ORS 509.040
Small or immature salmon protected

  • exceptions
  • rules

(1)

Any person who takes any immature salmon of any variety less than 20 inches in length, or any mature salmon of any variety less than 15 inches in length, by any means other than angling, shall immediately return such salmon alive to the water.

(2)

It is unlawful to:

(a)

Take, buy, sell or possess immature salmon less than 20 inches or mature salmon less than 15 inches in length, taken in any waters of this state, at any time or in any manner except by angling.

(b)

Take, molest, kill or injure, in any manner at any time, or expose for sale or have in possession, except for the purpose of propagation when authorized by law, any spawning salmon.

(3)

Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section it is lawful to take precocious salmon commonly called jack salmon less than 15 inches in length from the waters of this state, except the Pacific Ocean and to buy, sell or possess such salmon.

(4)

To further protect immature salmon the State Fish and Wildlife Commission may establish by rule a minimum size for any species of salmon which is greater than 20 inches. [Amended by 1965 c.570 §97]

Source: Section 509.040 — Small or immature salmon protected; exceptions; rules, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors509.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

509.001
Definitions 509.006
General prohibition regarding taking, possessing, buying, selling or handling food fish 509.011
Prohibited activities during closed season 509.015
Forfeiture of boat, vessel or fishing gear unlawfully used 509.019
Consumption of catch at sea lawful without payment of fee 509.025
Selling or transporting food fish taken by angling 509.031
Rainbow trout as game fish 509.040
Small or immature salmon protected 509.070
Selling, canning, processing or preserving food fish out of water longer than 60 hours 509.075
Packing or selling food fish unfit for human consumption 509.105
Possession, importation or transportation of food fish unlawfully taken in other state 509.110
Fish transporters to require statement from shipper 509.112
Wasting food fish 509.115
Placing in waters fish harmful to food fish 509.120
Using electricity to disturb food fish 509.122
Definitions for ORS 509.125 to 509.155 509.125
Placing substances in water to drive fish from closed areas 509.130
Placing substances in water or using explosives to take or destroy food fish 509.140
Placing explosives or harmful substances in waters in course of lawful work 509.150
Use by commission of explosives or substances to destroy predatory fish 509.155
Possession of fish taken by explosives or harmful substance justifies arrest 509.160
Prohibition on possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins 509.230
Possession of fish taken by lawful gear from Pacific Ocean outside Oregon jurisdiction 509.235
Certain sturgeon lines prohibited 509.240
Snagging nets during closed season allowed 509.245
Notice to director of use of snagging net 509.355
Definitions for ORS 509.355 to 509.385 509.360
When ORS 509.355 to 509.385 operative 509.365
Taking salmon by net in waters of Pacific Ocean over which Oregon has jurisdiction prohibited 509.370
Taking of salmon by net in international waters of Pacific Ocean by Oregon citizen prohibited 509.375
Transporting or possessing salmon unlawfully taken by net in certain waters prohibited 509.385
Exceptions 509.415
Gear used in taking crab 509.505
Placing in water matter injurious to shellfish 509.510
Taking shellfish from marked beds without permission 509.515
Landing or possession of krill prohibited 509.580
Definitions for ORS 509.580 to 509.590, 509.600 to 509.645 and 509.910 509.585
Fish passage required for artificial obstructions 509.590
Fish Passage Task Force 509.592
Task force advice to department regarding project funding 509.595
Director to report on fish passage rules, adequacy and implementation 509.600
Destroying, injuring or taking fish near fishway 509.610
Maintenance of fish passage required 509.620
Condemning inadequate or nonfunctioning fish passage 509.625
Power of department to inspect artificial obstructions and have fish passage constructed or remove obstruction 509.630
Power of department to establish fish passage in natural stream obstructions 509.635
Oregon City fishway under control of commission 509.645
Filing protest with commission 509.910
Injunction to prevent certain violations

Current through early 2026

§ 509.040. Small or immature salmon protected's source at oregon​.gov