Finley & Bohlman

Places / Estuary / Bay

Yaquina Bay

Newport · South Beach jetties

The flagship estuary: crab, the full bay-clam set, and jetty fish, with the only in-bay water-temp station on this stretch of coast.

Now · Tuesday, August 11

Weather

59°F

Clear · wind 5 mph

Water temp

58°F

50–60°F crabs best

Seas / safety

2.6 ft

No advisories in effect · wind 6 kt

Next tide

High 12:45 PM

next low 5:51 PM · 2.6′

12a6a12p6p12a6:00 AM · -1.812:45 PM · 7.15:51 PM · 2.611:57 PM · 9.2NOW

Low-water windows ahead. Pick a day

Today
5:51 PM
+2.6
Wed · lowest
6:46 AM
-1.9
Wed
6:44 PM
+2.0
Thu
7:28 AM
-1.8
Thu
7:34 PM
+1.4
Fri
8:06 AM
-1.4

Live · NOAA CO-OPS 9435380 · Open-Meteo · NDBC 46050. Clams and crab work best on the low.

Local provisions

NOAA station 9435380 gives tides AND water temp right in the bay, the only in-bay temperature read on this stretch of coast. The jetties hold greenling, rockfish, and rock sole; the flats hold the full bay-clam set; and the channel is prime Dungeness ground. Confirm the area is open before you clam.

By where you stand

Jetties & piers

Rocky structure: the South Jetty rocks and the Port public pier.

Also: black rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, redtail surfperch, and the winter herring run

Bay flats

Sand and eelgrass exposed on a minus tide.

The bay & channel

Pots, rings, and trolling worked on the tide.

Also: fall Chinook staging in the lower bay

The spots

The actual places you stand: what each lands, when it turns on, and how you get on it.

Port of Newport Public Pier

Public pier
Lands
Dungeness & red rock crab, pile perch, winter herring.
Best on
Any tide; crab pull best on the flood and at slack.
Access
No boat; drop rings off the pier.
Directions →

South Beach Marina Ramp

Boat launch
Lands
Bay Dungeness by pot and ring.
Best on
Run the last of the ebb through the flood.
Access
Main launch, plus a public crab dock to drop from.
Directions →

Sawyer's Landing

Boat launch
Lands
Crab and bay clams, away from the crowds.
Best on
Upper bay; fish the incoming, and hold off right after heavy rain.
Access
Small-boat launch.
Directions →

Idaho Flats

Beach access
Lands
Gaper, cockle, and littleneck clams.
Best on
A good minus tide; the lower the water, the better.
Access
Walk-in on the flats; no boat.
Directions →

Yaquina Bay South Jetty

Jetty
Lands
Rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, greenling, red irish lord; red rock crab and urchin in the rocks; gooseneck barnacle on the wave-swept outer tip.
Best on
A low, calm ocean; work the incoming.
Access
Bank off the rocks; sure feet and gloves, and never a turned back to the surf.
Directions →
← All places