Action Notice: Columbia River Ocean Area

[Chum King]

See below for recreational salmon fishing changes in the Columbia River ocean area that will go into effect beginning August 11:

7/24/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 9:30 AM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and recreational fishery interests. The purpose of the call was to discuss the status of the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon recreational salmon seasons and potential inseason actions related to the current bag limit and the open days per week. For the Columbia River catch area (Leadbetter Pt., WA to Cape Falcon, OR) current regulations allow for a daily bag limit of two salmon with no more than one chinook (all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip), and salmon fishing is open five days per week (Sunday through Thursday). Discussion centered on two potential actions: Opening the fishery to fishing all days of the week, and eliminating the restriction of no more than one chinook in the bag limit.

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational salmon fishery in the ocean between Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will open to fishing seven days per week effective August 11, 2006. Concurrently, the bag limit will go to two salmon per day (all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip). Note: The Columbia River Control Zone closure remains in effect, and the area between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon closes to all salmon fishing beginning August 1.

RATIONALE: The fishery management plan for the recreational seasons North of Cape Falcon sets as a goal having open fishing through the Labor Day holiday, and when possible open for all species. Analyses of the seasons by Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife staff using current effort and catches through July 16, and forecasting into September using two separate methods indicated that relaxing the one chinook restriction and opening to seven days per week could possibly result in not attaining the Labor Day weekend if the change occurred as early as August 4. By waiting until August 11 to implement the changes, there was a much stronger chance of being able to fish through at least the Labor Day weekend and meet the established management goal.

[Skookum]

Outstanding!!! Maybe I'll keep that week of vacation I was planning to cancel... I was hoping all of this wind would help extend the season or hours of fishery, but you never know how the minds of the machine will work. Now, SOMEBODY TURN OFF THE WIND MACHINE!

[Something Good]

Thanks for the update. I'm ready!!!

[pearl]

Concurrently, the bag limit will go to two salmon per day (all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip).

Isn't it already two salmon per day? 2 coho or 1 chinook and 1 coho.

I would feel better if the reg was changed to and stated the bag limit would go to two salmon, coho or chinook.

So, can you keep 2 chinook??

[Bill Monroe]

That's the language allowing two chinook...two salmon per day assumes no restrictions on make or model (except for the ad-clip requirement on coho, of course).