(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) —Salmon fishing for Chinook and hatchery coho will reopen from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam starting Saturday Oct. 1, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington decided September 28, 2022.
Managers had closed all salmon fishing below Bonneville Dam on Sept. 2 after the recreational fishery exceeded its allowable impact to ESA-listed LCR tule fall Chinook. On Sept.15, the states reopened Buoy 10 to retention of hatchery coho, and the area from Reed Island to Bonneville Dam to Chinook and hatchery coho, where impacts to lower Columbia River fall Chinook would be minimal.
In making their decision to reopen Chinook retention, fishery managers considered updated run sizes for upriver Chinook runs, catch projections, and past data which indicates the majority of lower river tule Chinook have entered the tributaries by late September. Reopening lower mainstem recreational Chinook retention will have minimal impacts on listed tule fall Chinook and will not affect planned commercial fishing seasons.
The season is as follows:
Season: Oct. 1- Dec. 31
Area: Buoy 10 line upstream to Tongue Point/Rocky Point line
Daily adult bag limit: 3 salmon (Chinook and hatchery coho), only one of which may be a Chinook
Season: Oct. 1- Dec. 31
Area: Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam
Daily adult bag limit: 2 salmon (Chinook and hatchery coho), only one of which may be a Chinook
Jack Chinook and jack hatchery coho may also be retained (5 per day). All other previously adopted regulations remain in effect, including no retention of steelhead through Oct. 31.
See the Recreation Report / Fishing Report for the zone for details at https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone (click Regulation Updates).
