09-02-2009, 11:10 AM
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - On the heels of the chinook salmon fishing season at Buoy 10, anglers can now turn their attention to an even more promising salmon fishing opportunity - the near-record return of coho expected in Columbia River waters this year.
"The chinook season started off fairly well and went pretty much as planned, although catch rates have dropped off in the last 10 days or so," said Chris Kern, assistant fisheries manager of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program.
Surveys showed that through Aug. 24, recreational anglers caught and kept approximately 4,100 chinook, which is within harvest guidelines established earlier in the year by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington. Managers from the two states expect the season to continue as planned through Aug. 31. The area between Buoy 10 and Tongue Point is scheduled to be closed to retention of chinook from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.
Salmon fishing effort between Buoy 10 and Tongue Point now focuses on coho, which are returning in huge numbers. Fishery managers are forecasting that 700,000 coho will return to the Columbia River this year, which would be the largest return since 2001.
In response to this forecast, ODFW increased the bag limit on coho to three fish per day in the Buoy 10 fishery, effective Sept. 1. The rule change means anglers can keep two adult adipose fin-clipped steelhead or adipose fin-clipped adult coho in combination, plus one additional adult fin-clipped coho. In a bag limit of three fish, the third fish must be an adipose fin-clipped adult coho.
"Coho numbers in Buoy 10 are still climbing right now ", said Kern, adding, "There are lots of reports coming in of "˜coho everywhere' in the area, and catch rates should be outstanding over the next few weeks."
Detailed area-by-area regulations, updated regulations, and in-season modifications can be found at on the ODFW Web site.
"The chinook season started off fairly well and went pretty much as planned, although catch rates have dropped off in the last 10 days or so," said Chris Kern, assistant fisheries manager of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program.
Surveys showed that through Aug. 24, recreational anglers caught and kept approximately 4,100 chinook, which is within harvest guidelines established earlier in the year by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington. Managers from the two states expect the season to continue as planned through Aug. 31. The area between Buoy 10 and Tongue Point is scheduled to be closed to retention of chinook from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.
Salmon fishing effort between Buoy 10 and Tongue Point now focuses on coho, which are returning in huge numbers. Fishery managers are forecasting that 700,000 coho will return to the Columbia River this year, which would be the largest return since 2001.
In response to this forecast, ODFW increased the bag limit on coho to three fish per day in the Buoy 10 fishery, effective Sept. 1. The rule change means anglers can keep two adult adipose fin-clipped steelhead or adipose fin-clipped adult coho in combination, plus one additional adult fin-clipped coho. In a bag limit of three fish, the third fish must be an adipose fin-clipped adult coho.
"Coho numbers in Buoy 10 are still climbing right now ", said Kern, adding, "There are lots of reports coming in of "˜coho everywhere' in the area, and catch rates should be outstanding over the next few weeks."
Detailed area-by-area regulations, updated regulations, and in-season modifications can be found at on the ODFW Web site.