A trip to the beach wouldn’t be complete without fish and chips or clam chowder. But even better — how about bringing a taste of the Coast home? Or cooking it over your campfire or in your rental kitchen? We polled our Facebook friends to find out where to go for the freshest albacore, sweetest Dungeness crab and most succulent Yaquina Bay oysters. Check out this list of 10 Coast fishmongers to satisfy your inner chef.
Bandon Fish Market (Bandon) This popular local restaurant also features a fresh fish case filled with local fish, Dungeness crab, bay shrimp, shucked oysters and prawns in season.
Barnacle Bill’s (Lincoln City) With a bustling window on Highway 101, this no-frills affair has a reputation for stellar smoked fish, including salmon and tuna, as well as fresh local crab, oysters and Dory-caught rock and lingcod.
Chuck’s Seafood (Charleston) The place for salmon, albacore tuna, crab, oysters (plucked from Chuck’s own oyster beds) and other fine seafood; smoked selections are prepared over coals of native alder wood.
Ecola Seafoods (Cannon Beach) has two boats trolling the Pacific for premium fish, all line-caught. Be sure to taste the “World-Famous Smoked Salmon Jerky.”
Fishermen Direct Seafood (Gold Beach) Three veterans of the commercial fishing industry opened this outpost a dozen-plus years ago bringing Gold Beach its first fresh fish market. Today Fishermen Direct offers wild fish straight from the Pacific, as well as house-smoked and canned products. Don’t miss the fresh Nova Lox made from local chinook salmon.
Community Support Fishery (Garibaldi) Purchase seafood fresh off the docks (or have it delivered to your door) from local fishermen aiming to offer a sustainable alternative to commercial fishing fleets.
Krab Kettle (Florence) Stop here for the freshest fish, Dungeness crab, oysters and clams. Quarts of chowder to-go also get rave reviews.
Local Oceans (Newport) This dockside shop is widely known for its popular upscale restaurant, but the adjacent fish market is a great spot to shop for the catch of the day that’s fresh off the docks across the street.
Oregon Oyster Farms (Newport) The name says it all — nothing but bi-valves here. Impress your friends at home with a 5-pound bag of native varieties from this 100-year-old operation on the Yaquina Bay. Bring ’em home in the shell or ask the friendly farm folks to shuck ’em for you.
South Beach Fish Market (Newport) One of the Central Coast’s most popular markets, South Beach offers crab, albacore tuna, wild salmon and more from Newport’s commercial fishing fleet. Smoked fish is also available.
Photo by Justin Bailie