Photo courtesy of Tyson Gillard

Netarts Bay Landing is the primary access point to Netarts Bay, a 7-mile-long and 1-mile-wide saltwater bay on the northern Oregon Coast, between Oceanside and Cape Lookout.

The large and shallow tidal bay is famous for clamming and popular for crabbing. The landing itself provides restrooms, picnic tables, boat ramp and day use moorage.

According to ​the Oregon Coast Visitors Association:

“In the Native American language of the local Killamook tribe, ‘Ne ta at,’ meant ‘near the water.’ Later, modernized spelling became Netarts. The best known area of occupation for the local Indians was on the Netarts Spit, with other midden piles in evidence at most creek outlets around the bay. The earliest Tillamook Indian settlement in the county was in the Netarts area and is believed to date back to the early 1400s. The first white settlement of Netarts Bay was in 1863.”

Rules, Regulations and Licenses

A shellfish license is required for anyone over 12 years old. Before heading out, be sure to call the Shellfish Hotline at 1.800.448.2474 to confirm seasonal closures, or visit the State of Oregon’s Shellfish Biotoxin Closure page.

  • Dungeness crab: Daily limit of 12 male crabs (it is prohibited to catch and keep females), minimum size 5 3/4 inches. Crabbing is open in estuaries (i.e. bays), beaches, tide pools, piers, and jetties year round. Crabbing in the ocean is CLOSED for Dungeness crab from October 16 to November 30.
  • Red rock crabs: Daily limit of 24, any size or sex.
  • Razor clams: Daily limit of 15.
  • Bay clams (gaper, butter, littleneck, cockle, and geoduck): Daily limit of 20 (only 12 of which can be gaper clams). No more than one daily limit per day may be taken per person. No more than two daily limits may be in possession. If unbroken, butter (Saxidomus giganteus), cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii), or little-neck (Protothaca staminea) clams may be returned only in immediate digging area. All other clams must be retained regardless of size or condition.
  • Softshell and piddocks clams: Daily limit of 36.
  • Purple varnish clams: Daily limit of 72.
  • Shrimp and prawns: Daily limit of 20 pounds including the shell.
  • Mud and ghost shrimp: No limit.
  • Mussels: Daily limit of 72.
  • Sand crabs, mole crabs, kelp worms and sand worms: No limit.

Call the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1.800.448.2474 for more information.