In a recent announcement, the Oregon Wildlife and Fisheries Department declared a special opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts in Oregon. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the state will host complimentary fishing days.
From November 24th to 25th, fishing enthusiasts are invited to partake in activities like fishing, clamming, and crabbing across Oregon. This offer is open to both residents and visitors and doesn’t require any fishing licenses or tags, including the Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement, and Two-Rod Validation.
While this event allows free access, the department emphasizes the importance of adhering to existing fishing regulations, including area closures, catch limits, and size restrictions. They also advise anglers, especially those targeting salmon and steelhead, to stay updated with the latest regulations by consulting the Oregon Fishing Recreation Report, which outlines the most promising fishing locations each week.
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The department also provides a beginner-friendly resource, the “Easy Angling Oregon” guide, highlighting numerous fishing spots throughout the state, including areas around Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg, and Lane County. Additionally, they offer information on crabbing and clamming.
Crabbing opportunities are available in various environments along the Oregon coast, such as bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers, and jetties. However, it is important to note that ocean crabbing remains closed from October 16th to November 30th annually. Also, specific coastal areas might be temporarily closed for razor clamming but are expected to be open during the Thanksgiving weekend.
These special free fishing days were introduced in 2016, following an Oregon state legislature decision, expanding beyond the traditional free fishing weekend in early June. This initiative was partly influenced by the #optoutside campaign by REI, which promotes outdoor activities rather than shopping on Black Friday. The department shared this information with KOIN 6 News, expressing their enthusiasm for the event.
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