Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon beginning today and continuing through Saturday.
No fishing licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required to fish, crab or clam in Oregon on Nov. 27-28.
These two days have been set aside for free fishing for several years, as part of the #OptOutside movement encouraging people to get outdoors after Thanksgiving. Oregon State Parks also waives parking fees to provide free day-use entry on “Green Friday” the day after Thanksgiving.
Gov. Kate Brown has announced a two-week free from Nov. 18-Dec. 2 to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus. Recognizing that spending time outdoors with those in your household is safe, this freeze does not close outdoor areas like state parks.
All fishing and hunting seasons also remain open as scheduled. While fish hatcheries are closed to visitors, all Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife areas are open to visitors for hunting, fishing and viewing (though some hunt areas may be closed to protect migrating waterfowl and visitor centers are closed). Fish hatcheries will allow access to fishing grounds off-site as they are able during normal working hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) But parking may be more limited at some hatcheries; call the hatchery ahead of time if you have questions about access.
While Free Fishing also applies to nonresidents, nonresidents should not travel into Oregon just to fish. The governors of Oregon, Washington and California are asking nonresidents to quarantine for 14 days after they enter the state.
Although no licenses or tags are required Nov. 27-28, all other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations to find out more and remember to check for any in season regulation changes, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing, on the ODFW website.
