Island Spear Co.

Regulations Oregon

Spearfishing Regulations in Oregon

Checked against the primary source (ODFW) on July 5, 2026state

Governing agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Last verified July 5, 2026 by independent primary-source check.

Summary

Spearfishing is legal in Oregon in both salt and fresh water, but the freshwater rules are restrictive: game fish (salmon, steelhead, trout, whitefish, sturgeon, panfish, catfish) may NOT be speared, and only bass and walleye may be taken by spear in rivers and streams (a statewide opportunity newly opened January 1, 2026), plus smallmouth bass in the Coquille River system. In the ocean, bays and estuaries, marine food fish such as rockfish, greenling, lingcod, cabezon and surfperch — and Pacific halibut — may be speared, while salmon, steelhead and sturgeon may not. Every spearfisher needs an Oregon angling license, and as of 2026 ocean spearfishing also requires a new Ocean Endorsement. Oregon's five marine reserves are no-take zones where all spearfishing is banned.

License

What you need to be legal

LegalA license is required
License
Oregon Angling License (plus Ocean Endorsement for ocean spearfishing; Combined Angling Tag for salmon/steelhead/sturgeon/halibut)
Who needs it
All persons 12 years of age or older must have a valid Oregon angling license in possession to angle for or take any fish for personal use, including by spear 6. As of January 1, 2026 a separate Ocean Endorsement is additionally required to fish or spearfish for marine species in the ocean from beaches, jetties or boats, except when targeting only salmon, steelhead or shellfish 5.
Resident cost
Resident annual angling license $50.00; one-day $29.00; two-day $48.00; three-day $68.00. Ocean Endorsement $9.00 annual / $4.00 daily (same price for residents and nonresidents) (s4, s5). Senior (resident 70+, 5+ years residency) annual angling $34.00; Youth (12-17) $10.00 4.
Non-resident cost
Nonresident annual angling license $138.00; one-day $29.00; two-day $48.00; three-day $68.00; seven-day $117.00. Ocean Endorsement $9.00 annual / $4.00 daily (s4, s5).
Where to buy
Online through ODFW's licensing system (MyODFW / the ODFW online license sales portal), at ODFW license sale agents (sporting goods and tackle shops), and at ODFW offices (s5, s6).

Exemptions

  • Children under 12 years of age do not need an angling license 6.
  • No license (or Ocean Endorsement) is needed by anyone during ODFW's designated Free Fishing Days; all other regulations, bag limits and tag requirements still apply 6.
  • Resident landowners and their immediate family living on the property may angle on their own land without a license for most species — but salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut still require the proper license and tag regardless of land ownership 6.
  • The Ocean Endorsement is already bundled into the Youth Combo, Pioneer and Disabled Veteran licenses 5.
  • Washington residents holding a valid Washington fishing license fishing north of Cape Falcon from a boat are exempt from the Oregon Ocean Endorsement; youth under 12 and Free Fishing Weekend participants are also exempt (confirmed on ODFW's Ocean Endorsement page) 5.

The full story

The full story

Oregon's spearfishing picture changed meaningfully for the 2026 regulation cycle, so old advice is now wrong in two directions. First, ODFW opened a statewide opportunity to spearfish for bass and walleye in rivers and streams effective January 1, 2026 — previously freshwater spearing of these game fish was not broadly available. ODFW frames it as an invasive-species tool: bass and walleye prey on native juvenile salmon, so the agency wants more of them removed. The catch is that it applies only to waters that already have NO size or bag limit for bass/walleye, which is a per-waterbody determination in the regulation tables — a diver must confirm the specific river or stream qualifies rather than assuming statewide access (s2, s5).

Second, and easy to miss: as of January 1, 2026 ODFW requires a new Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual / $4 daily, same for residents and nonresidents) to fish or spearfish for marine species in the ocean, on top of the base angling license. It is waived only when you are targeting solely salmon, steelhead or shellfish, and it is bundled into a few license types (Youth Combo, Pioneer, Disabled Veteran). Both the angling license and the Ocean Endorsement are real, actively issued and enforced ODFW products — this is not a paper-only requirement, so budget for both before an ocean dive (s5, s4).

The steady, non-changing rules to burn into memory: game fish generally may NOT be speared — the ONLY freshwater game fish you may spear are bass and walleye (statewide where limits allow) and smallmouth bass in the Coquille system; everything else (salmon, steelhead, trout, whitefish, sturgeon, panfish, catfish) is off-limits to a spear. Nongame rough fish and bullfrogs are broadly open to spear/spear gun/bow. In the ocean you may spear rockfish, greenling, lingcod, cabezon, Pacific cod, surfperch and Pacific halibut, but not salmon, steelhead or sturgeon. And never spear inside the five marine reserves — they are strict no-take zones (s1, s2, s3, s7).

Where it's legal

Saltwater & freshwater

Saltwater

Legal

Oregon has an extensive Pacific coastline, and spearfishing is legal in the ocean, bays and estuaries. General marine food fish — rockfish, greenling, cabezon, Pacific cod, lingcod, skates and sharks — and surfperch 'may be taken by angling, hand, bow and arrow, spear, gaff hook, snag hook and herring jigs,' and Pacific halibut may be taken 'by spear' 3. Salmon and steelhead are not authorized to be taken by spear, and sturgeon is catch-and-release only (barbless hook), so neither may be speared 3. As of January 1, 2026, an Ocean Endorsement is required to spearfish for marine species in the ocean 5. Oregon's five marine reserves (Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua, Redfish Rocks) are no-take zones where all fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited 7.

Freshwater

Legal

Freshwater spearing is legal only for a narrow set of species. It is unlawful to 'snag, spear (except for bass and walleye where allowed), gaff, net, trap, club, shoot or ensnare any freshwater game fish' 2. Bass and walleye may be speared only in waterbodies where there are no size or bag limits for those species; as of January 1, 2026 ODFW opened a statewide opportunity to spearfish for bass and walleye in qualifying rivers and streams (s2, s5). Separately, a permanent rule (effective June 1, 2025) lets anglers 'use bait, spears, and spear guns to take smallmouth bass in the Coquille River system' (mainstem plus East, Middle, North and South forks), with no size or bag limit 1. Nongame fish — suckers, pikeminnow, carp, chub and sculpin — may be taken by 'angling, hand, bow and arrow, crossbow, spear, spear gun, gaff and snag hook,' and bullfrogs may be taken by spear, gig or spear gun 2. Game fish that may NOT be speared include salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout, whitefish, bluegill, catfish, crappie, sunfish, yellow perch and striped/hybrid bass 2.

Gear

What you can carry

Speargun
Legal where spearfishing itself is legal. ODFW harvest-method lists expressly name 'spear gun' for nongame fish, bullfrogs, and (in the Coquille) smallmouth bass, and 'spear' for marine food fish and halibut (s1, s2, s3).
Pole spear
Not named individually in ODFW rules. Pole spears fall under the generic 'spear' harvest method that is authorized for marine food fish, halibut, nongame fish, bullfrogs, and bass/walleye where allowed; there is no separate ODFW restriction on pole spears in the pages reviewed (s2, s3).
Hawaiian sling
Not named individually in ODFW rules. A Hawaiian sling is a spear-type device and falls under the generic 'spear'/'spear gun' harvest method authorized for the species listed above; ODFW does not separately name or restrict Hawaiian slings in the pages reviewed (s2, s3).
Spearfishing on SCUBA
Not expressly addressed. ODFW's regulations specify which harvest methods (spear, spear gun, etc.) are allowed for each species but, in the pages reviewed, do not expressly permit or prohibit the use of SCUBA / compressed-air diving while spearfishing. Confirm current dive-gear rules directly with ODFW before diving (see unverified).

Gear restrictions

  • Spear/spear gun may be used on freshwater game fish ONLY for bass and walleye, and only where there are no size or bag limits for those species — all other game fish are off-limits to spearing 2.
  • The Coquille smallmouth-bass spear allowance is limited to the Coquille River system; on the South Fork it runs from the mouth to the U.S. Forest Service boundary near Powers 1.
  • Anti-snagging gear restrictions apply in various waters; snagging is prohibited for game fish 2.
  • In the ocean, an Ocean Endorsement is required to spearfish for marine species as of January 1, 2026 5.

Do not spear

Prohibited species

  • Salmon — may not be taken by spear (freshwater game fish; not an authorized spear method in the marine zone) (s2, s3)
  • Steelhead — may not be taken by spear (freshwater game fish; not an authorized spear method in the marine zone) (s2, s3)
  • Trout — may not be speared (freshwater game fish) 2
  • Whitefish (mountain whitefish) — may not be speared (freshwater game fish) 2
  • Sturgeon — may not be speared; catch-and-release only with barbless hooks in the marine zone (s2, s3)
  • Shad — may not be speared (listed game fish) 2
  • Bluegill, crappie, sunfish, yellow perch — may not be speared (game panfish) 2
  • Catfish — may not be speared (game fish) 2
  • Striped bass / hybrid bass — may not be speared except where specifically allowed 2
  • Any fish or wildlife inside Oregon's five marine reserves — no take by any method, including spear 7

Where you can't

Area restrictions

  • Marine reserves are no-take: Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua and Redfish Rocks prohibit take of any fish or wildlife, so all spearfishing is banned within their boundaries 7.
  • Marine 'Management Designations for Marine Areas' further define open/closed areas and seasonal closures in the ocean, bays and estuaries — check them before diving 3.
  • The Coquille smallmouth-bass spear rule is geographically limited to the Coquille River system (mainstem and forks; South Fork mouth to the USFS boundary near Powers) 1.
  • Statewide bass/walleye spearing applies only to rivers and streams that are open for bass/walleye harvest with no size or bag limits — not all waters qualify (s2, s5).

Worth knowing

Notable rules, seasons & limits

  • Oregon flipped its freshwater spearfishing rules open in recent years: bass and walleye spearing in qualifying rivers and streams became a statewide opportunity effective January 1, 2026, framed by ODFW as a way to reduce these nonnative predators' impact on native fish (s5, s2).
  • A NEW Ocean Endorsement ($9 annual / $4 daily) is required as of January 1, 2026 to spearfish for marine species in the ocean — a genuine new cost/requirement that catches returning divers off guard (s5, s4).
  • The Coquille River system has its own permanent rule allowing bait, spears and spear guns for unlimited smallmouth bass — an invasive-removal measure 1.
  • Game fish are the dividing line: only bass and walleye among game fish may ever be speared; salmon, steelhead, trout, whitefish, sturgeon and panfish may not 2.
  • Nongame/rough fish (suckers, pikeminnow, carp, chub, sculpin) and bullfrogs are broadly open to spear, spear gun and bow-and-arrow harvest 2.

What divers here typically use

Gear up for Oregon spearfishing

Oregon's water runs cold, so divers here tend to reach for a thicker open-cell wetsuit before anything else. Our honest guide to the Best Spearfishing Wetsuit walks through what to look for — curated from published specs and community consensus, not paid placement.

If you break them

Penalties

Angling and spearfishing violations are enforced by Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife troopers under Oregon's fish and wildlife laws (ORS Chapter 496/498) and ODFW's administrative rules (OAR Chapter 635). Violations are typically charged as misdemeanors or violations and can carry fines, license suspension or revocation, and forfeiture of unlawfully taken fish and gear; take within a marine reserve or of a prohibited species carries heightened exposure. Exact fine amounts and statute/rule citation numbers were not stated on the ODFW pages reviewed and should be verified in ORS Chapters 496–498 and OAR Chapter 635.

Not yet independently confirmed — verify directly

  • The exact per-waterbody list of which rivers and streams qualify as having 'no size or bag limit' for bass/walleye (and are therefore open to spearing statewide as of Jan 1, 2026) was not enumerated on the summary pages reviewed; it must be checked against the specific waterbody entries in the ODFW regulation tables.
  • Whether SCUBA / compressed-air diving is expressly permitted or restricted for spearfishing was not stated in the ODFW pages reviewed; ODFW lists allowed harvest methods by species but did not address breathing apparatus. Confirm with ODFW before using SCUBA to spearfish.
  • Exact penalty/fine dollar amounts and the precise ORS/OAR citation numbers for spearfishing violations were not stated on the ODFW pages reviewed; the penalties summary is a general characterization to be verified in ORS Chapters 496-498 and OAR Chapter 635.
  • 'Pole spear' and 'Hawaiian sling' are not named individually in ODFW regulations; their legality is inferred from the generic 'spear'/'spear gun' harvest method authorized for the listed species.
  • License, endorsement and tag dollar amounts are 2026 figures and are set by ODFW / the Legislature; confirm current-year pricing at purchase.

Confirm these points directly with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before you rely on them.

Primary sources

Sources

Every fact above is drawn from these official sources. Each was retrieved on the date shown; regulations can change after that date.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is spearfishing legal in Oregon?
Yes — spearfishing is legal in Oregon's saltwater, and it is permitted in fresh water, subject to license, gear, species, and area rules. Oregon has an extensive Pacific coastline, and spearfishing is legal in the ocean, bays and estuaries. General marine food fish — rockfish, greenling, cabezon, Pacific cod,…
Do you need a license to spearfish in Oregon?
Yes. Oregon requires the Oregon Angling License (plus Ocean Endorsement for ocean spearfishing; Combined Angling Tag for salmon/steelhead/sturgeon/halibut). Resident cost: Resident annual angling license $50.00; one-day $29.00; two-day $48.00; three-day $68.00. Ocean Endorsement $9.00 annual / $4.00 daily (same price for residents and nonresidents) (s4, s5). Senior (resident 70+, 5+ years residency) annual angling $34.00; Youth (12-17) $10.00. Non-resident cost: Nonresident annual angling license $138.00; one-day $29.00; two-day $48.00; three-day $68.00; seven-day $117.00. Ocean Endorsement $9.00 annual / $4.00 daily (s4, s5).
Can you spearfish on scuba in Oregon?
Not expressly addressed. ODFW's regulations specify which harvest methods (spear, spear gun, etc.) are allowed for each species but, in the pages reviewed, do not expressly permit or prohibit the use of SCUBA / compressed-air diving while spearfishing. Confirm current dive-gear…
What can't you spear in Oregon?
Protected or no-take species you may not spear in Oregon include: Salmon — may not be taken by spear, Steelhead — may not be taken by spear, Trout — may not be speared, Whitefish, Sturgeon — may not be speared; catch-and-release only with barbless hooks in the marine zone, Shad — may not be speared, Bluegill, crappie, sunfish, yellow perch — may not be speared, Catfish — may not be speared. Always check the full prohibited-species list and current seasons before diving, and confirm with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).

Stay current

Get an email when Oregon's size & bag limits change

Regulations shift between seasons. We re-check Oregon's rules against the primary source and send a short note when the limits, seasons, or licensing move — nothing else.

No spam. Regulations updates, gear data drops, and the launch of the guide.

Last verified July 5, 2026. Regulations change — always confirm the current rules with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) before you dive.

← All regulations