Oregon Combined Angling Tag Salmon, Steelhead & Sturgeon Guide
The Oregon Combined Angling Tag is not just a “keep fish” document. If you angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut in Oregon, you need the right tag setup before fishing, including catch-and-release trips.
This guide explains who needs the tag, 2026 fees, youth rules, daily-license inclusion, app vs paper tagging, hatchery harvest tags, annual limits, Columbia Basin, Ocean and Rogue-South Coast add-ons.
Fast answer: Oregon requires a valid Combined Angling Tag for all anglers, regardless of age, who angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut. This includes catch-and-release angling for those species.
2026 cost: Adult Combined Angling Tag is listed at $69 resident and $89 nonresident. Youth Angling Combined Angling Tag is listed at $5. Daily and multi-day Oregon angling licenses include a Combined Angling Tag.
Record immediately: after taking adult salmon, steelhead, legal-size sturgeon or Pacific halibut, record the required codes right away in the MyODFW app or on your paper tag. Jack salmon do not need to be recorded.
Oregon Tag Setup Picker What Should You Buy?
Use this before checkout. Most mistakes happen because anglers buy the base fishing license but forget the tag, endorsement or validation tied to the species and water.
Choose your trip
Who Needs an Oregon Combined Angling Tag?
This is the core rule. The tag follows the target species, not just whether you keep a fish.
| Angler / trip | Combined Angling Tag needed? | Plain-English rule |
|---|---|---|
| Adult resident fishing salmon | Yes | Needs Oregon angling license plus Adult Combined Angling Tag. Add CRBE if fishing Columbia Basin. |
| Adult nonresident fishing steelhead | Yes | Needs nonresident angling license plus Adult Combined Angling Tag. Add zone-specific validations when required. |
| Youth age 12–17 | Yes, for tagged species | The Youth License is not the same as the Youth Combined Angling Tag. Add the $5 youth tag if targeting salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut. |
| Child under 12 | Yes, for tagged species | ODFW says all anglers regardless of age need the tag to angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut. |
| Catch-and-release salmon, steelhead or sturgeon | Yes | Do not assume catch-and-release removes the tag requirement. |
| Fishing bass, trout, panfish or surfperch only | Usually no | The Combined Angling Tag is for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut. Other licenses or endorsements may still apply. |
| Daily or multi-day Oregon angling license holder | Included | Daily and multi-day angling licenses include the Combined Angling Tag, but they do not automatically solve every endorsement or validation issue. |
2026 Oregon Combined Angling Tag Fees
These are the tag-related 2026 fees users most often confuse. Your final checkout may include other licenses, endorsements, validations, permits or transaction costs.
| Product | 2026 fee | Who uses it? | Important warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Combined Angling Tag | $69 resident / $89 nonresident | Adult annual anglers targeting salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut. | Required even for catch-and-release angling for these species. |
| Youth Angling Combined Angling Tag | $5 | Youth targeting salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut. | The $10 Youth License is not enough by itself for these species. |
| Daily / multi-day angling license tag inclusion | Included in license | Short-trip anglers using daily or multi-day products. | Still check Ocean, Columbia and Rogue-South Coast add-ons. |
| Hatchery Salmon / Steelhead Harvest Tag | $43 | Anglers recording hatchery salmon or hatchery steelhead separately. | Only hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead may be recorded on this tag. |
| Columbia River Basin Endorsement | $9.75 with annual license / $11.75 separate / $1 per day | Oregon-licensed anglers fishing salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin. | It is in addition to license and Combined Angling Tag. |
| Ocean Endorsement | $9 annual / $4 daily | Ocean anglers from beaches, jetties or boats when required. | Halibut and many ocean trips can trigger it; shellfish-only does not. |
| Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation | $4 resident / $8 nonresident | Steelhead in Rogue-South Coast area Dec. 1–Apr. 30. | Required for winter steelhead, including catch-and-release, when the rule applies. |
| Rogue-South Coast Wild Steelhead Harvest Tag | $20 resident / $40 nonresident | Keeping wild winter steelhead in Rogue-South Coast area when harvest is open. | Record wild fish here, not on the statewide Combined Angling Tag. |
How to Buy an Oregon Combined Angling Tag Online
Buy the tag only after you know the full trip stack. Otherwise you may still be missing a required endorsement or validation.
Confirm target species
Use the Combined Angling Tag for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut. If you are not targeting these species, you may not need this tag.
Choose your base license
Annual anglers usually buy the tag separately. Daily and multi-day angling licenses include the Combined Angling Tag.
Add the correct tag
Adult annual anglers use Adult Combined Angling Tag. Youth use Youth Angling Combined Angling Tag when targeting tagged species.
Choose app or paper
At purchase, decide whether you will record harvest in the MyODFW app or on a valid paper angling tag. Do not decide at the water.
Check add-ons before paying
Columbia River Basin Endorsement, Ocean Endorsement and Rogue-South Coast Validation are separate checks. The tag alone does not cover them.
Open official ODFW checkout
Use the official ODFW licensing system for purchase, account lookup and proof. Save proof before leaving home.
Open ODFW checkoutHow to Record Fish on an Oregon Combined Angling Tag
Recording is immediate. Do not wait until you return to the truck, dock, campground or cell service.
Adult salmon
Record species code, location code, month/day and whether the salmon is hatchery or wild. Jack salmon do not need to be recorded.
Steelhead
Record species code, location code, month/day and hatchery or wild status. Rogue-South Coast wild winter steelhead has a separate harvest tag rule.
Legal-size sturgeon
Record species code, location code, month/day and the fish length in inches.
Pacific halibut
Record species code, location code, month/day and halibut length in inches.
Who records?
The angler who takes the fish records it on their own tag, even if someone else hooked the fish.
When?
Immediately after taking the fish. Do not delay until later.
Paper Tag vs MyODFW App Which Is Safer?
Choose based on the way you fish. Rainy coast, poor signal, dead battery and children without phones are real problems.
| Tag format | Best for | Must-do step | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic tag in MyODFW app | Anglers comfortable using a phone for legal proof and harvest recording. | Download the app, sign in before fishing and make sure the tag is visible. The app can tag without internet if set up. | Dead phone, wrong account, app not downloaded or no battery backup. |
| Paper angling tag | Remote river trips, children, seniors, wet coast trips and anyone who wants physical proof. | Print and carry it dry. Use waterproof bag or license holder. | Wet, lost, forgotten, or not filled correctly. |
| Mixed household | Parent buys for children or multiple anglers in one trip. | Each angler needs their own valid license/tag proof. Do not rely on one phone for everyone’s electronic tag. | Child’s tag not accessible at the water. |
Combined Angling Tag vs Hatchery Harvest Tag
This difference matters for anglers who harvest hatchery salmon or hatchery steelhead.
| Tag | What can be recorded? | What cannot be recorded? | Smart use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Angling Tag | Adult wild salmon, adult hatchery salmon, wild steelhead, hatchery steelhead, legal-size sturgeon and Pacific halibut. | Rogue-South Coast wild winter steelhead harvest when that separate harvest tag is required. | Your main statewide tag for the listed species. |
| Hatchery Salmon / Steelhead Harvest Tag | Only hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead. | Wild salmon, wild steelhead, sturgeon or halibut. | Useful for anglers harvesting hatchery fish without using annual salmon/steelhead space on the Combined Angling Tag. |
Annual Bag Limits Connected to the Combined Angling Tag
The tag is also tied to annual harvest tracking. Do not confuse daily limits with annual limits.
Salmon + steelhead
Annual limit is 20 in any combination when recorded on the Combined Angling Tag.
White sturgeon
Annual limit is 2 white sturgeon.
Pacific halibut
Annual limit is 6 Pacific halibut.
Hatchery tag exception
Hatchery salmon or hatchery steelhead legally recorded on a Hatchery Harvest Tag do not count toward the annual salmon/steelhead Combined Tag limit.
Species-Specific Tag Rules Salmon, Steelhead, Sturgeon & Halibut
The tag rule is shared, but each species has its own recording and trip-planning traps.
| Species | Tag needed to angle? | What to record when taken | Extra trip warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult salmon | Yes | Species code, location code, month/day and hatchery or wild status. | Jack salmon are not required to be recorded, but seasons and bag limits still apply. |
| Steelhead | Yes | Species code, location code, month/day and hatchery or wild status. | Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead has extra validation and wild harvest tag rules. |
| Legal-size sturgeon | Yes | Species code, location code, month/day and length in inches. | Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing still requires license and Combined Angling Tag. |
| Pacific halibut | Yes | Species code, location code, month/day and length in inches. | Ocean Endorsement, marine zone rules and halibut seasons can also apply. |
Combined Tag Is Not Enough: Required Add-Ons
The Combined Angling Tag is a tag. It does not replace endorsements, validations or the base license.
Columbia River Basin
Oregon-licensed anglers fishing salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin need Columbia River Basin Endorsement in addition to license and tag.
CRBE detailsOcean Endorsement
Ocean fishing from beaches, jetties and boats can require Ocean Endorsement. Cost is listed at $9 annual or $4 daily.
Ocean detailsRogue-South Coast
Winter steelhead in the Rogue-South Coast area can require validation. Wild winter steelhead harvest needs a separate harvest tag.
Rogue validationRogue-South Coast Wild Winter Steelhead Warning
This is one of the easiest places to record on the wrong tag.
Do not record wild harvest on statewide tag
Wild steelhead kept in the Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead program must be recorded on the Rogue-South Coast Wild Winter Steelhead Harvest Tag, not the statewide Combined Angling Tag.
Hatchery-only or catch-and-release differs
The wild harvest tag is not needed for catch-and-release or keeping hatchery steelhead only, but the Rogue-South Coast Steelhead Validation can still be required for winter steelhead angling.
Common Combined Angling Tag Mistakes
These are the preventable mistakes that cause most real-world problems.
Buying license only
- Base angling license alone is not enough for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut.
- Catch-and-release still needs the tag for these species.
- Youth and children still need tag coverage when targeting tagged species.
Recording late or wrong
- Record immediately, not later.
- Use the correct species code and location code.
- Record hatchery or wild status for salmon and steelhead.
- Record length in inches for halibut and sturgeon.
App setup failure
- Download the MyODFW app before leaving home.
- Sign in with the correct account.
- Make sure the tag is visible offline.
- Carry battery backup for long river or ocean days.
Missing the real add-on
- Columbia Basin salmon, steelhead or sturgeon can require CRBE.
- Ocean fishing can require Ocean Endorsement.
- Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead can require validation.
- Wild winter steelhead harvest can require separate harvest tag.
Related Oregon Fishing License Guides
Use these only when they match your next question. This keeps the reader moving to a useful next step instead of back to Google.
Oregon Fishing License Guide
Best hub for base license, shellfish, youth, annual, short-term, endorsements and buying steps.
Open license guideOregon Fishing License Cost
Use for full 2026 fee comparison, annual vs daily math, shellfish and endorsement costs.
Open cost guideOregon Nonresident Fishing License
Best for visitors comparing annual, one-day, two-day, three-day, seven-day, tag and ocean costs.
Open visitor guideOregon Fishing License Renewal
Use before the new year or first trip to renew license, tag, endorsement and app proof correctly.
Open renewal guideOregon Annual Angling License
Helpful if you fish multiple times and need base annual license plus tag and add-on planning.
Open annual guideOregon Out-of-State Fishing License
Use for visitor-specific license stack planning before salmon, steelhead, halibut or Columbia trips.
Open out-of-state guideODFW Contact, Address and Map
For buying and legal proof, use ODFW. For page reading and planning, use this guide first so you know what to ask or buy.
ODFW headquarters
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Salem, OR 97302
Main phone: 503-947-6000
Toll-free: 800-720-6339
License help
Licensing staff: 503-947-6101
Use for account, license, tag, app and checkout help.
Online account issue
Email: ODFW.Websales@odfw.oregon.gov
Useful for duplicate accounts or online purchase problems.
Official Oregon Combined Angling Tag Resources
Use these official links only when you are ready to buy, verify current rules, look up tag codes, or solve app/account issues.
Buy license and tag
Official ODFW checkout for licenses, Combined Angling Tag, endorsements, validations and account proof.
Open ODFW checkoutOfficial tag rules
ODFW/eRegulations license information page covering Combined Angling Tag, hatchery tag, CRBE and validations.
Open license rulesTag instructions and codes
Use this for species codes, location codes and app/paper recording details.
Open tag codesOfficial fee table
Use to verify current adult tag, youth tag, Hatchery Harvest Tag and endorsement costs.
Open fee tableElectronic licensing help
Use before relying on the MyODFW app for tag recording in remote areas.
Open ELS helpRegulation updates
Use before salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut or ocean trips because seasons can change.
Open updatesOregon Combined Angling Tag FAQ
What is the Oregon Combined Angling Tag?
It is the Oregon tag required to angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and Pacific halibut. It is required even for catch-and-release angling for those species.
How much is the Oregon Combined Angling Tag in 2026?
The 2026 Adult Combined Angling Tag is listed at $69 for residents and $89 for nonresidents. The Youth Angling Combined Angling Tag is listed at $5.
Do youth need a Combined Angling Tag?
Yes. ODFW rules say all anglers, regardless of age, need a valid Combined Angling Tag to angle for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut.
Do daily Oregon fishing licenses include the tag?
Yes. Oregon daily and multi-day angling licenses include Combined Angling Tags. Still check whether Columbia River Basin Endorsement, Ocean Endorsement or Rogue-South Coast Validation is required.
Do I need to record jack salmon?
No. Oregon tag instructions say anglers are not required to record the harvest of jack salmon.
What do I record for salmon or steelhead?
Record species code, location code, month/day and whether the fish is hatchery or wild. Record immediately after taking the fish.
What do I record for sturgeon or halibut?
Record species code, location code, month/day and the fish length in inches.
Is the Hatchery Harvest Tag the same as the Combined Angling Tag?
No. The Hatchery Salmon / Steelhead Harvest Tag is separate and may only be used for hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead.
Do I need Columbia River Basin Endorsement too?
Yes, if you are an Oregon-licensed angler fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River Basin. It is in addition to the license and Combined Angling Tag.
Can I use the statewide Combined Angling Tag for Rogue wild winter steelhead?
No. Wild winter steelhead kept in the Rogue-South Coast area must be recorded on the Rogue-South Coast Wild Winter Steelhead Harvest Tag, not the statewide Combined Angling Tag.
Final Practical Advice
Do not treat the Oregon Combined Angling Tag as an optional harvest add-on. If your trip includes salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or Pacific halibut, build the full legal stack before fishing.
Best workflow: choose target species → choose annual or daily license → add Combined Angling Tag or confirm it is included → choose app or paper → add Columbia/Ocean/Rogue requirements if needed → save proof → record fish immediately when taken.