The proposed 2014 ocean salmon seasons announced by the Pacific Fishery Management Council this week include good news for both sport anglers and commercial troll salmon fishermen off the Oregon Coast.
Recreational and commercial troll Chinook salmon fishing this year looks to vary from good to great based on forecasted adult returns destined for key river basins of the Columbia River, the Central Valley in California, and the Klamath River. Although fishery managers are forecasting returns to the Central Valley and Klamath River fall Chinook to be well below the 2013 totals, they should be abundant enough to result in good Chinook catches along the entire Oregon Coast.
Managers are predicting tremendous runs of Chinook are forecast to return to the Columbia River later this summer and this should provide for some great fishing both in the ocean and the Columbia River in August.
Thanks to much improved hatchery and naturally produced coho populations, the 2014 ocean coho seasons should provide the most time on the water for coho fishing since the 2010 season. Mark selective fishing for hatchery coho beginning in late June is expected to be very good along the Oregon Coast, especially from Bandon up to the Columbia River. The Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. non-selective coho season will open on August 30 to coincide with Labor Day weekend.
“We are expecting a very good coho season this year, and, if the stars line up just right off the Oregon Coast, Chinook fishing could be even better than last year, ” said Chris Kern, ODFW administrator for ocean salmon fisheries. “This should be a great year to be out on the ocean.”
Sport anglers and commercial troll fishermen already have been fishing along the Oregon Coast south of Cape Falcon, and fishery managers have been hearing of good ocean Chinook catches from waters offshore from Newport to Bandon, according to Eric Schindler, ODFW ocean salmon project leader.
“Our season is already off to a good start, and should only get better from this point on,” he said.
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