Whether pursuing Dungeness crab, Chinook salmon, Razor clams, a tasty halibut or Steelhead trout, you will find plenty of spectacular fishing opportunities right along the coast in and near Seaside, Oregon. Within a short drive, there are opportunities to fish on the ocean, the Columbia and other rivers, and at many smaller streams and rivers easily accessible from Oregon’s numerous state parks and recreation areas. But right in the town of Seaside, you can find plenty of angling venues!
IN SEASIDE:
The Necanicum and Neawanna Rivers flow right through the town of Seaside. Largemouth bass, Bluegill and Bream are found in Mantel Lake, which also allows the public access to its shores. Cartwright Park at 1378 Avenue U, right on the Necanicum River also makes fishing easily available with a boat ramp. You can visit Quatat Marine Park right along the Necanicum River at Oceanway (behind the Convention Center) as well, for more angling opportunities.
The 12th Avenue Bridge, right in Seaside, offers another prime spot for fishing, and it is a hotspot for crabbing.
In south Seaside, along Ocean Vista Drive, you will find The Cove, best known for surfing and tidepooling, but it’s also good for surf fishing. Sometimes perch and other fish are caught right at The Cove.
CAMPING ALONG THE RIVER:
Seaside has an RV Campground located right along Highway 101, along the southern part of the Necanicum River. Circle Creek RV Park offers 44 full hook-up sites, and includes many amenities for the RV camper. It is only two miles south of Broadway and 1¼ miles from the Pacific Ocean. They offer instructions to campers for razor clam digging, which are plentiful around the Necanicum River.
Just two miles east of Seaside is Klootchy Creek, a Clatsop County Park, which allows public access to the Necanicum River. This park is the site of Oregon’s first State Heritage Tree, a 750-year-old Sitka Spruce that was once the largest tree in Oregon and the largest Sitka Spruce in the US until it succumbed to high winds in December 2007.
WITHIN A HALF-HOUR’S DRIVE:
If you drive north along Hwy 101, you can find fishing opportunities along the coast, as well as in the Astoria area. Several beaches, rivers and lakes are between Seaside and the Astoria area. There is a harbor in the Warrenton/Hammond area where fishing boats frequently arrive and depart, and from the Columbia River to Youngs Bay, you can gain access to the Pacific Ocean.
WITHIN AN HOUR’S DRIVE:
And just an hour south of Seaside, you can find great fresh water fishing inland at the Nehalem River, with ample fresh water access. Or, choose to camp right on the Pacific Ocean at Nehalem Bay State Park or Kelly’s Brighton Marina where you will have plenty of saltwater access.
LICENSING & REGULATIONS:
In general, everyone age 12 and older must have a valid Oregon angling license to take or assist another in taking any fish or shellfish for personal use, with certain exceptions. If you plan to fish in the Columbia River, you will need an additional Columbia River Basin endorsement, which can add to the cost of your regular sport-fishing license. For the full regulations and details of all Oregon fishing spots, check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website.
Wherever your angling takes you along the Oregon coast in or near Seaside, enjoy the adventure and come back often!