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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 12:19:37 GMT
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 12:29:46 GMT
Crabbing at the Embarcadero for Dungeness Crabs on 10/25/17 was a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze during the morning of the eclipse, Neap tides and accommodating crabs blessed our efforts to catch enough crabs to make a delicious Crab Louie.   
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 12:42:17 GMT
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 12:43:58 GMT
Crabbing Eclipsed Our Expectations on the morning of the Eclipse.   The crabbing in Yaquina Bay was great for my friend CJ and I. We managed to bag 17 Dungeness crabs during the 3 hours we crabbed from the dock using chicken legs and thighs baited to 4 Crab Max crab traps. This was CJ’s first crabbing adventure, and proves you are never too old to embark on a new adventure.
We used Bill’s method to determine if the crabs were too soft to keep. CJ squeezed the first segment of the first walking leg to see if the shell gave when he applied pressure to it. If the first segment of the first walking leg gives return the crab to the bay. If the shell of the first walking segment is hard grasp the crab from behind holding the crab between your fingers and thump. Position your thumb in the middle of crab’s abdominal flap and gently squeeze. If the abdominal flap compresses the crab is not completely full, either keep the crab or return it to the bay. We recommend returning all soft crab to the bay.
We kept 17 Dungeness crabs and 1 medium sized red rock crab. We did not catch any large red rock crabs and CJ wanted to take one home to taste the difference in the crab meat between Dungeness crabs and red rock crabs. We returned a half of dozen legal sized Dungeness Crabs with soft first walking leg segments to the bay and kept all the others. Click on the images to enlarge them.
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Post by Admin on Oct 26, 2017 23:56:49 GMT
Crabbing in Yaquina Bay, "Oh boy!" I repeated to myself when I entered the new information on the crabbing report for Yaquina Bay of twelve crabs per crabber for four crabbers. I loaded up my stuff and hit JC Market for some chicken legs and headed for the crabbing dock. It was a dream come true when I pulled my first crab trap: one legal sized Dungeness crab. Boy oh boy my body quit hurting as the adrenalin rush chased the pain away.
Well there was a young lady crabbing and her catch was a little on the skinny side, but by the time I had finished crabbing she had caught enough crab for her and her husband to enjoy a great Crab Louis.
I was able to clean the six crabs in three minutes using Zach's method from the Big Spruce in Netarts Bay
On 09/23 crabbing at the Embarcadero at their Newport Resort Facility With help from my son we set the three crab pots on the evening 09/22 and left them to soak them overnight to soak. Previously we observed a crabber pull a box pot containing more than a 12 legal sized Dungeness crabs. The sight upped our level of enthusiasm so I purchased 3 of the box traps. We have set the pots 3 times and caught 2 legal sized Dungeness crabs; not quite the result we expected. Considering the loss crabbers experience leaving pots at public docks setting the pots out overnight is not worth all the effort expended. I invited my friends Jessica and Shawn to learn how to crab at the Embarcadero. We had a great morning crabbing and managed to take 7 Dungeness crabs and 4 red rock crabs.
On 09/16/17 accompanied by my son Scott, we crabbed from the crabbing dock at the Embarcadero. We managed to take 6 Dungeness crabs using 3 Crab Max Crab Traps. We set 3 crab pots to soak overnight. The Embarcadero's crabbing dock is closed from 11:00 pm to 7:30 am. We will pull our pots tomorrow morning.
9/16/17 Randy from Harry's Bait and Tackle at 541 265 2407 reports Crabbing for Dungeness crabs from the docks is slow Crabbing from boats has improved to mixed.
On 08/21/17 in the morning prior to the eclipse we took 17 Dungeness crabs from the Embarcadero crabbing dock. We began crabbing when the dock opened at 07:30 and quit after the eclipse was over.
On 07/06/17 I took a little time to give crabbing a try. Not the results I wanted. I only managed to take 1 legal but soft shell crab; so, I returned it to the bay.
As shown in the following video clip, Crabbing in Yaquina Bay, September is the go to month for crabbing productivity on the Oregon Coast.
Crabbing from the crabbing dock in Southbeach at Newport.
On 09/08/16 my friends Dutch ad Wally took limits of Dungeness crabs from lower Yaquina Bay.
The most productive crabbing usually occurs in the lower portion of the saltwater dominated bays, Coos Bay and Netarts Bay. Crabbers in Oregon’s Bays have to deal with the high river flows common during the rainy season usually from November through April. Crabbing in the smaller estuaries is over until next spring or early summer unless we have an extended period of dry weather.
Coastal river levels typically double or triple during the first series of large seasonal storms that roll up the Oregon Coast usually during the Fall months of the year. The deluge often includes the remnant from storms generated in Hawaii. The increased river flows are enough to move crabs out of all but the saltwater dominated bays, Coos Bay and Netarts Bay. Crabbing productivity declines smaller bays like the Chetco Cove, Rogue River Estuary, Necanicum River Estuary and Nestucca Bay followed by the larger bays.
A check of the Northwest River Forecast to view river levels for all of Oregon's rivers. Look for river levels to rise with the return to seasonal rainfall beginning in late Fall into the Winter months. River gages are an essential component of forecasting river levels for fishermen, hunters and those who depend on the information to utilize their activities on the water. The Yaquina River is one of the Pacific NW Rivers that does not have a river gage.
The smaller estuaries the Chetco, Rogue, Salmon, and Necanicum are the first to be affected by seasonal flooding followed by the larger estuaries Coquille, Siuslaw, Alsea, Siletz, Nestucca, Nehalem, Yaquina, Tillamook, Coos, Netarts and the Lower Columbia River Estuary. Conversely when river levels drop crabbing improves first in Sand Lake, Netarts and Coos Bays before improving in Oregon's other estuaries.
Click on the Northwest River Levels to view the height of the river level for the Columbia River. Click on Nehalem to display the height of the river level for the Nehalem River near Foss. Click on Trask for Tillamook to display the height of the river level for the Trash River above Cedar Creek near Tillamook. Click on Wilson - Tillamook to display the height of the river level for the Wilson River at Sollie Smith Bridge. Click on Nestucca to display the height of the river level for the Nestucca River near Beaver. Click on Siletz to display the height of the river level for the Siletz River at Siletz. Click on Alsea River at Tidewater to display the height of the river level for the Alsea River – At Tidewater. Click on Alsea River at Lobster Creek to display the height of the river level for the Alsea River at Lobster Creek. Click on Umpqua River at Reedsport to display the height of the river level for the Umpqua River at Reedsport. Click on Umpqua River near Elkton to display the height of the river level for the Umpqua River near Elkton. Click on North Umpqua River at the Winchester Dam to display the height of the river level at the Winchester Dam. Click on the South Umpqua River at Roseburg to display the height of the river level at Roseburg. Click on Siuslaw to display the height of the river level for the Siuslaw River near Mapleton. Click on the height of the river level for the Coquille River – At Coquille. Click on the height of the river level for the Coquille River – At Myrtle Point. Click on the Chetco River – Near Brookings to view the height of the river near Brookings. Click on the height of the river level for the Rogue River – At Agnes, and on the Illinois River at Kriby. Click on the Summary of river levels to view and identify your river of interest in the Pacific Northwest. Click on the following link to view the level of the river gages in the Rogue River watershed. Click on the river levels at Agate Dam, Grants Pass, at Raygold, below Prospect, Lost Creek Dam, near Agnes, near Eagle Point, near Mcleod, near Prospect and the Rogue River Valley Canal.
Sawyers Landing is the only private marina and RV Park on Yaquina Bay. Sawyer's Landing is three miles east of Newport. Sawyer's can be reached at 265 3907. Sawyer's cooks crabs for a six dollar minimum charge for 12 or fewer crabs. Sawyer's Landing operates the only boat sling operating on any of Oregon's Bays.
Last winter during November Crabbers from the Longview Hills Fishing Club scored limits of Dungeness crabs on Yaquina Bay just in time of Thanks Giving, "Today Mike and I went crabbing in Yaquina Bay. The weather was lousy but the crabbing was great. We got our limit (24) and were home by 3:30 pm. All that remains now is to pick the crabs. Yuk!! Thanks Mike for a fun day. Don" Don made the point that picking crabs is Yuk! Shaking crabs makes picking crabs a lot easier as demonstrated in the follow video clips.
How to humanely kill Dungeness and red rock crabs is the question my wife wants me to answer. She can't stand to see anything suffer. Striking the Thoracic ganglion with a crab mallet kills the crab immediately. The crab does not suffer as it would if submerged in boiling water and neither does my wife. Killing and backing the crabs prior to cooking them shortens the total time it takes to cook and clean large numbers of crabs.
Click on the video clip to view a professional crab shaker picking a Dungeness crab. Using this method cuts the time to pick a crab in half.
Oh Boy, What a great day to Crabbing in Yaquina Bay with my Grandsons, Brandon and Zach. The score was 3 Dungeness crabs and 0 red rock crabs.
 
Additional Information for Crabbing From the Coastal Waters of the Pacific Rim:
Click on the following links for additional information about taking crabs in the Pacific Northwest. Click on ODFW's website crab page or click on Washington State's information on recreational crabbing or click California's information on recreational crabbing. Click on Alaska's comments on Dungeness Crabs and on permits and regulations for SE Alaska. Click on Dungeness Crabs at Netarts Bay. Click on Species Profile for Dungeness Crabs PDF file. Click on Species Profile for Red Rock Crabs to view PDF file. Click on Dungeness and Red Rock Crabs to view information on taking crabs from Oregon's Bays and ocean water.
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Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2018 4:05:41 GMT
Crabbing 01/06/18 Click on the image twice to enlarge it.
Crabbing with my friend Dustin at Yaquina Bay.
My friend Dustin is an avid fisherman and fishes the Upper Rogue out of his family home in Ashland.
At my age I have to restrict my fishing adventures to easy access fishing platforms like boats or very short hikes to the edge of a river or lake. So I pretty much limit my activities to crabbing and digging clams. In early December my crabbing adventures were interrupted by the Cold from Hell. Today I took advantage of a break in the weather to plan a crabbing trip to the Embarcadero Resort Hotel.
Armed with five pound of chicken legs and three Crab Max crab traps each we arrived at the Embarcadero crabbing dock. We crabbed for several hours until running out of chicken. We scored on six Dungeness Crabs and seven red rock crabs. The next time I crab with a friend I will bring ten pounds of chicken legs. Bill
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2018 14:54:42 GMT
Clan Digging in Yaquina Bay   Digging for Bay Clams in Yaquina Bay requires the proper equipment, skill and a low enough tide to provide the time to accomplish your goals.
On 06/25/2017 My friends dug limits of butter clams in Yaquina Bay.
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Post by Admin on Sept 23, 2018 14:57:14 GMT
Clan Digging in Yaquina Bay
On 07/03 my friend Roger celebrated the 4th of July weekend with our own fireworks by digging bay clams from Yaquina Bay.
On 06/05 I ran into clam digger Bob and his wife at the boat ramp in Newport. They were there to dig for gaper clams and do some crabbing. They are new to digging Oregon's bay clams but to their credit and my appreciation they refilled the holes they dug. Kudos to you both While at the boat dock
I spoke to two ODFW catch recorders and they both confirmed that crabbing has been slow in the bay but productive in the ocean. I was there with my friend Walter to photograph the proper way to safely deploy a crab pots and crab rings. Walter dug a limit of gaper clams while I tried using a Crab Max to crab from shore prior to deploying our crab pot for photographs. Walter and I failed to catch any keeper sized Dungeness crabs. However, once Bob and his wife finished digging limits of gaper clams at the sea wall they caught 9 rock hard Dungeness crabs.
  
Bob attributes his fine catch to good luck but the limit catch by 3 crabbers in the area of the bay where Bob caught his crabs. I would have to say that crabbing in Yaquina Bay is pretty good.
Hi Bill
Thanx for the advice and pics. We had a a bit of luck with the crabs over on the south side just up stream of the NOAA docks. Got 9 keepers, mostly really good size. 2 soaks of 2 pots in about an hour and a half. Bob. Click on the image to view in full size.
Bob gives advice to his wife, Kathleen on how to dig gaper clams
Kathleen shows just how easy it is to dig gaper clams using the digging methods shown above.
Digging gaper clams using a shovel takes experience and technique to properly dig gaper clams without breaking one shell after another. This video clip provides the heads up information for digging gaper clams from the mixed substrate comprise of mud and sand.
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Post by Admin on Sept 26, 2018 19:07:31 GMT
Oregon's Clam Chowder: simply the best there is!!! Click on the images to enlarge them.   The first photo is a bowl of cleaned butter clams. The second photo is of the roux and in the third photo a pot of paradise, Oregon's Clam Chowder
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Post by Admin on Sept 26, 2018 19:08:13 GMT
   In the first image I am holding two gaper clams dug from the tidal flats that is now the location of the NOAA facility. In the second image my friend pose with the gaper clams they dug at the Sea Wall. Walt and his granddaughters pose with the bay clams dug from the tidal flats at Idaho Point. |
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2018 2:16:01 GMT
Fishing in Yaquina Bay and the Tidal Reach of the Yaquina River.
The central Oregon Coast has the highest catch ratio of rockfish per angler on the Oregon Coast according to statistical catch information compiled by the National Marine Fishery Service. Yaquina Bay’s proximity to productive fishing grounds and the large charter fishing fleet serving anglers out of Yaquina Bay and Depoe Bay is the reason for the high catch ratio.
The fishing for rockfish is excellent north along the Yaquina Reef and south along the South Reef all the way to Johnson Rock. Yaquina Reef runs northward from the north jetty paralleling the coast just off the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse towards Yaquina Head. The south reef is located approximately 1/4 of a mile southwest of the south jetty and extends south to Seal Rock. The California Current pushes ocean water southward along the Oregon Coast from late spring through late fall. The reverse occurs from late fall into late spring as the Davidson Current pushes ocean water north along the Oregon Coast. Tidal water flowing out Yaquina Bay carries forage fish in the direction of the ocean currents along either the Yaquina Reef or the South Reef. Fish the South Reef from late spring through late fall and the Yaquina Reef from late fall through late spring. Some of the best fishing for salmon, rockfish and flatfish is found along Stonewall Bank. Locally the Stonewall Bank is known as the Rock Pile. The Rock Pile is located 14 miles from Yaquina Bay and is a renowned location for excellent fishing for all fish species. Salmon arrive at the Rock Pile in fishable numbers early in July with the best fishing occurring after the first of August. The best fishing for lingcod (other than the spawning period) occurs from June through September at the north end of the Rock Pile and in an area north of the Rock Pile along the 50 fathom line. Fishing for lingcod is also productive along Johnson Rock located approximately 1½ miles offshore 5 miles south of Yaquina Bay. Fishing for coho salmon is excellent west of Yaquina Bay outside of the 30 fathom curve from late June to the middle of July. Some of the best early season fishing for Chinook salmon occurs on the Fingers located west of the Rock Pile or at Heceta Banks. The time and distance to it takes to travel to Heceta Banks is rewarded with some of the finest fishing for salmon and rockfish on the entire Oregon Coast.
The photograph of the black rockfish, the mixture of rock and kelp greenling and the rainbow surfperch where caught along the finger jetty rocks while crabbing in Yaquina Bay.
Black rockfish are the dominate rockfish caught in Yaquina Bay followed by copper rockfish, blue rockfish and an occasional grass rockfish and brown rockfish. Rockfish enter Yaquina Bay early as March but usually from April through October withdrawing from the bay during periods of heavy seasonal freshwater runoff in winter and to deeper water during the daylight hours. The most productive fishing for black and copper rockfish occurs in the jetty channel from the Highway 101 Bridge seaward followed by fishing in the lower bay among the pilings associated with the fish plants and around the riprap on both ends of the seawall during an incoming tide after sunset or at the twilight of dawn. During the day the best fishing for blue rockfish occurs at sunrise on the ocean side of the north jetty during an incoming tide when the ocean is flat calm.. After sunset fish for black and blue rockfish in the seaward end of the jetty channel as they move into the jetty channel to feed. Fish for all five species of shallow water rockfish along the submerged structure of the north, south and finger jetties, among the pilings in front the Yaquina Bay Bridge.
Click on Distinguishing the new species of Blue rockfish, the Deacon rockfish, from Black and Blue rockfish is significant to meet the retention requirements for Deacon, Blue and Black rockfish. Meet the Deacon rockfish.
Ocean Perch: Striped seaperch, Pileperch, walleye surfperch, redtail surfperch and white seaperch enter the bay in spring. Striped seaperch and pileperch are the dominate perch species in the bay. Schools of perch move onto the tidal flats feeding heavily on intertidal animals feeding up the bay as far as the Toledo Airport. The fishing ranges from fair to excellent through fall depending on the tides and the weather conditions. Fish for perch along the submerged structure of the north, south and finger jetties associated with the entrance of the bay, among the pilings around the Yaquina Bay Bridge and underneath the docks throughout the bay. Fishing is productive along the riprap seawalls of the South Beach Marina or along the seawall associated with the Port of Newport. Fish at the entrance of the channels that drain the tidal flats behind the Marine Science Center, Sally’s Bend or at the entrance to King’s, McCaffery or Poole sloughs.
The perch in the video clip are shiner perch.. Shiners are great tasting but small and require de-boning with a sharp knife. They make great fish tacos.
Greenling: Kelp greenling, rock greenling and whitespotted are year–round residents. The best fishing occurs late spring and fall. The fishery ranks second overall when compared to Tillamook Bay. Fish for greenling along the submerged structure of the north, south and finger jetties, in the small kelp bed along the north jetty, among the pilings in front the Yaquina Bay Bridge and underneath the docks throughout the bay.
Lingcod spawn along the finger jetties, the south jetty and north jetty from late January through April. The best fishing occurs from late February through early April from the noticeable hump inside the north jetty to the end of the jetty. The hump was the end the original jetty. Historically the fishing for lingcod in Yaquina Bay is the most productive for any of Oregon’s bays.
Cabezon fishing is slow most of the year but improves during the peak of the spawning period from February into March along the finger jetties, the south jetty and the north jetty. Poke pole fishing is the most effective method used to catch cabezon during the spawning period especially on the finger jetties.
Pacific herring spawn anytime from February to April.
Chinook salmon enter the bay in small numbers about the second week of September. Increasing numbers of Chinook salmon enter the bay from the middle to the last week of September usually peaking during the first half of October. Chinook salmon are present through out the lower bay, the upper bay and in the lower tidal reach of the river channel from October into early November. The catch rate averages over 1100 fish per year and is evenly divided between 3, 4 and 5 year old fish.
The best fishing occurs in the lower bay and in the ocean outside the jetty jaws. Troll in the jetty channel with or against the incoming tide from the jetty jaws to the Coast Guard Station and in the channel from the Coast Guard Station past the seawall to Sawyers Landing trolling a plug cut herring with or without a herring dodger. Remember to buy the largest herring available preferably herring in blue or purple labeled packages. Trolling with or back bouncing mooching a plug cut herring with the outgoing tide are effective methods that will put fish in the boat.
As the number of returning Chinook salmon increase launch the boat at Sawyer’s Landing and troll with the incoming tide in the deepwater channel between Poole and Parker Sloughs or between Flesher and Blind Sloughs with a plug cut herring or a rainbow colored Yaquina Slammer with a green tip. Launch at the Toledo boat ramp and troll a plug cut herring or Yaquina Slammer in the deepwater channel with the incoming tide through high slack tide from Blind Slough to the Toledo boat launch or troll a plug cut herring or Yaquina Slammer with the incoming tide upriver to the boat works on the north bank. Launch at Canyon Park Boat Launch and go downriver to Mill Creek. There is a deep hole at Mill Creek that holds salmon. Troll from Mill Creek upriver with the incoming tide using a plug cut herring, bait wrapped Flatfish lures with a silver body with a chartreuse head or spinners with green accents equipped with blades of the following colors: rainbow, 50–50 green and chartreuse, 50–50 green and hammered brass, or 50–50 chartreuse and hammered brass. Remember Chinook salmon often bite before during and after low or high slack tide.
Avid Chinook salmon fisherman, Collin T. Brooksby lives along the Yaquina River and fishes hard for Chinook salmon landing this beautiful 36 pound Chinook salmon upstream of Mill Creek using a Blue Fox spinner with silver and copper blades. Photo by Colin Brooksby.
Fish the upriver reach of the Yaquina River from Mill Creek to Elk City back bouncing or back trolling with the outgoing tide with rainbow colored Yaquina Slammer spinners or bait wrapped Flatfish lures. Back bouncing a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs and/or sand shrimp with the outgoing tide or drifting with a bobber and eggs are productive options, but be prepared to hang the tackle up on the numerous submerged objects upstream from Mill Creek. Trolling Yaquina Slammer spinners in the upper half of the water column or casting a No. 5 chartreuse Bolo spinner with silver and copper blades through low slack tide is productive. Anchor above the deeper holes upstream from Mill Creek and fish during the outgoing tide through low slack tide. Fish on the bottom with bait wrapped Flatfish lures, bait sweetened Spin–N–Glos, wobblers or a combination of salmon eggs and sand shrimp or with a bobber using salmon eggs topped with a sand shrimp. Accent the salmon eggs and sand shrimp with a small length of pink, red, chartreuse or orange yarn. Call Englund Marine at 541 265 9275 for an up to date fish report.
Do not fail to take advantage of the feeder Chinook salmon that enter lower Yaquina Bay in June of most years. The most productive fishing occurs in front of the Coast Guard Station. Troll a plug cut herring between the Highway 101 Bridge and the west end of the seawall.
White sturgeon are year–round residents of Yaquina Bay. The catch rate ranks 3rd overall behind Umpqua and Tillamook Bays. Typically the best fishing occurs from December to June declining in July and is slow until the following December. Mud shrimp are the first choice as bait except when the herring are running. The best fishing for white sturgeon occurs from the pilings at the entrance of McCaffery Slough to Elk City. Most of the sturgeon fishery on the Yaquina River occurs during the outgoing tide through low tide as the sturgeon move into the holes and shallow troughs. Fishing also productive during the incoming tide as the sturgeon move onto the mud flats to feed. The mud flat associated with Blind Slough is one of these areas. Hooking a keeper sized or larger sturgeon in shallow water is a thrilling experience because they often become airborne. Bob and Bob hold up a keeper sized white sturgeon taken in upper Yaquina Bay. Photos’ by Randy Druba
Historic catch statistics represent a window of opportunity for catching the salmonids returning to the Yaquina River Basin. Click on Sport Catch Statistics - Salmon, Steelhead and Sturgeon to view the catch statistics for the salmonid species of interest. The reports on this page represent harvest statistics gathered from sports harvest angler tags (punch cards) returned by anglers to ODFW. This sports harvest data has not been verified by ODFW and may be inaccurate for several reasons. Errors may arise from anglers incorrectly reporting locations, dates, and/or species of catches; or from errors in data entry caused by difficult-to-read harvest cards.
According to the annual Recreational Coho Catch Statistics the number of hatchery Coho salmon catch rate for Coho returning to the Yaquina River vary less than 700 fish annually until 2014 when 2700 retuning hatchery Coho were tagged and 2015 when slightly more than 700 returning hatchery Coho were tagged.
According to the monthly Coho catch statistics. Coho salmon begin returning to Yaquina River in some years in July but mostly in late August, peaking in September through October before declining in November and some years in early December.
Most anglers target Chinook salmon when fishing the Yaquina River; however, when retention of hatchery Coho is allowed anglers target both Chinook and Coho salmon in the lower Yaquina Bay. Fishing from the bank of the Yaquina River and the Big Elk east of Toledo is limited by private property. The most productive fishing from the bank along the reach of the Yaquina River from the jetty jaws to the City of Toledo, especially from the jetty structure of the lower Yaquina Bay in addition to the rocky structure of the riprap associated with the LNG Gas Plant.
Troll in the lower bay from the sand spit near the bar trolling plug cut herring, hoochies or streamer flies with the incoming tide to the Highway 101 bridge. Troll these baits behind a diver or wire spreader or diver in the upper half of the water column. Troll in lower tidal reach in the river channel from the Highway 101 Bridge to the Toledo Airport with plug cut herring, pink, rainbow or chartreuse colored spinners. Remember Coho salmon prefer bait trolled near the surface at speeds between 3 and 5 knots.
Coho salmon return to the Yaquina River as early as the middle of August but typically from September through October. The best fishing occurs early in the run trolling a plug cut herring, hoochies or spinner bait combinations behind a flasher and a wire spreader in the upper half of the water column with the incoming tide from the jetty jaws to the Coast Guard Station. Troll through out the bay and tidal reach of the river channel with a rainbow, chartreuse or pink colored spinners or spinner bait combinations.
Information reports 2006-02. Ray, J., S.L. Johnson, and E. Volk. 2006. Analysis of factors potentially inflating the marine survival estimate of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) at Mill Creek, Yaquina River, central Oregon coast.
Steelhead fishing in the Yaquina Basin receives approximately 20,000 smolts of an early-returning Alsea hatchery stock. The return usually peaks in December and January, depending on location and flow conditions.
Good bank access is available along upper Big Elk Creek near the smolt release site (river-mile 21 below Grant Creek) and several miles downstream. There is no boat fishing on Big Elk Creek.
Bank fishing is fisherman friendly in the lower bay, upper bay and tidal reach of the Yaquina River. The fishing for bass at night can be fantastic on an incoming tide from the south jetty. The television show, “Fishing the West”, featured a show on night fishing for bass along the Yaquina Bay jetty. The City of Newport closes and locks the gate on the South Jetty Road at dusk each evening. You will have to park and walk to the location on the jetty you wish to fish from. Fish for lingcod or cabezon from either side of the north jetty. The best fishing on the channel side of the jetty is from the visible hump near to the end of the north jetty. It is a long and difficult walk to the hump. Anglers have to climb over and around the jetty rocks. Begin fishing on the ocean side of the jetty just past the area where the surf breaks against the jetty rocks.
Fish for salmon from jetty rocks: on the ocean side of the south jetty, the channel side of south jetty, the jetty at the South Beach Marina, the rocks around the natural gas plant and from the OreAqua beach. Fish in the upper bay in the area of deep water located at buoy 25 at mile marker 5.9 on the Bay Road. Two other good locations are at the 8.5 mile mark on the Bay Road and at buoy 37 located at mile marker 8.8. Fish in the deeper holes located in the lower tidal reach of the Yaquina River from the confluence of the Yaquina River and Mill Creek upstream to the head to tidewater above Elk City along the Elk City road.
Fish for perch from the rocks during the incoming tide: at the finger jetties along the south jetty road, the channel side of the south jetty, the jetty at the South Beach Marina, mile markers 4.0, 5.9, 8.5 and 8.8 on the Bay Road. Fish from the bank under the willows at mile marker 8.5 and in the deeper water next to buoy 37 at mile marker 8.8.
Fish for white sturgeon in the upper bay two hours prior to low slack tide in the holes that are accessible from the Bay Road. One of the best locations is at buoy marker 25, which is located at mile marker 5.9. Three other good locations are at mile markers 8.5, 8.8 and 11.4. Fish from the bank under the willows at mile marker 8.5 and in the deeper water next to buoy 37 at mile marker 8.8. The hole located upstream from mile marker 11.4 mile runs along the bend in the river where the river narrows. Park at the turnout climb down the bank and walk 50 yards upstream at low tide and fish from there upstream. One of the most productive bank fishing locations in upper tidal reach is located at the confluence of Mill Creek and the Yaquina River. Park the truck just below the confluence and fish right out of the truck.
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 0:34:30 GMT
  Click on image to enlarge them. Cutthroat trout return to the Yaquina River in as early the middle of July but always by the first of August. Fish for cutthroat trout during the incoming tide trolling Doc Shelton spinners rigged with a night crawler or casting spinners in the upper tidal reach upriver from the confluence with Mill Creek. Fishing from shore in the deeper holes of the tidewater reach of the Yaquina River above Elk City is productive casting spinners or by fishing on the bottom with night crawlers or crawfish tails. |
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 1:03:58 GMT
  
February 23rd, what a great day to be out on the water. The fishing club chartered the charter boat for a five hour Bottom Fishing trip over the rocky south reef at Seal Rock.
The boat limited out on bottom fish and 7 lucky anglers took home lingcod. Including the two angles who caught the largest in the photographs. Lingcod at the fish cleaning station. So if you are visiting the Newport area of the Oregon coast plan to include a trip on one the fine charter vessels at Newport.
On 08/27 Fishing and crabbing aboard the "Long Fin" outside Yaquina Bay for rockfish, lingcod and Dungeness crabs. The boat limited out on rockfish and crabs in addition to landing several lingcod.
On 08/15 Fishinng and crabbing outside Yaquina Bay. A good way to spend a windy day on the ocean. I only fell twice!!! While cooking crab I spoke to 2 crabs who limited out in the lower bay from a rental boat.
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 1:31:38 GMT
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 1:33:17 GMT
Yaquina Bay boat launches at the Port of Newport on the south shore in the lower bay is a multi lane boat ramp at South Beach Marina. The six dollar launching fee to use a boat ramp is the most costly on the Oregon Coast.
The North shore boat launch on the upper bay is the boat hoist at Sawyer’s Landing. There are free boat launching located in the upper bay southwest of the City of Toledo at the City of Toledo Airport on the South Bay Road, and in the lower tidal reach east of the City of Toledo at Cannon Park and Elk City County Park on the Elk City Road.
Internet Links of Interest for Yaquina Bay:
Know your harbor. Familiarize yourself with the conditions at the bar. Click on the Oregon State Marine Board and click on Forms Library Scroll down to Publication for download (Many publications no longer in print). Click on Yaquina Bay Bar Hazards The interactive PDF file webpage describes the navigational hazards that boaters encounter when crossing the Yaquina River Bar.
Oregon’s Boat Launches: To select the Oregon Boat Launch of interest, click on Oregon's Boat Launches in red. Answer the disclaimer’s question by clicking the OK box prior to entering the name of the boat launch or the name of the body of water in the search parameter and go.
Yaquina Bay, Highway Bridge Oregon Current
Tbone Tidal Projections - Click on the following link to view the tide tables for Yaquina Bay at South Beach to plan future crabbing and clam digging adventures.
Tidal Projections to view the NOAA tidal projections for Oregon. Scroll down to Yaquina Bay and click on your area of interest.
Local Weather - Click to view the weather forecast for Newport at Yaquina Bay.
Recommended website: Click on the following link to see an detailed hourly forecast for weather and surf conditions on the northern Oregon Coast. Then click your coastal zone of interest to view the detail information compiled on the Marine Digital Point Forecast Matrix Interface.
Marine Weather - Click on the marine weather forecast for coastal waters from Cascade Head to Florence OR out 10 nm.
Click on the current weather conditions at the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay.
Navigational Hazards - Click on the navigational hazards to avoid when crossing the Yaquina Bay bar.
Click on Stonewall Bank Buoy Reports to view reports.
Click on National Buoy Data Center to view the observations from buoys off the Oregon Coast.
Click on Sunrise and Sunset to view at Newport.
OSU Links of Interest Click on to view weather.
Recreational Advisories:
Always call the Oregon Shellfish Hotline at (503) 986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474 toll free outside of Oregon before harvesting clams or mussels for messages listing the areas closed to harvesting shellfish due to high levels of marine toxins.
Fish and Shellfish Consumption Advisories and Guidelines Softshell clam advisory for Oregon Coast. The CDAO does not recommend consuming contaminated clams or fish species of any species. However the purple varnish clams in Yaquina Bay are free of contamination from arsenic; and the clams have not been contaminated by Domoic Acid or PSP that have closed the Oregon Coast to the taking of razor clams and mussels.
Always Check Oregon's Beach Monitoring Program. The Oregon Public Health Division conducts several activities to protect people living, working and playing near Oregon's beaches, rivers, lakes and other water bodies. Oregon's Beach Monitoring Program helps protect people who play in the coastal waters. The program does regular water testing to look for high levels of bacteria and lets visitors know when there is a health concern.
The Algae Bloom Surveillance program advises the public when a harmful algae bloom has been detected in a lake or river. Not all blooms are harmful, but some species of algae, such as cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, can produce toxins that can cause serious illness in pets, livestock, wildlife and humans.
Please see the Oregon fish and shellfish consumption guidelines for more information abut the benefits of fish and shellfish and how to make healthy choices
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 1:34:32 GMT
Big Creek Reservoir
Newport Reservoir is also known as the Big Creek Reservoir after Big Creek was dammed to serve as the water supply for the City of Newport. Newport Reservoir is comprised of 2 impoundments referred to a Big Creek 1 and Big Creek 2. Big Creek 1 is smaller and shallower than Big Creek 2. Both impoundments offer fishing for planted rainbow trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch and brown bullhead catfish. In addition to these fish species Big Creek 1 offers fishing for crappie. The is a rock lined primitive boat launch intended for small lightweight trailer boats and car top boats such as pontoon boats and kayaks located at the dam on Big Creek 2. Small pontoon boats and Kayaks are often observed on Big Creek 1. However these small boats must be lifted over the guardrail that boarders the roadway and the lake.
Newport Reservoir is home to a family of Canadian Geese. Hunting is not allowed at the reservoir.
 
Society should hold everyone to the same standard. The Poop Sign says it all.
Finally a toilet has been installed at Newport's Big Creek Reservoir 2.
Hopefully the installation of the toilet represents a change in the City's attitude and policy of allowing visitors to deposit their feces in the woods adjacent to the reservoir.
According to DEQ officials responding to our complaints about the large scale practice of dumping feces inside the woods boarding the reservoir by threatening to close the road to the reservoir. In addition the DEQ stated they had no enforcement authority to halt the public from depositing feces in the woods adjacent to Big Creek Reservoir. Not at anytime have any City official contacted the CDAO.
The road to the reservoir is a County road but the County is in the process of deeding the road to the City. Does this mean that the City will carry through with their threat to close the road, or does the presence of the toilet confirm their intention to include toilets in the City's Master Plan for the area. The City Manager was on the radio show and stated that the City was doing it's very best to eliminate contamination of Nye Beach with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. During the broadcast he failed to mention Big Creek as a potential source of fecal coliform bacteria.
Failure to communicate with individuals or organizations who file complaints with Oregon State regulatory agencies is a common practice of the offending governmental agencies. Even when I called the City Manger's office to congratulate his opinion he stated on the radio show he refused to speak with me directly. Shame on him.
This failure to communicate is a pervasive practice by local governments, the City of Newport specifically and in state governmental agencies. The bureaucrats seem to forget that they serve the interest of the people. To the credit of the City of Newport is replacing the sewage pump station at Big Creek adjacent to the Best Western Hotel where Big Creek enters Agate Beach. Once the pump station is operational we will be able to tell if the human feces deposited inside the woods along the North shore at Big Creek Reservoir is contributing to levels of elevated levels of fecal bacteria common to the beach reach of Big Creek at Agate Beach.
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 3:07:58 GMT
The Birds of Yaquina Bay: Just the beginning! Snowy Egrets on the pond, Canada Geese along the roadway at the South Jetty and Mallards on the pond along the N. Bay Road. The next series of photos are Blue Herron on the bay followed by Osprey on the nest in South Beach. Click on the image to enlarge it.
  
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 3:10:09 GMT
   Blue Herron feeding on the tidal flats along the Gas Plant Re. |
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 3:12:19 GMT
   Ready to fledge: Osprey on the nest in South Beach. Click on the images to enlarge.Idaho Point Marina R/V Park is accessed from SE Ferry Slip Rd. to end of SE 35 th St. I could not resist taking the time to record seagulls cracking cockles on Yaquina Bay at Idaho Point Marina. Most species of bay clams are dug from the tidal flats associated with Idaho Point Marina R/V Park. Because of increased sedimentation boats are no longer launched at Idaho Point Marina.
Waterfowl hunting on Yaquina Bay with my Clam and Crab dog, Caliann
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 17:46:08 GMT
THE BATTLE OF YAQUINA BAY
Click on the image of the modern sailing ships engaged in the Battle of Yaquina Bay to enlarge it.
The 2016 Battle of Yaquina Bay took place over the Memorial Day Weekend Between two opposing 18th Century Man O Wars. The outcome of the celebration was never in doubt. We won! |
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Post by Admin on Sept 30, 2018 18:55:36 GMT
Yaquina Bay Area Attractions:
Click on the Oregon Coast Today for a list of current events on the Oregon Coast, The great FREE paper with all the information about everything to do with the Oregon Coast.
Click on Newport City Parks to the location and amenities of Newport City Parks.
Andersen Creek Trail hike from the former Newport Swimming Pool to Big Creek Park.
The Big Creek Trail hike
Newport Tennis Courts at Frank Wade Memorial Park
Newport Recreation Center
Nye Creek Trail Hike is a short alternative to walking the streets to get to the Nye Beach Turnaround.
Newport Skate Park is for the young and young at heart with strong bones.
The Newport Performing Arts Center:
Kid's Coast Park Newport is next door to the Newport Performing Arts Center.
The Hatfield Marine Science Center is the shinning star of inspiration for youngsters visiting the Oregon's Coast. You won't regret taking the time to take your kids there. A trip to the Marine Science Center is cost effective for the entire family. A visit there is free.
You can lose weight on the Newport Bay front looking for a place to eat good Seafood. That is why I eat at Gino's Seafood. The seafood is great and the fish tacos, my favorite, are killers. If the Newport bay front is not on your agenda just cross over the Hwy 101 bridge over Yaquina Bay to the South Beach Fish Market for the best seafood this side of Heaven. The shrimp basket and steamer clams are my favorites here. Bill
The Marine Discovery Tours on the Newport bay front offers discovery boat tours of the Yaquina Bay.
The Clam Diggers Association of Oregon is a proud supporter of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Add a visit to the aquarium to your agenda when you are in Newport digging clams from Yaquina Bay.
The Wilder Dog Park, Wilder Frisbee Golf Course and the Wilder Kid's Park are located on SE 40th St. near the Oregon Coast Community College.
Mike Miller County Park Mike Miller County Park is the site of ecological diversity featuring an ancient marine terrace consisting of wetlands, dune ponds and a second growth Sitka Spruce forest.
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