[ODFW-News] Fall salmon seasons open Aug. 1 in Columbia River

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education Division, 503-947-6002	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Fall Salmon Seasons Open Aug. 1 in Columbia River 

PORTLAND - The popular "Buoy 10" fall salmon fishery at the mouth of the Columbia River gets underway Sunday, August 1, but managers caution it could be a slow start.
 
"I expect the fall chinook fishery to start slowly and then improve dramatically in mid-August," said Curt Melcher, a biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Coho returns are down, but should be available in good numbers through early October." 

Buoy 10 anglers have a two salmon daily catch limit, only one of which may be a chinook and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip. 

Coho and chinook run sizes are expected to be down somewhat from last year, but will still provide excellent fishing opportunity. The run size for fall chinook is expected to be 634,900 fish compared to more than 885,000 fall chinook last year. For coho, biologists forecast that 260,000 will return to the Columbia River compared to more than 500,000 coho last year. 

Anglers are reminded to use caution when fishing in the Columbia River near the mouth. Maritime conditions can be extremely hazardous and unpredictable and have led to fatal boating accidents. In addition, anglers should keep clear of the shipping channel if an approaching vessel is within one mile and should stay at least 100 yards away from the sides and stern of all large vessels. 

Oregon anglers fishing in the ocean and the Columbia River are reminded of the following regulations:
*	The Buoy 10 area is defined as that part of the Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through red buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank.
*	In the Pacific Ocean and Buoy 10 areas, each angler aboard a vessel may continue to use angling gear until the daily limit of fish for all legally licensed and juvenile anglers aboard has been achieved. However, no individual angler may exceed any personal daily bag limit. 
*	Salmon fishing in the Buoy 10 area opens Sunday, Aug. 1, for adipose fin-clipped coho, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and fall chinook. The daily bag limit is two salmon, only one of which may be a chinook. For the Buoy 10 fishery through Sept. 30, the minimum size limit is 16 inches for coho, 20 inches for steelhead, and 24 inches for chinook. Jack salmon may be retained beginning Oct. 1.
*	The Columbia River upstream from the Rocky Point-Tongue Point line to Bonneville Dam opens Aug. 1 for fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead through Dec. 31. The daily bag limit includes two adult salmon, only one of which may be a chinook, and five jack salmon.  
*	The Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border opens Aug. 1 for fall chinook, coho, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead through Dec. 31. The daily bag limit includes two adult salmon and five jack salmon.

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002