Columbia Reopening Early For Chinook; Salmon Limit Bumped To 2 (Only 1 King)

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Fishery managers were able to reopen the 2020 Chinook retention season starting this Saturday, Sept. 19, four days earlier than scheduled based on preseason planning and run forecasts. 

Effective Sept. 19-Dec. 31, 2020, the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, WA reopens for Chinook and coho salmon. Anglers may retain up to two adult salmon, only one of which may be a Chinook. Only hatchery Coho may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge. Previously adopted steelhead retention closures and bag limit restrictions remain in effect. All other permanent regulations apply including those pertaining to jack salmon and the use of barbless hooks only.

Previously, adult Chinook retention was scheduled to be closed until Sept. 23 from Buoy 10 upstream to the Hwy 395 Bridge. Moving the reopening date to Sept. 19 follows the addition of two Chinook retention days at Buoy 10 in early September and three days river-wide Sept. 11-13. The enhanced Chinook retention opportunity is in response to a fall Chinook return that continues to exceed pre-season expectations.

“I’m really pleased that we were able to get fisheries open again river-wide starting this Saturday,” said Tucker Jones, Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager for ODFW. “This opportunity is the result of hard work by staff, careful and considerate in-season management, and an actively engaged recreational angling community and industry,.”

For the latest on Columbia River fishing regulations, see https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone