Cabezon fishing in Oregon Coast
In Oregon Coast, cabezon peak April–October and December–February and are around year-round, spawning in December–February, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Cabezon on the jetty rocks and nearshore reefs; ODFW manages them by quota, check.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Cabezon in Oregon Coast, month by month
- JanuarySpawning
- FebruarySpawning
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakCabezon on the jetty rocks and nearshore reefs; ODFW manages them by quota, check.
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakPeak.
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberSpawning
Where to fish cabezon near Brookings, Coos Bay, Newport
Three hundred miles of headlands, jetties and drowned river bays — Chetco, Rogue, Coos, Umpqua, Siuslaw, Alsea, Yaquina, Siletz, Nestucca, Tillamook — with Heceta and Stonewall Banks offshore and the Columbia's mouth at the top.
What to use for cabezon
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sand crabs (Pacific mole crabs)A soft-shell sand crab on a #4 to #2 hook, Carolina rig, cast just behind the first break — the corbina and barred surfperch bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 46–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch cabezon in Oregon Coast?
Peak season is April–October and December–February, with fish spawning in December–February (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Cabezon are here year-round. April: Cabezon on the jetty rocks and nearshore reefs; ODFW manages them by quota, check.
Where do cabezon hold in Oregon Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, pass / inlet, fishing pier — around Brookings, Coos Bay, Newport, Depoe Bay, Garibaldi, Astoria.
What is the best bait for cabezon in Oregon Coast?
Live bait: squid, sand crabs (pacific mole crabs). Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for cabezon in Oregon Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and change — read the current rule at https://myodfw.com/fishing/marine-zone before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myodfw.com/fishing/licensing-info.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores cabezon for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about cabezon · The Oregon Coast, the whole year