States Close Columbia Chinook and Sockeye Seasons
OutdoorHub 07.18.11
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington today announced that the sockeye salmon season on the Columbia River between the Astoria-Megler Bridge and Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington as well as the retention of adult chinook below Bonneville Dam will close effective 12:01 am Monday, July 18 through July 31, 2011.
The rules adopted at a joint state hearing of the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife mean that retention of adult chinook salmon will be prohibited from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam, and retention of sockeye will be prohibited from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington. The fall chinook season is scheduled to open on August 1, while sockeye retention season will be closed through the end of the year.
Retention of adipose fin-clipped chinook jacks (≤24”) and adipose fin-clipped steelhead remains open between the Astoria-Megler and Bonneville Dam under permanent regulations.
Upstream of Bonneville Dam to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington, retention of adipose fin-clipped chinook, both adults and jacks, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead is allowed under permanent regulations.
The action taken today was necessary because the non-Indian impact limit to ESA-listed Snake River sockeye had been reached. In addition, closing the chinook fishery downstream of Bonneville Dam was necessary to ensure that upriver recreational and tribal fisheries would not be constrained.
All other permanent angling regulations described in the “2011 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations” pamphlet remain in effect.
For more information visit ODFW’s regulations update page on the Internet.
Contact:
Chris Kern (971) 673-6031
Rick Swart (971) 673-6038
