Oregon Fishing Regulations and Exceptions
It's important to respect and understand the fishing regulations before going fishing. We've added easy links below to get you to the specific regulations for each zone. Fishing regulations can sometimes be tricky to read and understand since they're different for each state. We'll break this down for you so that it's easier to understand.
Fishing License
Every angler over the age of 12 needs to have a valid fishing license with you when you fish. If you're fishing in Oregon, you'll want a license from Oregon. If you're not a resident, that's okay - you'll just pay a bit more for a 1-day, 3-day, or annual Out of State license. You can find more information below.
ODFW Fishing License Information
Buy an Oregon Fishing License
State Angling Zones and Fish Districts
Oregon is broken into nine zones that each have fishing districts and primary contacts at the fish and wildlife department. In the map below you'll see the nine colored zones, their districts outlined in black and the county lines are outlined in faint gray. It's really important to understand what zone and fishing districts you're fishing in - they don't always match the counties and have different rules.
Central Zone Regulations
The central zone includes the Deschutes and Mid-Columbia districts. The central zones covers waters in Klamath, Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, Wasco, Sherman and Hood River counties. We've included a table of district contacts below that you can reach out to if you have questions about how each district is being managed.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Deschutes | Brett Hodson | 541-388-6363 |
| Mid-Columbia | Rod French | 541-296-4628 |
Central Oregon Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Central Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Central Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Columbia Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Columbia Zone Regulations
The columbia zone spans across the North Coast Willamette - Coast Range, North Willamette - Cascade Unit, Mid-Columbia, and Umatilla districts. These districts are along the northern border between Oregon and Washington where the columbia river is a natural state line between the two states. This section of river is co-managed between Washington and Oregon wildlife departments and has quite a few emergency rules that you'll need to check prior to fishing in this zone of the state.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| North Coast | Robert Bradley | 503-842-2741 |
| North Willamette - Coast Range | Tom Murtagh | 971-673-6000 |
| North Willamette - Cascade Unit | Todd Alsbury | 971-673-6000 |
| Mid-Columbia | Rod French | 541-296-4628 |
| Umatilla | Bill Duke | 541-276-2344 |
Columbia Oregon Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Columbia Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Columbia Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Columbia Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Marine Zone Regulations
The Marine zone covers the Pacific Ocean, coastal bays, and beaches. It includes the North Coast, Mid-Coast, Umpqua, Coos-Coquille and South Coast districts. These districts each touch the pacific ocean and contain waterways that empty into the ocean in western Oregon.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| North Coast | Robert Bradley | 503-842-2741 |
| Mid-Coas | John Spangler | 541-265-8306 |
| Umpqua | Greg Huchko | 541-440-3353 |
| Coos-Coquille | Mike Gray | 541-888-5515 |
| South Coast | Steve Mazure | 541-247-7605 |
Marine Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Marine Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Marine Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Northwest Zone Regulations
The Northwest zone consists of the North Coast and Mid-Coast districts. This is the northwest section in Clatsop, Tillamook, Columbia, Lincoln, and Benton counties.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| North Coast | Robert Bradley | 503-842-2741 |
| Mid-Coast | John Spangler | 541-265-8306 |
Northwest Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Northwest Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Northwest Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Northwest Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Northeast Zone Regulations
The Norheast zone consists of the Umatilla, John Day, Wallowa, and La Grande districts. It covers Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Grant counties.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Umatilla | Bill Duke | 541-276-2344 |
| John Day | Stephan Charette | 541-575-1167 |
| Wallowa | Jeff Yanke | 541-426-3279 |
| La Grande | Tim Bailey | 541-963-2138 |
Northeast Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Northeast Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Northeast Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Northeast Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Snake Zone Regulations
The snake river is includes the Wallowa, La Grande, and Southeast districts in management of the border portion of the Snake river.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Wallowa | Jeff Yanke | 541-426-3279 |
| La Grande | Tim Bailey | 541-963-2138 |
| Southeast | Dave Banks | 541-573-6582 |
Snake Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Snake Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Snake Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Snake Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Southeast Zone Regulations
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Klamath | Benji Ramirez | 541-883-5732 |
| Southeast | Dave Banks | 541-573-6582 |
Southeast Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Southeast Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Southeast Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Southeast Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Southwest Zone Regulations
The Southwest zone includes the Umpqua, Coos-Coquille, South Coast, and Upper Rogue districts. These districts include Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Curry, and Coos county.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Umpqa | Greg Huchko | 541-440-3353 |
| Coos-Coquille | Mike Gray | 541-888-5515 |
| South Coast | Steve Mazur | 541-247-7605 |
| Upper Rogue | Dan VanDyke | 541-826-8774 |
Southwest Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Southwest Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Southwest Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Southwest Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |
Willamette Zone Regulations
The Willamette zone includes the North Willamette - Coast Range, North Willamette - Cascade Unit, Mid Willamette and Upper Willamette districts.
| District | Manager | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| North Willamette - Coast Range | Tom Murtagh | 971-673-6000 |
| North Willamette - Cascade Unit | Todd Alsbury | 971-673-6000 |
| Mid Willamette | Elise Kelley | 541-757-4186 |
| Upper Willamette | Jeff Ziller | 541-726-3515 |
Willamette Fishing Zone Regulation Information
| Regulations | Description |
|---|---|
| Willamette Zone Regulations | These regulations cover basic fishing rules for this fishing zone. They are usually the same year over year, but it's important to check them before you go fishing. |
| Willamette Zone Exceptions | These regulations are exceptions that change the basic rules for this fishing zone. These are just as important as the Regulations but are updated for specific bodies of water. |
| Willamette Zone Emergency Regulations | These are updates made day to day by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It's vital that you check these regulations prior to fishing as they could change from one day to the next. |