Starting June 1, 2025, anglers in Oregon’s Coquille River system can permanently use bait, spears, and spear guns to catch smallmouth bass, with no size or harvest limits. This new regulation, announced by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) on May 30, 2025, applies to the mainstem Coquille River and its East, Middle, North, and South forks, with spearfishing and bait use permitted on the South Fork from the mouth to the U.S. Forest Service boundary near Powers.
The rule aims to curb the spread of invasive smallmouth bass, which threaten native fish populations, particularly wild juvenile fall Chinook salmon.
Smallmouth bass, illegally introduced to the Coquille River system, have expanded their range significantly, reaching the Forest Service boundary above Powers in the South Fork, Laverne Park in the North Fork, and Sandy Creek in the Middle Fork.
These invasive fish thrive in the river’s warm waters and low flows, preying on juvenile fall Chinook salmon, Pacific lamprey (culturally significant to Pacific Northwest tribes), native coho salmon, steelhead, sculpin, dace, and crayfish.
Over the past seven years, the predation has contributed to a steady decline in the Coquille system’s Chinook population, despite poor ocean conditions also playing a role.
Since 2020, ODFW, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and other partners have used electroshocking to remove smallmouth bass, but the species continues to outcompete native fish.
The permanent rule builds on temporary summer allowances for bait and spearfishing, offering anglers a unique opportunity to help control the invasive population. “This is about protecting our native species, especially the struggling Chinook salmon,” said Gary Vonderohe, ODFW fish biologist. “Anglers can play a key role in reducing the impact of smallmouth bass.”
To assist anglers, ODFW provides access maps for the South Fork Coquille and lower Coquille, along with an updated map of smallmouth bass distribution. The agency also offers a video series on spearfishing techniques, including how to craft a fishing spear and filet a smallmouth bass. Anglers are encouraged to use these resources to target the invasive fish effectively.
For more information, contact Gary Vonderohe at (541) 857-2392 or Meghan Dugan at (541) 315-6629.
Reference: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2025, May 30). Spearfishing, bait use now permanently allowed for smallmouth bass fishing on Coquille River system.
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