Coho reopens in ocean off Columbia

[Chum King]

The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean recreational salmon fishers discussed by conference call today the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in ocean waters between the US/Canada border and Cape Falcon. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Tillamook Head, Oregon (Columbia River ocean area) will reopen for coho salmon angling beginning 12:01 AM Friday September 6 and will continue through Sunday September 15. Anglers can retain two adipose fin clipped coho per day.

RATIONALE: Fishery managers have determined that enough coho salmon remain from the Columbia River catch quota and the Westport quota to allow for the reopening. The only other stumbling block has been whether enough chinook would be available for hooking mortality to allow the fishery to reopen, and it now appears that enough chinook will be available to access a portion of the remaining coho.

NOTES: Anglers are reminded to make sure to identify their catch carefully. During the past week 81 chinook were landed illegally. Illegal landings of chinook will be confiscated and anglers are likely to be cited.