Chetco Bay, Brookings: the Port of Brookings Harbor has no current information availale from both public of private resources; however, the port does have a public fishing and crabbing dock.
Rogue River Estuary at the Port of Gold Beach allows crabbing from the marina docks but crab pots and rings cannot be left soaking over night and children under must wear lifejackets. You must provide your own lifejackets for your children. Crabbing from the marina docks has been good this summer and fall.
The Chetco and Rogue River Estuaries are comparatively small and it does not take much rainfall to raise the river levels enough to force crabs to move out into the open ocean. The bay clams common to Oregon’s Bay are not present in Brookings Harbor or in the Rogue River Estuary in large enough numbers to be of interest to recreational clam diggers. Click HERE to see the tide tables for 2009 at Bandon, Chetco Cove. Scroll down the desired month. Click HERE for the 10 day weather forecast at Brookings. Click HERE to see the navigation hazards for crossing the bar of the Chetco River.
