Coos Bay Map

  • Oregon’s Largest Bay and Largest Coastal City (pop. 16,292).
  • Clam, Crab, Fish, Charter Boats, Hiking, Dunes, Kayaking, Birding.
  • Beaches, Bays, Rivers, Mountains, RV Park, Casinos, Shopping, Restaurants, Hotels.
  • Cape Arago Hwy Has Excellent Clamming With Many Easily Accessible Points.
  • Clamming in Charleston is Excellent Throughout and Access is Easy.
  • Shore Crabbing is Accessible From a Number of Piers, and Docks.
Lower Spit Coos Bay Oregon

Above is the North spit lower bay area. Popular sites with easy access are on the west side along Cape Arago Highway.  The upper bay area (not shown), which is also quite large and has populations of clams, is muddier and not as accessible.

Below is the Charleston area which again offers easy access to an abundance of clams. There is also a number of places to crab by dock or pier.

Coos Bay Charleston, Oregon

Coos Bay, Oregon

Coos Bay’s primary industry is the Port of Coos Bay, Maritime and Rail Commerce moves 1.5 million tons every year and over 10,000 tons of seafood are landed at the Charleston Marina. It’s also a great place to visit with hotels, restaurants, casino’s and more. If you own a RV check out The Mill Casino and RV Park , located on the north side of Coos Bay.

Coos Bay Clamming

Coos Bay is not just the largest Bay in Oregon it is also marine dominated with very little freshwater influence. Therefore, a great place for any sea crustaceans to live. This makes for clamming paradise! A large bay with lots of different areas to clam, many species of clams (with most in abundance), and easy access by foot, by boat, or by dock.

Make sure you have both a shovel and gun depending on where you go. Take the above maps advice if your a first timer. There is both a Visitors Center and England’s Marine (largest marine store on Oregon Coast) where you can buy or rent anything you need. And of course, get any questions you might have answered as well!

Commercial oyster operations are also nearby so remember that oysters are private property in Oregon and cannot be harvested recreationally here.

Coos Bay Crabbing

This is also a great place to go crabbing. Crabbing can be done year round here, but as with most locations, fall and winter provide the most abundance. For boaters, crabbing is excellent particularly west of the navigational channel in lower Coos Bay. Coos Bay has docks for convenient crabbing, as well as shore crabbing, and 5 places to launch your own boat if you’re so inclined. There are a number of RV Parks that rent everything you need as well.

For broad open beach, Bastendorff Beach is a must-see. With multiple parking lots right next to the beach, access is extremely easy here. Although Razor Clams are not as predictably abundant here, on good years harvesting Razor Clams can be very rewarding.

Disclaimer
Information provided is a result of personal experience at each bay or beach location.
In addition, local residences providing input and advice, and ongoing information from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife websites.  Information will change as incoming seas tend to shift and move sand, after that it makes it harder for clams to reproduce. So always check for current beach closures and advisories related to biotoxins, pollution or other human health concerns the same day you plan to harvest. Razorclamming.com is not responsible for the accuracy of this data and the outcome or results of your personal efforts, or safe consumption of shellfish.

Shellfish Safety Hotline
635 Capitol St NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 800-448-2474
Alt Phone: 503-986-4728