Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington extended Chinook retention on the mainstem Columbia River through the end of the year during a joint state hearing on Thursday, Oct. 9.
With coho retention already scheduled to be open thru Dec. 31, anglers can now keep both Chinook and coho through the end of the year.
Thursday’s decision came after fishery managers assessed harvest in the on-going fall season recreational fisheries and considered the current abundance expectations for upriver salmon and steelhead stocks. This information allowed the states to keep Chinook salmon fishing open for the rest of the year.
With today’s changes, the following regulations are in effect:
Buoy 10 to west Puget Island: Both Chinook and hatchery coho retention are open in the Buoy 10 fishery through Dec. 31. The daily adult bag limit is three salmon through the end of October (Chinook or hatchery coho, only one may be a Chinook). In November and December, the daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead (Chinook, hatchery coho, or hatchery steelhead but no more than one may be a Chinook).
West Puget Island to The Dalles Dam: Both Chinook and coho retention are open through Dec. 31. The daily adult bag limit through October is two salmon (Chinook or coho) but only one may be a Chinook. In November and December, the daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead (Chinook, coho, or hatchery steelhead but no more than one may be a Chinook). Any wild coho caught downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be released.
The Dalles Dam to Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, WA: Both Chinook and coho retention are open through Dec. 31. The daily adult bag limit through October is two salmon (Chinook or coho) but only one may be a Chinook. In November and December, the daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead (Chinook, coho, or hatchery steelhead but no more than one may be a Chinook).
All other previously adopted and relevant permanent regulations are in effect including the requirement to use barbless hooks when angling for salmon or steelhead in mainstem Columbia River waters from the mouth upstream to the OR/WA state line.
Visit the Columbia River zone regulation updates page for more details.
