Weekly trout stocking schedule

50.8 Rockaway Beach is accessible from Highway 101 north of Garibaldi and is renowned for redtail surfperch fishing. There is ample parking located west of Highway 101 by turning west at the U.S. Bank sign. Access to the beach at Rockaway Beach.

Lake Marie is a small lake just east of U.S. Highway 101 between Minnehaha and Washington streets. It is the site of the Stanger Memorial VFW Park and a community garden.

Spring Lake a 16.8 acre lake is located at the south end of Rockaway Beach on the east side of U.S. Highway 101. The lake is 13 acres, but is mostly surrounded by private land. Public bank access is restricted to the highway shoulder. Parking along the highway is limited, with few wide spots, and extreme caution should be used. Because of safety concerns, this lake is not the most suitable for children to fish. Legal rainbow and cutthroat trout are stocked annually from mid-March through early May. Some large-mouth bass are present, but seldom caught by bank anglers.

Smith Lake a 42.2 acre lakes located south of Rockaway Beach on the west side of U.S. Highway 101. Private land surrounds most of this lake. Camp Magruder borders the lake on the west. Bank access is limited from the highway side and requires a short trail walk over uneven terrain. Adequate parking is available on the highway shoulder. Children and older anglers would find easier and safer access at other lakes around the county. Stocking occurs during April with legal-size rainbow and cutthroat trout. There are no public docks or boat launches that access this lake. Small numbers of large-mouth bass are present, but few are caught by bank anglers.

53.8 The Barview Jetty produces the highest catch ratio of fish caught per angler of any jetty on the Oregon Coast according to the local fishermen. The jetty extends 800 yards seaward. The western most 80 yards of the jetty is submerged. To access the Barview Jetty drive north from Garibaldi on Highway 101 take the Barview Jetty exit. Park and walk out to the jetty or drive through the county and park. The Barview Jetty is more accessible than the south jetty. The fishing for rockfish is more productive off of the Barview Jetty than from the south jetty. The jetty channel runs deeper along the Barview Jetty than it does along the south jetty. The Barview Jetty is the access point to the southern section of Rockaway Beach located just north of the entrance to Tillamook Bay. The fishing is excellent for perch from the Barview Jetty or for redtail surfperch from the southern section of Rockaway Beach.

Tillamook area rivers are the are home to some of Oregon’s finest steelhead and salmon fishing. The diversity of Tillamook Bay provides the angler with the opportunity to plan combination trips. Set out crab pots in the early morning before daylight and fish for Chinook salmon during a high incoming tide in the lower tidal reach of the bay, or dig for clams and pump for sand shrimp in the lower bay during an outgoing minus tide and fish for perch on the incoming tide. Being prepared to make the most of your opportunities can turn an ordinary outing into an exceptional one.

53.8 Tillamook Bay at the Barview Jetty: Located just north of Garibaldi, the Barview Jetty County Park is a great place to stay while on your clam digging and crabbing adventures. The jetty provides the opportunity to fish for salmon, perch and shallow water rockfish. Fishing from the North Jetty is rated the most productive of any Jetty on the Oregon coast. Use a crab snare to take Dungeness crabs while fishing for black rock or perch. Bait the crab snare with herring purchased from the Barview Store. The following video clip of 4 limits of Dungeness crabs.

54.0 The Three Graces are famous landmarks that denotes the beginning of the jetty channel.

55.4 View the train at Rockaway by clicking on the following link in red. Enjoy a trip into history by taking a ride on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. The steam driven locomotive train departs the fishing port of Garibaldi to the resort beach community of Rockaway. Click on the Schedule to purchase tickets on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad. Look for future rail excursions to the Salmonberry Trailhead.

The Salmonberry Trail is 86 miles of adventure featuring hiking, cycling and and an equestrian trail from Banks to Tillamook.

For its entirety, the trail follows the century-old Pacific Railway and Navigation Company rail bed, which—due to its steep grades and sharp curves—gained the moniker, “Punk, Rotten and Nasty.” Relicts of its railroad heritage include 13 railroad tunnels and dozens of trestles, including the Big Baldwin Bridge, which offers a stunning view.

The east end of the trail will begin in the pastoral community of Banks at the foothills of the Coast Range. Here, it will connect to the popular 22-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon’s first rail-trail.

The western half of the trail, from Enright to Tillamook, will parallel an active line, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, in ascenario known as rail-with-trail. The organization offers tourist excursions down the coast using vintage locomotives and an all-volunteer crew.

The trail will end on the south side of Tillamook at the Port of Tillamook Bay’s Industrial Park, which includes an air museum that once served as a blimp hanger and, today, showcases various types of aircraft.

55.7 Tillamook Bay

Captain Robert Gray crossed the bar at Tillamook Bay in the sloop Lady Washington August 14, 1788.  Captain Gray originally named Tillamook Bay, Murders Bay, after Indians killed one of his crewmen, but the bay was later renamed in honor of the Tillamook Indian Tribe.  The Indian word, “Tillamook” means land of many waters.  The Miami, Kilchis, Wilson, Trask and Tillamook Rivers flow into Tillamook Bay.

Fishing in the open ocean or in the jetty channel requires seaworthy boats and experienced skippers because the Tillamook bar is one of the most dangerous to cross.  More than one fisherman has lost his life while trying to cross the bar on an outgoing tide.  Seaworthy boats are required for safe boating inside the bay to deal with large wind generated waves.  Call the Coast Guard at 1-360-642-3565 for a report of local bar conditions and the extended marine forecast.  The Coast Guard also broadcasts bar conditions on VHF channels 16 and 22A. The USCG are heavy users of the Marine VHF Channels; Channel 16 is reserved for distress, safety and calling, while channel 22A is utilized for special warnings, Marine Safety and other announcements.

NOAA's Bar Observation Website for Oregon's Bays. Check the NOAA Bar Observations website for updated bar closures and restrictions.

The following underlined areas of the Tillamook Bar as listed on the Web Pages of the Oregon State Marine Board. Click on Tillamook Bay to view the areas described as the dangerous tidal conditions affecting safe boating when entering of departing Tillamook.

Bar area. The entire area between the beach and the 20-foot curve is bar area and breaks on the ebbing tide. The water runs out from four to six knots on the average and is very strong. Boaters proceeding out should stop in the channel east of the seaward end of the breakwater and carefully evaluate the bar. If you decide to cross, proceed out - but do not attempt to turn around if the bar is breaking.

North jetty. About 100 yards of the outer end of the north jetty is submerged. This area and the portion of the channel just south of it are extremely dangerous. Avoid the sunken jetty and use caution in the channel south of it.

Middle grounds. Shoaling makes this area unpredictable and hazardous; it should be avoided.

South jetty. About 100 yards of the outer end of the south jetty is submerged. Use caution and avoid the sunken jetty when entering or exiting.

Tillamook Bay channel lies just south of the north jetty. Navigate with extreme caution. This channel changes constantly because of continuous natural silting and scouring. Obtain up-to-date information on channel conditions from the Coast Guard or other authoritative local sources. Do not rely on the range markers without first inquiring whether they mark the present channel location.

Tillamook Bay is Oregon's premier fishing bays. The salmon fishing is legendary and the fishing for rockfish off of the north jetty is the most productive for any of Oregon's bays.

Fishing In Tillamook Bay

I took a video clip of the Salmon Fishing in Tillamook Bay and was lucky enough to catch some footage of anglers at the Ghost Hole and one angler landing a salmon off of the Bar View Jetty.

Last year members of the Longview Hill Fishing Club struck gold in the form of Chinook Salmon. I am a member of the club and wanted to share the excitement of their adventure with my friends. Bill

The diversity of Tillamook Bay provides the angler with the opportunity to plan combination trips. Set out crab pots in the early morning before daylight and fish for Chinook salmon during a high incoming tide in the lower tidal reach of the bay, or dig for clams and pump for sand shrimp in the lower bay during an outgoing minus tide and fish for perch on the incoming tide. Being prepared to make the most of your opportunities can turn an ordinary outing into an exceptional one.

Chinook salmon INFORMATION REPORTS NUMBER 2008-01 Oregon North Coast Spring Chinook Stock Assessment – 2005-06 for the Nestucca, Wilson and Trask Rivers.

Information Report 98-4. Nickelson, T.E. 1998. A habitat-based assessment of coho salmon production potential and spawner escapement needs for Oregon coastal streams.

Information Report 88-1 Chinook Populations in Oregon Coastal River Basins. Description of Life Histories and Assessment of Recent Trends in Run Strengths

Fall Chinook Oregon Native Fish Status Report – Volume II: the narrative includes discussions about the Necanicum, Nehalem Early-run (July), Nehalem, Tillamook, Nestucca, Salmon, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, Yachats, Siuslaw, North Umpqua, Upper Umpqua, Lower Umpqua, Coos, Coquille, Floras and the Sixes rivers.

Chinook Salmon return to Tillamook Bay during the spring, fall and in winter. The age class of the returning Chinook is usually comprised of high percentage of 5 year old fish followed by 4 year old and larger 6 year old fish. Spring Chinook salmon begin returning to Tillamook Bay in April peaking in late May into early June. The highest number of spring Chinook are returning to the Trask and Wilson Rivers respectively with a smaller number straying into the Kilchis and Tillamook Rivers. Fish spring Chinook salmon in the lower bay using the same methods used fishing for fall Chinook salmon.

Fall Chinook begin returning to the bay the last week of August increasing in September and peaking in October with the highest number of Chinook salmon returning to the Trask and Wilson Rivers respectively and fewer Chinook salmon returning to the Tillamook, Kilchis and Miami Rivers. During the fall run the early returning salmon are mostly returning to the Trask River. After September 15th Chinook salmon begin returning to the Wilson and Tillamook Rivers. A small number of Winter Chinook return in November and December to the Wilson River.

Early during the spring and fall runs the best salmon fishing occurs in the ocean below the south jetty and to a lesser extent above the north jetty trolling a plug cut herring behind a herring dodger or flasher along the 20 or 30 foot curve north or south of the jetties. During the peak of the runs the most productive fishing occurs in the lower bay trolling a plug cut herring with the incoming tide in the channel along the north jetty from the jetty jaws to Kincheloe Point. Troll a plug cut herring from late May through the middle of June and from the middle of September through the middle of October with the tide from west of the Coast Guard Station to Garibaldi up the Bay City channel through the Ghost Hole to Sandstone Point. Once past the Ghost Hole add spinners and Kwikfish lures to the trolling mix through Bay City. Trolling for Chinook salmon in the south channel is not as popular as in the Bay City channel but can be as productive for Chinook returning to the Trask and Tillamook Rivers. Troll in the south channel from Kincheloe Point through Crab Harbor to a point opposite of the Oyster Fish Haven with a plug cut herring. The velocity of the tidal current in the lower bay requires sinkers 6 to 20 ounces tied to an 18 to 24 inch dropper to keep the bait in the Chinook’s strike zone.

Chinook salmon migrate upriver to the spawning grounds during high water years but in low water years they will mill around in the upper bay above Bay City before moving into the tidal reach of the river channels awaiting the freshets from spring or fall rains. Troll in the upper bay from Memaloose Point through the Picket Fences or from the Oyster House Hole through the Sheep Corral to Bay City using spinners with green accents and rainbow colored spinner blade or with a 50–50 green or chartreuse and hammered brass blade, or bait wrapped Flatfish lures with a silver body and chartreuse head or Hot Tail finish. Troll these baits next to the bottom utilizing light weight sinkers up to 2 ounce in the shallow water of the tidal flats and in the deepwater channels of the upper bay associated with the Bay City channel or the south channel. Fish only in the Main channel or in the south channel above crab harbor to Boulder Point with local knowledge. For information and fishing gear Tillamook Sporting Goods has it all.

The Trask and Wilson rivers are the largest rivers entering Tillamook Bay followed by the Kilchis, Tillamook and the Miami Rivers. The highest percentage of the Chinook salmon returning to Tillamook Bay are returning to the Trask and Wilson Rivers respectively with a lower percentage returning to the Tillamook River. Fish for spring Chinook in the tidal reach of the Trask and Wilson River in June using the same tackle and methods used to fish for fall Chinook. Fish for fall Chinook salmon holding in the lower tidal reach of the Trask River from early September and in the Tillamook River from mid September and in the Wilson River from early September; fishing through October. Fish for winter run Chinook salmon in the lower tidal reach of the Trask and Wilson Rivers from November into December.

The most productive fishing in the lower tidal reach of the Trask, Wilson and Tillamook Rivers occurs when the incoming tide coincides with daybreak. Troll bait wrapped Flatfish lures with the incoming tide to intercept migrating fish or anchoring above the deeper holes and fish the lures near the bottom waiting for the fish to come to you. After sunrise add a rainbow colored spinner and/or a spinner bait combination to the trolling mix and fish through high slack tide. When the tide begins ebb drift with the outgoing tide back bouncing a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs topped with a sand shrimp along the bottom or bobber fish a walnut sized gob of salmon eggs suspended just off of the bottom. Anchor above the deeper holes and bobber fish with salmon eggs and/or a sand shrimp during the outgoing tide through low slack tide, or depending of current velocity fish on the bottom with bait wrapped Flatfish lures, spinners, spinner bait combinations, Spin–N–Glos or with an assortment of wobblers.

Historic catch statisitcs represent a window of opportunity for catching the salmonids returning to the five rivers flowing into Tillamook Bay. 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.

Coho salmon: according to the annual Recreational Coho Catch Statistics the number of hatchery coho salmon catch rate for Coho returning to the rivers of Tillamook Bay vary from 907 in 2008 to 22,752 in 2014. According to the monthly Coho catch statistics Coho salmon returning to Tillamook Bay every year are returning to the Trask River with smaller numbers returning to the Wilson and Tillamook Rivers.

Coho salmon return in September peaking in October and running into November but only adipose fin clipped coho may be retained. Fish in the lower bay trolling either a whole herring, plug cut herring, a hoochie sweetened with a chunk of herring, streamer flies or with spinners in the upper half of the water column from the jetty jaws to Garibaldi. The best fishing occurs in the upper bay occurs at high incoming tide from Bay City south trolling a rainbow, chartreuse or pink colored spinner or with a spinner bait combinations.

Steelhead fishing in the Wilson, Kilchis and Trask rivers offer good access to some great wild winter steelhead fishing, which peaks in March.

The Wilson, Kilchis and Trask rivers offer excellent winter steelhead opportunities. Hatchery steelhead usually begin returning in late November, with good fishing through January. Approximately 40,000 early returning hatchery smolts are released in each of the Kilchis and Wilson Rivers. The Kilchis is stocked up to Kilchis Park. An additional 100,000 wild brood smolts are released in the Wilson River, primarily in the lower river up to Siskeyville, but a small proportion (25 percent) are released in the South Fork. Wild broodstock hatchery steelhead are available in the Wilson River throughout the winter and early spring (primarily January to mid-April). The Trask River is not stocked, but hatchery strays are present.

Hwy 6 follows the Wilson River from the lower reaches to the fishing deadline at the South Fork. The Little North Fork Wilson River and first mile of the South Fork Wilson River are open Dec. 1- March 31 for steelhead fishing. These streams provide good opportunities when the main stem Wilson River is high.

The Kilchis River is accessible at the Mapes Creek launch, Kilchis Park, and along Kilchis Forest Road up to the deadline at the confluence of the North and South forks.

The Trask River is accessible at Trask Hatchery and Loren’s Drift off Chance Road and along Trask River Road. The North and South Fork Trask (open Dec. 1 to March 31) are accessible by forest roads that follow each stream. The North Fork Trask deadline is at Bark Shanty Creek and the South Fork deadline is at Edwards Creek.

The Tillamook and Miami rivers are open to steelhead fishing though March. A few stray hatchery fish and smaller populations of wild fish are present in each stream. The Miami River offers access in the upper stretches along Miami Forest Road; however, public access is very limited on the Tillamook River.

Cutthroat trout return to the Wilson, Trask and Kilchis rivers from the middle of July into October with the highest percentage of cutthroat trout returning to the Trask River and a smaller but equal percentage returning to the Wilson and Kilchis Rivers. The most productive fishing occurring in the tidal reach of the three rivers occurs from the middle of July through August trolling Doc Shelton spinners rigged with night crawlers or by casting spinners.

Black rockfish, copper rockfish and blue rockfish enter Tillamook Bay early as March but usually from April through October withdrawing from the bay during periods of heavy seasonal freshwater runoff in winter and into deeper water during the daylight hours. Black rockfish are by far the dominate shallow water rockfish caught in the bay in declining numbers from along the north jetty to Barview, Garibaldi and the Larson Pond culvert. The north jetty is the most productive location to fish for all three species of shallow water rockfish. Copper rockfish are caught in declining numbers from the north jetty to Garibaldi. The most productive fishing occurs in the jetty channel and in the lower bay during an incoming tide after sunset or at daybreak as the shallow water rockfish enter the bay to feed. Remember if you’re going to fish in the jetty channel at night do so only on an incoming tide and when the ocean is clam.

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.

Pileperch, striped seaperch, redtail surfperch, walleye surfperch and white seaperch enter the bay with the tide during the spring in large numbers feeding heavily on intertidal animals. Fishing ranges from fair to excellent through summer into fall depending on the tides, weather conditions and the amount of freshwater runoff entering the bay. Striped seaperch are the dominant perch species in the lower bay and fishing for them at the Three Graces can be red hot on both the incoming and out going tides. Fish for striped seaperch, pileperch, redtail surfperch and walleye surfperch from shore at the Three Graces, Hobsonville Point, the Ghost Hole or Sandstone Point. Fishing in the Bay City channel, the main channel and the south channel is productive during both the incoming and outgoing tide. The perch follow the channels with the tide up the bay to Bay City.

Kelp greenling, rock greenling and whitespotted greenling are year–round residents. Statistically Tillamook Bay produces the highest catch rate for greenling for any of Oregon’s bays. Fishing is the best in the spring into summer and poorest during periods of heavy seasonal rainfall and flooding. By far the best fishing is located in the rocky structure along the north jetty followed by Barview and the Larson Pond culvert with a smaller number being caught in the structure associated with the Port of Garibaldi.

Lingcod fishing improves along the north jetty and the Barview jetty from late January with the best fishing occurring from late February to early April along the north jetty followed by Barview Jetty. The slowest fishing occurs from May through December.

Cabezon fishing along the north jetty ranges from poor to fair throughout the year. Angler should concentrate fish during the peak of the spawning period from February into March. Fishing for cabezon over the submerged portion of the north jetty is exceptional from early spring but it should only be attempted when the ocean is flat calm.

White sturgeon are present in the bay for most of the year. The catch ratio of keeper sturgeon caught for the number of hours fished is the highest of Oregon’s bays. Sturgeon enter Tillamook Bay in December. The best fishing is from the middle of December through May with the emphasis in February and March. The fishing in the bay declines during June and July and is slow until December. The most productive time to fish is during the last two hours of the outgoing tide through low slack tide. Fish with mud and/or sand shrimp in the holes, shallow depressions or along the slope of the banks associated with the south, main or Bay City channels, the Sheep Coral or the area from the Picket Fence to Memaloose Point. Fish in the shallow depressions and holes associated with the tidal reach of the river channels of the Wilson, Trask and Tillamook rivers. The fishing declines in the bay as the sturgeon move into the tidal reach of the Tillamook River and to a lesser extent into the Wilson and Trask Rivers. The fishing in the Tillamook River is usually consistent from July through September and at times through October into November but is sporadic in the Wilson and Trask Rivers. Call the area’s tackle shops to find the area of the bay with the hot bite.

Sand Sole enter Tillamook Bay in small numbers from April through August.

Bank fishing – Fish for Chinook salmon and white sturgeon off the back of the large wooden deck at the Brad Dawson tidewater access facility and from the turnouts along the road that parallels the Tillamook River.  We recommend biking or hiking to Crab Harbor and fish for salmon and perch along the south channel in Crab Harbor via the Bayocean Road.  Fish for salmon in the lower reach of the Trask River at the Hospital Hole by driving west on Third Street to the green trailer and paying a nominal fee. The Hospital Hole is often closed.  Fish for salmon, perch or sturgeon from the Ghost Hole Turnout at milepost 58.6 on Highway 101.  Fish for perch on either side of the culvert to Larson Pond, at Sandstone Point, Hobsonville Point which is located at milepost 58.0 and at the Three Graces, which is located at Milepost 54.4. 

Tillamook Bay at the Port of Garibaldi is the second largest and most accessible bay on the Oregon coast, because the bay is so accessible, recreational clam diggers, crabbers and fishermen are able to fulfill their expectations.

The Garibaldi Marina is a full service marina offering a large array of products and services. Jeff reminds everyone to use caution when boating in the bay during the high velocity of clam tides. The Garibaldi Marina at 503 322 3312 is operating on Summer Hours. Garibaldi Marina begins operating on Winter hours opening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from December 1st to March 1st. Jeff operates a fleet of rental boats all in top condition. However the boats are rented to crab, clam or fish in the bay during the incoming tide only. Crabbing is always better when you're in a boat!!!

Rental Boats are done by reservation only. Reservations are accepted no more than 7 to 10 days in advance. When I visited Jeff at the Garibaldi Marina the first thing I noticed that everything was neat and stowed where it belonged, see photo below. Jeff rents everything you need to make you trip a success. Jeff, his wife, Val and their two boys, Cody and Casey operate the Garibaldi Marina.

Jeff says, "Safety is our number one priority at Garibaldi Marina. It is this reason that we can only rent our boats on the INCOMING tide with favorable weather conditions. Please plan accordingly.

We rent 16 foot aluminum boats with well maintained late model 8 hp motors. All required safety equipment is included with the rental at no additional charge. Coast Guard regulations do not allow more than 5 persons on board including children.

At the time of rental we will go over a map of the bay, detailing where to go and where the crabbing is good.

We will also go over safety procedures, boat and motor operation and take time to answer any and all questions you may have. Please arrive a little early to allow time for this. Already experienced with boats and our area? Then please be patient and enjoy our refresher course! Crab image by Garibaldi Marina. Click on the image to enlarge it.

We rent crab rings! Crab rings are a little different than crab pots. The primary difference is that you need to check crab rings more often, we recommend checking them about every ten minutes. Please feel free to bring your own gear or rent or purchase from us.

RATES

Boat rentals - $80 first three hours / $10 each additional hour as tide and weather allow.
Crab Rings - $6 each for the day. Back by end of business day - No overnight rentals.
Crab bait - $3.00 each
Crab Cooking - First 12 crab FREE with boat rental!

The most common package we put together for our customers is a 3 hour boat rental / 3 crab rings / 6 crab bait for a total cost of $116.

We rent crab rings! Crab rings are a little different than crab pots or traps. The primary difference is that you need to check crab rings more often, we recommend checking them about every ten minutes from a boat and about every fifteen minutes when crabbing off the docks.

We also rent clam rakes! Clam rakes are great for harvesting many kinds of bay clams. Locally you can find Gapers, Butters, Cockles, Littlenecks, & Softshells.

Both Crab Rings and Clam Rakes are a $6.00 Rental and are due back an hour before the end of the business day. Sorry - No overnight rentals."

ODFW Crab and Clam Distribution Maps for Tillamook Bay
Click on the Seacor Shellfish Areas for Tillamook Bay to link to ODFW's maps of the shellfish.

The Port of Garibaldi offers crabbing and/or fishing from the public dock at the intersection of 7th and Commercial and from the Pier's End crabbing dock at 12 Avenue.

Crabbing off of the 7th. Ave. Crabbing Dock.

Crabbing off of the 12th. Ave. Crabbing Dock.

Ocean Crabbing:

Combination trips for fish and crab pay off for my friends. Last year my friend Tim reported the he and his friends took 44 crabs in 2 days last while fishing for lingcod and rockfish out of Tillamook Bay. They set the pots in 35 feet of water 1 mile south of the entrance to Tillamook Bay. My friend Tim took the crabs in the same area that my friend Jerry did in the following images below while fishing for coho salmon. Sometimes it pays to take advantage of your recreational opportunities by taking crabs and catching coho salmon. Notice the coho in the cooler with the crabs. Click on the images to enlarge them.

Thanks to anonymous for sharing the success with friends digging gaper clams and crabbing in Tillamook Bay.

The Tillamook Bay boat launch on the south shore at Memaloose Point is located west on the Netarts Hwy then right on Bayocean Rd to the boat launch located 1.3 miles from Hwy 101 in Tillamook. The boat launch handles motorized trailer boats. The facilities include a vault restroom, paved parking lot and a concrete boat ramp. The North shore boat launch is located at the Port of Garibaldi and the Garibaldi Marina on S 7^th Street. The boat launch is very busy during the season, especially during the weekends, so plan accordingly.  For additional information call the Port office at 503 322 3292 

According to Tillamook Couny Parks representatives the boat launch at Parks Landing is used primarily as a takeout point for boats launched at the Kilchis River Park Boat Launch or Mapes Creek Boat Launch rather than access to the lower tidal reach of the Kilchis River.

Access the tidal reach of the Wilson River by launching the boat launch Sollie Smith on the Wilson River Loop RD where the road crosses the Wilson River. The Mills Bride boat ramp is located on the north side of Hwy 6 just before the Mills Bridge crosses the Wilson River. The Siskeyville Boat Slide is located several miles up river on the North side of the Wilson River. The Vanderzanden Boat Slide is located a fairly short distance up river from the Siskeyville Boat Slide.

Access the tidal reach of the Trask River in Tillamook at either Carnahan Park located at the end of Fifth Street or at Elmore Park located off west of Highway 101 on Front Street at Hoquarton slough. 

The upper Trask River East of Hwy 101 is accessible from Long Prairie Road. Access to the Steiner County Boat Launch is located off of the north side of Long Prairie Road 1/4 mile East of Hwy 101. The facilities include a chemical toilet, gravel parking lot & an unimproved boat ramp. Access to Loren's Drift Boat Launch is via Chance Creek Road. To access the boat ramps in the upper Trask River continue traveling on Long Prairie Road to the Trask River Rd. Turn East onto the Trask River Road to the ODFW boat ramps the Lower Peninsula Ramp and the Upper Pennsula Ramp. Continue up the Trask River Rd. to the Wagner Rd. (Trask River Road West) Bridge over the Trask River. Turn right over the bridge and right again onto the Trask River Road West to the Stones Road Boat Slide.

Access the tidal reach of the Tillamook River by launching the boat at the Big Barn Marina located on the little Trask River off of the Netarts Highway at 85 NW Third Tilllamook 3rd St Tillamook Oregon, 97141 Phone: (503) 842-8596. 

Burton Ramp located at the intersection of Burton-Frazer Road and the Tillamook River Loop Road. The launch offers access to the upper tidal reach of Tillamook River. A launch fee is required and there are toilets at the facility.  

Internet Links of Interest for Tillamook Bay:

Click on the Oregon Coast Today Newspaper to see interesting places to visit and new things to experience while visiting the Central Oregon Coast.

Click on the Coast Guard Jettycam real time views of the bar crossing of Oregon's Bays and follow the instructions.

Tidal Projections: for Tillamook Bay. Click on the NOAA tidal projections for Oregon. Enter Tillamook Bay in the search parameter box and click on your tidal area of interest.

Plan for future clamdigging and or crabbing adventures by clicking on the tidal projections for Tillamook Bay at the Barview Jetty.

Click on the Weather Forecast to view the 10 day local weather forecast for the Port of Garibaldi at Tillamook Bay.

Click on the following link to view the 7 day weather forecast for the Bay Ocean Peninsula County Park.

Click on the following link to view the detailed 4 day Marine Weather Forecast.

Click on the Marine Weather Forecast Zone Forecast to view Coastal waters from Cape Shoalwater WA to Cascade Head OR out 10 nm.

Recommended website: Click on the following link to see an detailed hourly forecast for weather and surf conditions on the norhern Oregon Coast. Then click your coastal zone of interest to view the detail information compiled on the Marine Digital Point Forecast Matrix Interface.

Northwest River Forecast Center:Scroll over the water level gauge station. Click the river gauge station icon to display the river gauge station information

Click on the following link to view the river level of the Trask River above Cedar Creek near Tillamook.

Click on the following link to view the river level of the Wilson River at the Sollie Smith Bridge.

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 In mid July the State issued shellfish advisories for elevated levels of arsenic in soft shell clams and gaper clams. The CDAO does not recommend consuming contaminated clams or fish species of any species. The Oregon Health Authority has prepared a series of asked and answered questions about the soft shell clams taken from Oregon's Bays. Click on Questions and Answers (pdf).

However the purple varnish clams common to most of Oregon's Bays have tested free of contamination from arsenic; and to date 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.

Oregon's Beach Monitoring Program is a part time program that occurs between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September.

Oregon's Beach Monitoring program helps protect people who come into contact with beach water contaminated with elevated levels of fecal bacterium called enterococcus. The program does regular water testing to look for high levels of bacteria and issues a public health advisory when bacteria counts exceed acceptable risk levels.. Beginning in 2017 the EPA has implemented new higher standards to requiring Oregon to issue an alert notifying the public of the health risks.

New Beach Action Value for the 2017 beach monitoring season

The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program (OBMP) is beginning a process to adopt a new beach action value (BAV) for bacteria of 70 MPN that will be used as the basis for public health advisories at Oregon beaches starting in 2017. The 2015 and 2016 monitoring seasons will remain unchanged and continue to use the current BAV of 158 MPN.

What type of bacteria? Ocean waters are tested to see if a fecal bacterium called enterococcus is present. Enterococcus is found in the intestines of warm blooded animals, including humans. High levels of these bacteria show there is fecal material in the water and that microscopic disease-causing organisms may be present.

How does the water become contaminated? Fecal contamination can be due to multiple causes near anybody of water. Some of the reasons of contamination are due to: animal feces deposited by domestic animals and all wild animals including beavers, seals, migratory waterfowl and seabirds , swimmers with diarrhea, children not properly cleaned after using the bathroom, the improper disposition of diapers, the vomiting or fecal matter in the water, agricultural and storm water run-off, sewage treatment plant spills, inadequate or the absence of public septic systems, failing or leaking of public and private septic systems or the improper disposal of boat waste. The list of offending agents is seemingly endless. Do your part it reduce contamination of our waterways.

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 consumption guidelines for more information abut the health benefits of fish and how to make healthy fish choices.

Mile by mile continuation

Established in 1938 the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge consists of vertical coastal cliffs, rock outcroppings, and rolling headlands with old-growth forest dominated by Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock. This small refuge protects one of the last stands of old-growth coastal forest in Oregon.

Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge

Designated as the first National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River, Three Arch Rocks Refuge lies half a mile offshore of the community of Oceanside. One of the Oregon coast's best-known landmarks, the refuge consists of three large and six smaller rocks totaling 15 acres. It's also a National Wilderness Area, one of the smallest in the country.