Salmon Fishing Guide
Salmon fishing guides for the Columbia River
Oregon and Washington Salmon Fishing Guides
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
State and tribal
co-managers today agreed on a package of salmon fisheries that meets
conservation goals for wild salmon populations, while providing a variety of
fishing opportunities on abundant stocks.
Washington's 2011 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian co-managers, were
finalized today during the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (PFMC)
meeting in San Mateo, Calif. The fishing package defines regulations for
salmon fisheries in Puget Sound, Washington's ocean and coastal areas and
the Columbia River.
"Salmon fisheries developed for this year meet conservation objectives for
wild salmon while providing meaningful fishing opportunities throughout
Washington's waters," said Phil Anderson, director of WDFW. "Developing
these fisheries wouldn't be possible without strong cooperation between the
state, the tribes and our constituents."
While state and tribal fishers will have a variety of salmon-fishing
opportunities this year, many fisheries will be constrained to protect wild
salmon listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.
"Conservative fisheries must go hand-in-hand with habitat restoration and
protection so that we can continue toward our goal of salmon recovery," said
Lorraine Loomis, fisheries manager for the Swinomish Tribe. "State and
tribal cooperation is the key to addressing one of the most pressing needs
of salmon - more high quality spawning and rearing habitat."
As in past years, recreational salmon fisheries in 2011 will vary by area:
• Puget Sound: Anglers will have an opportunity to take advantage of an
abundant return of pink salmon this year. Nearly 6 million pink salmon are
expected to return to Puget Sound, where "bonus" bag limits for pink salmon
will be established in marine areas 5 through 11.The majority of pink salmon
- the smallest of the Pacific salmon species - return to Washington's waters
in odd-numbered years.
Most Chinook and coho fisheries will be similar to last year's seasons.
However, the sport fishery for Chinook in inner Elliott Bay will be closed
to protect Green River naturally spawning Chinook, which are expected to
return in low numbers this year. Also, salmon fisheries on the Skokomish
River have not yet been settled and state and tribal co-managers plan to
continue negotiations over the next several weeks.
• Washington's ocean waters: Despite an expected increase in Chinook
abundance, the PFMC today adopted a Chinook catch quota of 33,700 for the
recreational ocean fishery, 27,300 less than last year's quota. The lower
Chinook quota is necessary to further protect wild salmon stocks and meet
conservation goals, said Anderson, who represents WDFW on the management
council.
"The Chinook quota is down from last year, but the number of fish available
for this summer's ocean fishery should still provide good fishing
opportunities for anglers," Anderson said.
The PFMC also adopted a quota of 67,200 coho for this year's recreational
ocean fishery, the same number as last year's quota.
This year's ocean fishery will begin June 18 with a mark-selective fishery
for hatchery Chinook in all ocean areas. The fishery will run seven days a
week, with a daily limit of two salmon, through June 25 or until 4,800
hatchery Chinook are retained.
Recreational ocean salmon fisheries for Chinook and hatchery coho will
continue June 26 in marine areas 1, 2, 3 and 4. Anglers fishing those marine
areas will be allowed to retain one Chinook as part of a two-salmon daily
limit. Anglers also are allowed one additional pink salmon each day in
marine areas 3 and 4.
• Columbia River: The Buoy 10 fishery will be open for Chinook and hatchery
coho Aug. 1-28. Anglers will have a two-salmon daily limit, only one of
which may be a Chinook. From Aug. 29 through Dec. 31, anglers will have a
daily limit of two hatchery coho, but must release Chinook.
The mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream
to Bonneville Dam will be open for Chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1 through
Dec. 31. Anglers will be allowed to retain one adult Chinook as part of
their two-fish daily bag limit through Sept. 9. Beginning Sept. 10, Chinook
retention will only be allowed upstream of the Lewis River, but up to two
adult Chinook may be retained.
Specific fishing seasons and regulations for marine areas in Washington and
a portion of the Columbia River will be available next week on WDFW's North
of Falcon website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/
Columbia River spring Chinook season reflects projection of strong runs
OLYMPIA - Anglers will be able to fish for spring
Chinook salmon from the mouth of the Columbia River to Bonneville Dam through mid-April under initial seasons adopted Wednesday, Feb. 11, by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
Anticipating a strong run of spring
Chinook to the upper Columbia River and improved returns to the Willamette, the two states agreed to provide significantly more days of fishing - particularly below Hayden Island - than last year.
According to the pre-season forecast, nearly 300,000 upriver spring
Chinook are expected to enter the Columbia River this year, which would make this year's return the third highest since 1977.
An additional 37,000 "springers" are also expected to return to the Willamette River, up from 27,000 last year.
"This is shaping up to be a very good year for spring
Chinook fishing in the Columbia River," said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "The first fish have just begun to arrive, and we hope to see a lot more of them in the months ahead."
Below Hayden Island, the new season provides 30 days of spring
Chinook fishing in March and April, compared to just 12 days last year. During those two months, anglers also will have 39 days - up from 36 days last year - to catch and retain spring
Chinook from Hayden Island upriver to Bonneville Dam.
LeFleur noted that the fishery could extend beyond April, but that late-season regulations have not been set because of differences between the fish and wildlife commissions of Washington and Oregon over how to allocate the catch.
In March and April, Columbia River anglers will be able to fish for spring
Chinook salmon at the following locations and times:
West power lines on Hayden Island downstream to Buoy 10: Seven days per week from March 1-15. Beginning March 16 through April 18, fishing will be limited to three days per week, Thursdays through Saturdays.
West power lines on Hayden Island to Bonneville Dam: Seven days per week from March 1-22. Beginning March 23 through April 22, fishing will be limited to four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday.
Tower Island power lines above Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam: Seven days per week from March 16 through April 30. The Washington and Oregon bank fishery will also be open from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.
Until March 1, the spring
Chinook fishing is open under regulations described in the 2008-09 Fishing in Washington rule pamphlet. Anglers fishing for spring
Chinook salmon may also retain shad and hatchery steelhead, as outlined in the rule pamphlet.
In all areas, anglers are required to release any
Chinook salmon not clearly marked as a hatchery-reared fish, since a portion of the wild upriver spring
Chinook run is protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Unmarked steelhead must also be released. Hatchery fish can be identified by a clipped adipose fin with a healed scar.
Under a new rule approved by the Washington commission, anglers fishing below McNary Dam may retain two hatchery-reared adult salmon or steelhead (or one of each) per day. However, only one adult
Chinook salmon may be retained per day downstream from Bonneville Dam.
LeFleur noted that standing rules limit incidental mortality of wild spring
Chinook intercepted and released in all state fisheries - recreational and commercial - to 2.2 percent of the total run.
"It's essential that anglers observe the rules requiring the release of wild salmon and steelhead," LeFleur said. "Our ability to continue these fisheries depends on it."
Columbia River Salmon Fishing Guide
Pat Abel Guide Service Pat Abel, Pat Abel Guide Service, fishes the Columbia River, Willamette River, Tillamook Bay, Buoy 10, Pacific Ocean, North Coast Rivers & Streams for Salmon, Steelhead and Sturgeon. |