Offshore long-leader gear fishery rockfish Regulations in Oregon (2026)

Where

Seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line (ocean)

Bag limit

The daily bag limit is 10 fish per angler. For canary rockfish, there is a daily sub-bag limit of two fish per angler beginning January 1, 2026. The only species allowed in the daily long-leader gear bag limit are: yellowtail, widow, canary, redstripe, greenstriped, silvergray, chilipepper, blue, deacon, and bocaccio rockfishes. When combining Pacific halibut with the offshore long-leader gear fishery, once the general marine species bag limit is exceeded with only long-leader approved species onboard (rockfish species listed above), all anglers on the vessel must stop fishing for halibut and switch all halibut fishing gear to long-leader gear. Note: if an angler retains more than the general marine fish bag limit of rockfish while participating in the long-leader gear fishery, no other fishing (i.e., salmon) may occur inside (shoreward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line on that same trip.

Season

The offshore long-leader gear fishery is open year-round outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line.

• Long-leader gear must be used.
• Anglers are reminded that once salmon are on board, anglers are restricted to no more than 2 single point barbless hooks at all times when angling for salmon in the ocean or when angling for other species if a salmon has already been retained.
• Page updated 2025-12-31.
• Descending devices are mandatory; and must be used to release any rockfish outside of the 30-fathom regulatory line.
• The Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (approximately 15 miles from Newport) is CLOSED to the long-leader gear fishery, as well as the regular bottomfish fishery.
• The only species allowed in the daily long-leader gear bag limit are: yellowtail, widow, canary, redstripe, greenstriped, silvergray, chilipepper, blue, deacon, and bocaccio rockfishes.
• Lingcod cannot be retained.
• Offshore long-leader gear fishery trips cannot be combined with traditional bottomfish trips.

Official source