Oregon Coast

[Aircowboy]

I was just wondering if anyone has spearfished the Southern Oregon Coast or Northern California up by Crescent City? Any info would be great.

[Tasarsailor]

There are lots of amazing reefs on the southern oregon coast that I will most likely only get to dream about. I have a capable boat but this year ocean conditions haven't very conducive to getting offshore. September can often bring a nice flat ocean on some days.

Some of our reefs have special designations but they typically only restrict shellfish and marine invertebrates. A few restrict fishing.

I haven't speared orford reef yet but that whole area is supposed to one of the pinnacles of diving on the oregon coast. Just google orford reef and diving you will find some info. At least with orford reef if you can't get on the ocean the port orfor bay if you can call it that is somewhat protected from the summer north winds. There is supposed to be a paddlewheeler on the bottom of the bay. I guess parts of it can still be seen at minus tides. I've seen whales in the bay as well. You can lauch a boat there if you sweet talk the fisherman into dropping you in with their slings. They told me that if I had a Bridle for my boat that they would propably help me out. My RIB has lift points which makes it easy.

Again there are dozens of other sites that I'm sure someone has speared or dove but it is a really small number of people consider. If you spend much time on the oregon coast you will quickly realize that divable conditions on the ocean are fleeting at best. Extended periods (a couple of days) of dead flat no wind days happen in most years but you need to be there when it happens.

In oregon you can spear with scuba I don't think the same is true for California. We can also take two ling cod (>24") and 6 rockfish (anything not red or orange). There are also sea scallops.

Good Luck

[CountrySpearo]

In oregon you can spear with scuba I don't think the same is true for California. We can also take two ling cod (>24") and 6 rockfish (anything not red or orange). There are also sea scallops.

Good Luck


FYI spearfishing in Ca. on scuba is legal, however abalone taking is not legal on scuba.

[Aircowboy]

I think you can take abs on scuba in Oregon if I am not mistaken?

[Tasarsailor]

You can but you need a special permit (free). 8" one per day 5 per year.

I haven't really heard on anyone having luck with abolone. Most folks spend their air on sea scallops instead.

[seahunter]

I have dove in crescent city and there is a dive shop there. They may be able to put you on some spots. We did a few shore dives and had pretty bad vis. I saw 1 abalone and shot a few rockfish. I dive the Trinidad area a lot and the vis is also usually pretty bad, but when you have 10 feet of vis you almost always see lingcod. You have to get all the way down to ft Bragg Ca before the vis gets predictably good.