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October 25, 2023

Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation

Required for steelhead anglers; season begins Dec. 1

The Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation is required for all winter steelhead anglers fishing in the Rogue Basin or on the south coast from Dec. 1 to April 30. In addition, a harvest tag is required to keep wild winter steelhead in this area.‌

Visit e-regulations

Several Rogue River fishing boats pulled up on shore

Temporary harvest restrictions on Illinois, Rogue rivers for winter steelhead season

Temporary wild winter steelhead harvest limits are in place for the Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead season (Dec. 1, 2024 – Apr. 30, 2025):

  • Lower Rogue River (mouth of the Rogue to the confluence with the Illinois River: one wild steelhead may be kept during the winter steelhead season.
  • Illinois River and the Rogue River between the Illinois River and Cole Rivers Hatchery: all wild winter steelhead must be released unharmed.

This new validation establishes a winter steelhead season in the Rogue and south coast basins (highlighted area on the map below) from Dec. 1 to April 30 with the following regulations:

To fish for any winter steelhead (including catch-and-release)

All anglers need:

  • Annual fishing license (12 years and older) and combined angling tag, OR
    Daily or multi-day angling license with valid ODFW ID number* , AND
  • Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation.

* Since purchasing daily or multi-day licenses through “guest checkout” doesn’t include the ID number, a full account is required to purchase a validation. 
* Pre-paid daily licenses do not qualify to purchase a validation.

To keep a wild winter steelhead

All anglers (regardless of age) need:

  • All Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation Requirements listed above AND
  • Rogue-South Coast Wild Steelhead Harvest Tag.
    • Wild steelhead kept are recoded here, not the statewide combined angling tag.
    • Not needed for catch-and-release or keeping hatchery steelhead only.
    • Bag limit: 1 wild steelhead/day, 3 per season (Dec. 1 - April 30).
    • Check the Sport Fishing Regulations or MyODFW.com to know where and when wild steelhead may be kept. See the Recreation Report to check for in-season regulation updates.
    • Return or report paper tags to ODFW after each winter steelhead season, and before the next season begins (Dec. 1).

Wild harvest regulations vary and some locations don't open to wild winter steelhead until after Dec. 1. Check the regulations before you go.‌

Cost

  • Validation: $2 residents, $4 non-residents.
  • Harvest Tag: $10 residents, $20 non-residents.
  • Validation and harvest tag are valid for one full season (Dec. 1 – Apr. 30), even when using daily or multi-day licenses.
  • Discounted youth tags and validations are not available.

How to report your tag

*** Be sure to record your harvest on the correct harvest tag. Record it on the Rogue-South Coast Wild Winter Steelhead Harvest Tag. NOT on the statewide Combined Angling Tag. ***

Once the wild steelhead season ends, you must report your harvest in one of several ways:

  • If you're paper tagging, drop your tag off at any ODFW office.
  • Mail your paper tag to ODFW Headquarters: 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem OR 97302.
  • Call any ODFW office to report your harvest.
  • Report online by logging into your ODFW account.

Map of Rogue-South Coast area

Map of the area covered by the steelhead validation
Gold Beach Office
29907 Airport Way
Gold Beach, OR 97444
Tel: 541-247-7605
Central Point Office
1495 E. Gregory Road
Central Point, OR 97502
Tel: 541-826-8774

The new validation and harvest tag help fund winter steelhead monitoring in the mapped area. ODFW and public stakeholder teams developed the requirements in the Rogue-South Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan.

FAQs