Chinook bag limit in Columbia, Westport fishery drops to one

August 12, 2011

Newport, Ore. – Fishery managers announced today that effective Aug. 14, 2011 anglers may keep only one chinook salmon per day when fishing the ocean north of Cape Falcon.

The total daily bag limit for ocean salmon will continue to be two, but under the new rule only one can be a chinook. All retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

Just last week managers upped the daily chinook bag to two fish in response to a slow start to the salmon fishing season. Since then, however, the chinook catch increased dramatically, according to Eric Schindler, ocean salmon project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The harvest was particularly high in the Westport Area off Washington, and this had the potential to also affect the ocean area off the Columbia.

“Our goal is to keep the fishery open at least through Labor Day and that goal was at significant risk if the fishery was left to continue with a two chinook limit,” Schindler said. “So at the request of Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and with the support of recreational fishing community representatives we took action to further limit the chinook harvest to try to extend the season as long as possible.”

The Columbia River Ocean Salmon Area general ocean salmon season opened June 26 and runs through the earlier of Sept. 30 or attainment of either the 33,600 adipose fin-clipped coho quota or the overall US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon chinook quota.

A synopsis of the sport salmon regulations and catch summary information is available at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmon/

Contact:
Eric Schindler (541) 867-4741