Sea Life Found Around Newport, Oregon

Newport is known as one of the centers for marine studies. It’s also a popular place for water and fishing activities, with a ton of fishing charters around for beginner and expert anglers! Besides this, it’s home to one of the top aquariums in the US and state parks with tons of water and land creatures to look at.

With all that in mind, you’re probably wondering what marine life is like in the city. You’ll be surprised to know that there are so many species and interesting creatures you can find underwater! Read on to learn about the sea life found around Newport, Oregon.

 

Sea Life Found Around Newport, Oregon

The sea life found around Newport, Oregon is amazing! Here are some of the fish you can expect during your fishing trip:

 

Lingcod

Lingcod is a species that is highly excitable. They are not ling or cod but are very popular among the Newport waters. They are known for their long bodies and large mouth filled with sharp teeth that grow up to 5 feet long!

They can be caught all year long, though they may be difficult to find during certain times of the year. That said, lingcod is easy to catch, making them a great fish for beginner anglers.

 

Rockfish

You can find a lot of rockfish species in Newport, around 25 of them. These include the Black, Blue, China, and Quillback rockfish!

They are a great fish to catch for those who want to go on a deep-sea fishing trip during the winter season. This is because rockfish will be found more from December to February.

 

Halibut

Halibut is another popular fish to catch when in Newport. They are huge and quite difficult to catch, which is why many anglers aim for it to achieve a new feat! However, you’ll need to take note that catching halibut is regulated and has its limitations, with a certain schedule to follow each year.

Albacore Tuna

Albacore tuna is fairly easy to catch as long as you have the right tools and equipment. They are found around the Newport waters and can be caught from July to October.

 

This fish species is another popular sight and fun fish to catch because of its size and good taste!

 

Crabs

There are a ton of species of crabs you may find in Newport, but the Dungeness crab is the most popular! In fact, Newport is known as the Dungeness Capital of the World. You can go crabbing in Yaquina Bay all year long, and it’s easy to do so, provided you follow the rules and regulations.

Or, you can just go crab sighting and enjoy learning more about the marine life by the beach or on boats.

 

Besides fish and crabs to catch, you can also view a ton of marine life from the beach or via fishing charter:

Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

You can find a lot of whales, dolphins, and porpoises around the Oregon coast, with about 10 species found in the area. Here are the ones you can try to spot:

• Gray whales are the most common whales from the Oregon coast
• Blue whales are spotted occasionally and known to be the most endangered among all great whale species
• Minke whales are one of the smallest among the baleen whales, being 35 feet
• Sperm whales are found in Oregon waters from March to November, usually in the deep, off-shore waters
• Bottlenose dolphins are one of the more common oceanic dolphins found in every tropical and temperate ocean
• Dall’s porpoise live in the north Pacific, usually in the deeper waters and not seen from land
• Harbor Porpoise are nearshore and river estuaries and bays, so they can be seen from the shore
• Killer whales are actually rare on the Oregon coast but may be found in mid-April!

Sea Turtles

There are 3 species of sea turtles, all federally protected and should NOT be touched or harmed.

• Loggerhead turtles are named after their large heads, weighing up to 250 pounds!
• Green turtles are the largest among hard-shelled sea turtles, weighing up to 350 pounds!
• Leatherback turtles are an endangered species whose critical habits include the Oregon waters

Seals and Sea Lions

There are 2 seals and 3 sea lion species in Oregon, which are:

• Northern fur seals, which are the smallest members of the Oregon family
• Steller sea lions, which are the largest members of the Otariidae family
• California sea lions, which are mid-sized
• Northern elephant seals are the largest pinniped carnivores found on the North Pacific coast
• Pacific Harbor Seals have plump bodies and usually around the northern coast

Starfish

Also known as sea stars, they are spiny-skinned invertebrates that feast on clams, fish, oysters, and more animals using their mouth under their bodies. They have 5 or more legs! Don’t touch them though, as it would harm them when carried or thrown!

If you want to go searching for marine life to learn or fish, then you can join fishing expeditions and fishing charters! These charters aren’t only made for fishing, but so you can also feel peace and serenity as you are exploring the waters, looking for sea wildlife, and enjoying the views of the lighthouse or surrounding areas from a different perspective.

 

Wrapping It Up

From huge whales to adorable sea otters, you can find a lot of marine life roaming around Newport, Oregon. Many can be caught for fishing activities, or you can just view them from aquariums and beachfront. Either way, you’ll be able to spot a lot of new and familiar water animals when in the area!

Did you learn a lot about sea life found around Newport, Oregon? We sure hope you did! If you’d like to see any of these creatures up close, you may want to consider hiring a fishing charter for you and the family during your next trip to Oregon!