[ODFW-News] Mainstem Columbia River angling regulation changes effective Friday, Oct. 1

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Information and Education 503-947-6002	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  
	

For Immediate Release	Monday, Sept. 20, 2004

Mainstem Columbia River angling regulation changes effective Friday,
Oct. 1 

PORTLAND - Oregon and Washington fishery managers will close the
mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery downstream of Bonneville
Dam to chinook retention beginning Oct.1. The fishery will remain open
for adipose fin-clipped coho and steelhead through the end of the year.


The popular fall salmon fishery got off to a slow start in August, but
catch rates improved substantially by the end of the month. The peak
observed catch rate occurred during the first and second weeks of
September with a sustained average exceeding one chinook per boat.
Effort also has been high with up to 1,500 boats per day participating
in the fishery on weekend days and 800 boats per day on weekdays.
Anglers are projected to have caught approximately 16,000 chinook
through the end of September. 
 
"Pre-season, we implemented the one-chinook daily bag limit to
increase the chances that the fishery would remain open through
September," said Curt Melcher, a biologist with the Oregon Department
of Fish and Wildlife. "The one-chinook bag limit got us through
September, but we needed to take this action to remain within our
conservation guidelines and allocation agreements.  

"In addition to our conservation mandate, the primary goal for the
mainstem recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam is to provide an
all-species opportunity through September with additional steelhead and
coho fishing opportunity through the end of the year," added Melcher.
"We have accomplished that and maintained flexibility for the
recreational fishery that takes place above Bonneville Dam."

Oregon anglers 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.

* Salmon fishing in the Buoy 10 area remains open through December, for
adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily
bag limit is two salmon.  

* Salmon fishing from the Rocky Point-Tongue Point line to Bonneville
Dam remains open for adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped
steelhead through Dec. 31.

* The Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to the
Oregon-Washington border opened 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.

* The Pacific Ocean from Tillamook Head, Oregon, to Leadbetter Point,
Washington, is open for chinook and adipose fin-clipped coho through
Sept. 30. The daily bag limit is two salmon with a minimum size of 24
inches for chinook and 16 inches for coho.

###