Columbia Control Zone (crz)

[Tryin2Fish]

I went down yesterday with the wife and kids to give them an idea of what buoy 10 and the lower columbia was like in general, we arrived at the buoy about 1 hour after tide change and of course it was alittle choppy. It gave them the idea that I wanted and I found out which of my kids liked it and hated it.

I did notice though something that others might want to pay attention to. When I got to buoy 10 there were boats just west of it fishing. According to the regs the lower columbia is closed west from buoy 10 to an imaginary line between buoy 4 and 7. Although I have not seen any fish and game people out there one is pushing their luck fishing in this zone.

Hopefully those people that I saw just didn't know better. The best thing that came out of that trip was the wife said to me: "that wasn't so bad". YYYYeeeahaa , thats what I wanted to hear.

Jim images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[NorthRiverS]

Tryin',
What is the reason for the control zone if Buoy 10 and the ocean are open?

[Tryin2Fish]

I was just thinking of that when I wrote the post. The only thing that I can come up with would be that the appropriate organizations such as the coast guard do not want people fishing on the bar. Buoy 10 is just on the edge of the bar and not the worst of it in times of bad weather. This is just my uneducated <g> guess.

I can imagine how dangerous it would be to troll and thereby go at a slow speed during some heavy swells.

Last year while trolling west at the bridge the wind kicked up pretty good and threw a swell on my bow, mostly because I was trolling.

Jim

[Pirate]

T2F
Nice to get a thumbs up from the wife on buoy 10, but you forgot one thing....how was the fishing???? I also agree with you on why the control zone is a no fish zone.

[Tryin2Fish]

Ah the fishing, didn't get to do any of that it was rather late in the day. Just wanted to see how the kids would do as they have never been in water like that. My seven year old is in that fearless stage, time to get him set up for the big fish.

JIm

[Stz ll]

Just because you don't see them don't assume they don't see you. What they do is watch thru binoculars write down boat numbers. Then when you get back to the dock or perhaps in the mail later you receive this nice little ticket. images/icons/frown.gif images/icons/frown.gif

[hound]

hey t 2 fish

the buoy 10 line west, is open on sundays through thursdays....little choppy out there yesterday..the coasties rescued 7 people on the bar...1 boat went to the bottom...
becareful out there poeple!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Schwab]

When Buoy 10 was first set up as a zone the Coast Guard did express concern that too many small craft would be fishing in a potentially hazardous area. they compromised at Buoy 10 rather than further out. Regardless of where deadlines are set, someone will violate them. No there probably is no conservation reason for setting the line where it is, it's just there. Leeway is often given but should not be construed as permission. Enforcement is stretched thin and they often look the other way until complaints come in or conditions get intolerable. Then a few well placed citations bring instant conformity. No one should be surprised if they wander beyond Buoy 10 just because some others are out there and then up shows the patrol boat and tickets are issued. The old excuse "He did it first" cuts no slack. images/icons/frown.gif images/icons/frown.gif

[Bait O' Eggs]

Dont think the badged ones were not on the water with you Saturday. I saw 2 different sheriff boats within site of B10 Saturday. I met a couple of them up close. images/icons/shocked.gif Jake Justice and Wally Warden nicely asked us how we did, and then quoted some verse and script from the fishing regs. I am glad we didnt put our foot in our mouth with our initial, hello, how are you doing on this fine day sir. images/icons/rolleyes.gif

Bigstew was begging to cross the bar for a little thrill ride. images/icons/rolleyes.gif We made it out to between bouy 6 and 4 and was turning back with a front hopper full of water. (I am not sure if it was turning back or being thrown back by an angry sea) We hardly got a few hundred yards and Jake and Wally pulled up along side us. With all our poles stowed, in a closed ocean (Saturday) I was not sure if they were worried about us fishing, or if they wanted to give Bigstew some first aid. Ever seen a guy turn green and not blow?? images/icons/wink.gif

[ 08-06-2001: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[Beer Waggin]

They will get you if they're out there! I had the Coast Guard tell me I was on the wrong side of the buoy on Saturday morning, I didn't think I was, but I wasn't about to argue with them. Then about 30 minutes later, we had all of our lines up and were just drifting along eating lunch and a gamie came up and explained that we were across the line. I explained that we knew where the line was, and that we had no lines in the water. He apparently just assumed the we were fishing with our rods pointing towards the rain gods. I thought that he was going to board us for a minute, but a bit of sweet talking and a quick change of the subject put him on his marry way. I'm not sure how safe it would have been to tie up a couple of boats in that rough of water anyway.

[Killertraylor]

Hound - I hope when you said the "buoy 10 line west" you meant the imaginary line between 4 and 7. You can't fish in that 3 mile wide zone between buoy 10 and the imaginary line even when the ocean is open sunday through thursday. I fished the buoy on Sat. and my wife got seasick. We only cought one wild coho. Wish she could run out in the ocean. I went out Sunday with some other friends and we limited in less than an hour with 10 silvers. I keep getting curious looks from people at the buoy. My NorthRiver is a twin to the Oregon State Police boat - only difference is color (mine's blue and gold - there's is green) and mine's got a 250 Yamaha saltwater series while there's has the the inboard jet. I'm posting a picture of my boat so you can start waving at me instead of fumbling around and pulling those extra rods in, crimping barbs, etc. http://www.ifish.net/uploads/150022177.jpg

[Hookset]

As Tryin2Fish and KillerTraylor stated, the Columbia Control zone is real. Fishing from the buoy 10 line extending out to buoy 4 and 7 is closed to all fishing. Check the link for the details and a map, scroll down to page 8.

Columbia Control Zone (http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/Salmon_Halibut.pdf)

What I don't understand is why this is not printed in the regular fishing regulations. It took a little searching to find this info and it would be easy to miss. I understand the final ocean and river seasons are set during May. They still could describe the CRZ area in the regulations though.

Gregg

[hound]

i new there was a reason the waves and wind were pushing me back behind the line sunday...
thanks for the info

nice boat killer traylor!!!!