looking for Oregon coast yak fish buddies

Howdy, I have been member of NWKA for a year or two but rarely post. Since my yak fishing friend moved I am having a hard time finding people to go with. I have a hobie outback and live near Eugene. I have a lot of saltwater yak fishing experience and most often fish Depoe Bay and Sunset Bay(Cape Arago). I have also saltwater yak fished in Mexico quite a bit.The Oregon coast is great bottom fishing and like putting rockfish and Ling filets in the freezer. I am crazy about fishing the salt and as anyone who has fished the Oregon coast in a yak knows  you need to be very cautious of wind , swell, and weather and some months don't get a chance to get out. I carry a VHF Radio and always wear a wetsuit but still prefer going with a buddy. I am looking for likeminded others (preferably in Lane county or near the coast)who are game  to go and can sometimes take off weekdays. Please reply if your interested and I will send my phone or email. Tight lines!   Joe

Hi Joe, I'm Razz. I am in Gold Beach near the Rogue River. I have only had my yak for about a month but a  fishing buddy is always welcome, especially in the salt. If you ever think about heading south I am usually available. I have not been to Depoe Bay but would like to give that a try sometime also.

Hey Razz, I have yak fished out of sunset bay a number of times, which is closer to you.Three weeks ago we did great there with crabs and rockfish.  I want to check out Port Orford. Have you been there? I have heard it is a great fishery. I Try to keep an eye on the weather and get out when it is calm ,which means swells max of 3-5ft., and light winds. Still that means driving 2 or 3 hrs in the dark and hoping the forecast holds true! Give me a call sometime or give me your cell.   Joe 541 729 1248

I'll start posting my south coast trips too.  No salmon love on the Chetco bubble. Might try the elk bubble next month. Hoping this storm doesn't blow out the rogue, hoping to hit it for salmon next week.

Joe, I have fished Port Orford a couple times, the second being today. The first time I caught fish, but only small ones 10-12 inches. Today was a much better outing with a couple in the 4# range. I am not an expert on conditions here, but wind direction seems to be a key factor, preferably not from the south as I had today.

Port Orford is not a great fishery, it's a recovering fishery.  According to the permanent OSU Ocean Research Center here in town, it's just starting to recover from decades of over-harvest.  When you come, have a great time, but be responsible and don't obsess on limiting out.

Port Orford is not a great fishery, it's a recovering fishery.  According to the permanent OSU Ocean Research Center here in town, it's just starting to recover from decades of over-harvest.  When you come, have a great time, but be responsible and don't obsess on limiting out.

Well said, friend.

Port Orford is not a great fishery, it's a recovering fishery.  According to the permanent OSU Ocean Research Center here in town, it's just starting to recover from decades of over-harvest.  When you come, have a great time, but be responsible and don't obsess on limiting out.

We should each follow our conscience and each person is responsible for their impact on the resource. The goal of most current harvest regulations for the OR/WA nearshore fishery is to have a sustainable harvest for both the sport and commercial fisheries. The sport "limits" for rockfish/lingcod/cabezon are designed for sustainable harvest, and no one should make anyone else feel guilty for filling out a limit of legally caught groundfish.

Somewhat tangentially, here is some recent info on the management of nearshore species that is interesting: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/finfish/docs/2015-16%20SPEX%20for%20web.pdf

That organizational chart checks out. Ugh.

The nearshore minor species are being actively managed and ODFW does a bang up job. Oregon already imposed greater limits than the PFMC and Feds require such as a seven rockfish limit while basing harvest of the federal ten fish limit, building a buffer into the process and allowing year round retention of most Groundfish species. Closing retention of chinas and coppers is just the most recent example. WA and CA could learn a thing or two.

Go ahead and take your limit if that's what you want to do.

Not every spot on the coast is the same, and the south coast - which is not even discussed in that presentation - was commercially fished almost into an underwater desert.  The commercial fleet has voluntarily gone further out and stayed away from the area around Port Orford for years, taking a hit on their livelihood to let the resource recover.

It doesn't hurt to not fill the boat.  That's all I'm saying.  There isn't any shaming intended.