Schedule & Rules

2026 Official Schedule

Get prepared for an exciting event!

Home Base

• Captain’s Meeting, Weigh-In/Awards and Raffle will be held at the Chinook Bend RV Resort Gazebo
• Chinook Bend RV Resort Gazebo, 2920 Siletz Hwy, Lincoln City, OR 97367
  Google Maps Link >

Friday, July 10, 2026

• 6:00 PM: Captain’s Meeting | Chinook Bend RV Resort Gazebo
• All anglers are encouraged to attend.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

• All anglers MUST check in with ORC staff at the launch area prior to launching on Saturday.
• To ensure a smooth start, arrive early, at least an hour before launching.
• 3:30–5:00 AM: Check In | Launch Area (all anglers are required to check in before launching).
• 5:00 AM: Official Launch/Lines In (check-ins will not be permitted after 5:00 AM)
• 2:00 PM: Check Out Deadline | All anglers must check out with ORC Staff when coming off the water. Check-out at the launch area or the Chinook Bend RV Resort Gazebo.
• 3:00 PM: Weigh-In/Awards and Raffle | Chinook Bend RV Resort Gazebo

2026 Official Rules

Tournament Director:

Jim Davis
Jimzfishn@gmail.com
‭(541) 561-1447‬

1. Skills required to participate in the Oregon Rockfish Classic:

1. Upon unexpected entry into the water from their kayak, participants must be able to reenter their kayak unassisted within one minute
2. Participants must be of a physical fitness level such that they are able to propel themselves to and from the fishing grounds unassisted while also factoring in nearshore ocean conditional elements that are common to the Oregon coast, such as winds and currents.
3. Participants must have a VHF Marine radio on their person and show it works prior to launch.
4. Participants must understand and adhere to proper marine band VHF radio communication procedures
5. Fogarty Beach waves break in the opening. Anglers launching at Fogarty Beach should be comfortable launching in breaking surf.

ALL COMPETITORS MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING RULES:

2. Before launching each participant must:

1. Complete a safety inspection
2. Pay registration fees
3. Fill out and sign release of liability waiver
4. Sign the check-out list
5. Launch no earlier than 5:00 am from either Depoe Bay boat launch or Fogarty Creek Beach.
6. Actively seek to minimize their impact on all powered vessels and all vehicles launching powered vessels in and around the vicinity of the Depoe Bay boat launch

3. Safety and equipment requirements:

Participants must wear immersion gear suited to Oregon coastal water temperatures. Wear a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (PFD). The PFD must be type I, II, III, or inflatable life vest as defined by the US Coast Guard. PFD MUST BE PROPERLY FASTENED AT ALL TIMES. Anglers having a PFD that is unzipped/unbuckled will be disqualified from the event.

1. Carry on their kayak a functional marine band handheld VHF radio and monitor channels 72, and 16 while adhering to proper VHF radio communication procedures. Angler must complete a radio check with staff at check in prior to launch.
2. Carry a signaling device on their person (whistle/horn)
3. Fly a safety flag on their kayak consisting of a high-visibility color flag and an all-white 360-degree light at the top. This light must be on and visible prior to sunrise and/or in low-light situations such as fog. A rag or colored object tied to a net or broken pole will not be accepted as a flag. Flags and lights will be checked prior to launching. If a light does not work or is “dim” the angler must wait to launch after legal sunrise. In foggy conditions an angler may not compete if the light does not function properly.
4. Carry on their kayak a bailing device (required by law)
5. Propel themselves to and from the fishing grounds under their own power (only human power is allowed – no motor or sail power)
6. Carry a valid Oregon fishing license
7. Carry a valid Oregon Waterways Access Permit
8. Carry an ODFW approved fish descending device
9. Actively seek to minimize their impact on powered vessels at all times
10. Follow all Depoe Bay regulations for entry to and exit from the harbor during the event
11. Follow all ODFW regulations appropriate for the area:
    http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/finfish/groundfish_sport/index.asp
    If you RETAIN your catch, once you have reached your limit of rock fish, you MUST Stop fishing for any further species per state law.
12. Land their own fish without assistance unless under the age of 16 years old or permanently disabled in a way that prevents the landing of their own fish. All anglers under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an accountable adult over the age of 21.
13. Observe and remain within the tournament fishing boundaries as follows:
    1. No fishing is allowed in the transit channel between the bell buoy directly west of the harbor entrance and the harbor entrance
    2. Southern fishing boundary: Cove Point
    3. Northern fishing boundary: Northernmost edge of the Fogarty Beach
14. Comply with all decisions made by the tournament coordinators as communicated through the VHF radio channel 72, including but not limited to suspending the tournament earlier than the original planned end time due to deteriorating ocean conditions or other events that compromise the safety of the event. If we must suspend the tournament due to weather all anglers must check back in at their respective boat launch.
15. Must not consume alcohol or drugs of any kind during the event

5. Upon returning to Depoe Bay Public Boat Launch / Fogarty Creek Beach area:

1. All participants must report to either of the two weigh-in stations, and sign the check-out list before 2:00 pm regardless of whether each participant intends to submit fish for weigh-in
2. Failure to check in by 2:00 pm may result in the participant’s automatic disqualification from the event, as well as future events

6. Tournament Format:

1. Only fish from participants having adhered to all rules described in these official rules will be considered for the tournament
2. A submission photo is required for each fish submitted.
3. Official identifier must be visible in all submission photos.
4. Must be able to clearly see approximately 90% of the fish in all submission photos
5. Photos must be submitted at the weigh-in station no later than July 11, 2026. Submission photos will be considered for the tournament and will be counted as follows:
6. Anglers will be ranked based on the total number of points according to species submitted for the tournament.
7. Target species for the tournament are Lingcod 20pts, Cabezon 20pts, Greenling 15pts, Blue or Deacon rockfish 15pts (Blue and Deacon rockfish will be counted as 1 species due to their difficulty in identification. Only 3 fish will count in any variation of the two species) Vermillion Rockfish 25 pts, Tiger Rockfish 20pts, Yellowtail Rockfish 20pts. All other rockfish species will have a value of 10pts per fish with a maximum of 3 fish per species. Only the species listed above, and other rockfish species will be counted and accepted.
8. Top 3 anglers with highest total score will receive prize packages
9. If the weather prevents the event from happening on Depoe Bay, then we will hold the event out of Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon. In the event this is necessary, all details will be discussed at the Captain’s Meeting of Friday July 10, 2026.

Any participant caught manipulating their fish to achieve a higher ranking will be disqualified from this 2026 tournament and all future Oregon Rockfish Classic tournaments.

• Top 10 Anglers will qualify for a spot at Nationals for the USA Saltwater Kayak Fishing Team in EITHER 2026 OR 2027 competition season (not both).
• The 2026 Nationals is held in San Diego, Ca.  On August 14 – 16 in San Diego Bay / Shelter Island. 
• 2027 Nationals details to be announced.