SW WA, Lower Columbia, Hanford Reach Fishing Report (9-10-24)

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORTS WERE FORWARDED BY WDFW

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE JOINT STAFF REPORT – FALL FACT SHEET NO. 4b September 10, 2024

Buoy 10 and Mainstem Fall Recreational Salmon Fisheries

• The Buoy 10 to west Puget Island (WPI) recreational fishery was open August 1–29 for
  hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho retention, August 30 – September 3 for Chinook and
  hatchery coho, and is scheduled to be open September 4 – December 31 for hatchery coho.
  o Preliminary estimates through September 8 include 18,043 kept and 16,912 released
  Chinook, and 27,324 kept and 15,222 released coho from approximately 85,600 angler
  trips.
• WPI to Warrior Rock (WR) recreational fishery was open August 1 through September 4 for
  Chinook and hatchery coho retention, then scheduled to be open September 5–11 for hatchery
  Chinook and hatchery coho retention, and October 1 – December 31 for hatchery coho
  retention.
  o Preliminary estimates through September 8 include 11,205 kept and 1,566 released
  Chinook, 1,295 kept and 543 released coho, and 619 released steelhead from
  approximately 38,000 angler trips.
• WR to Bonneville Dam (BON) recreational fishery is scheduled to be open August 1 through
  September 15 for Chinook and hatchery coho retention, and October 1 – December 31 for coho
  retention.
  o Preliminary estimates through September 8 include 5,433 kept and 342 released Chinook,
  353 kept and 166 released coho, and 221 released steelhead from approximately 28,700
  angler trips.
• BON upstream to Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco, WA (Hwy 395) recreational fishery is
  scheduled to be open August 1 through September 15 for Chinook and coho retention and
  October 1 – December 31 for coho retention (unmarked coho caught downstream of the Hood
  River Bridge must be released).
  o Preliminary estimates through September 8 include 4,684 Chinook kept and 2,786
  released Chinook, 121 kept and 119 released coho, and 10 kept and 232 released
  steelhead from approximately 21,700 angler trips.
• The WR to BON fishery is ongoing and Chinook catches were initially lower than expected;
  however, catches have recently increased and are now tracking similar to pre-season
  expectations.

Preliminary Washington Columbia River mainstem and tributary sport sampling summary September 2-8, 2024

Fishery Reports: 

Lower Columbia River, Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam – 1,135 salmonid boats and 173 Washington bank rods were tallied during Saturday’s (9/7) flight count. 

Mainstem Columbia River 

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Sec 1 (Bonneville) – 39 bank anglers kept eight Chinook, two Chinook jacks, one coho and released one steelhead. 83 boats/229 rods kept 92 Chinook, seven Chinook jacks, one coho, released 11 Chinook, one  coho and one steelhead.  

Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) – Two bank anglers had no catch. 102 boats/211 rods kept 54 Chinook, five  Chinook jacks, two coho, released three Chinook, one Chinook jack, one coho and one steelhead. 

Sec 3 (I-5 area) – Two bank anglers had no catch. 10 boats/19 rods kept two Chinook, one Chinook jack and released one coho.  

Sec 4 (Vancouver) – 78 bank anglers kept five Chinook. 128 boats/304 rods kept 122 Chinook, 18  Chinook jacks, nine coho, one coho jack, released three Chinook, two Chinook jacks and one coho. 

Sec 5 (Woodland) – 55 bank anglers kept three Chinook and released one coho. 75 boats/186 rods kept 83 Chinook, five Chinook jacks, 11 coho, one coho jack, released 29 Chinook, one Chinook jack, six coho  and one steelhead. 

Sec 6 (Kalama) – 147 bank anglers kept 23 Chinook, one Chinook jack, released three Chinook and two  coho. 25 boats/67 rods kept 18 Chinook, one Chinook jack, three coho, released three Chinook, one  Chinook jack, two coho and one steelhead. 

Sec 7 (Cowlitz) – 15 boats/35 rods kept nine Chinook, four coho, one coho jack, released eight Chinook,  two Chinook jacks and one coho. 

Sec 8 (Longview) – 109 bank anglers kept 12 Chinook, released 10 Chinook, one Chinook jack and one  coho. 76 boats/158 rods kept 29 Chinook, one Chinook jack, 14 coho, released 35 Chinook, two Chinook  jacks and seven coho. 

Sec 9 (Cathlamet) – Two bank anglers had no catch. 17 boats/40 rods kept four Chinook, two coho,  released nine Chinook, one Chinook jack and one coho. 

Sec 10 (Cathlamet) – Two bank anglers had no catch. 1 boat/2 rods released three Chinook and one  Chinook jack. 

Sturgeon: 

Sec 3 (I-5 area) – 1 boat/3 rods released three sublegal sturgeon. 

Sec 4 (Vancouver) – 1 boat/2 rods released one legal sturgeon. 

Columbia River Tributaries 

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 25 bank rods kept two coho. 1 boat/2 rods had no catch.  Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 13 bank rods kept nine steelhead. 2 boats/7 rods kept four steelhead. Kalama River – No report.  

Lewis River – 6 boats/13 rods kept five Chinook, two Chinook jacks, five coho and one steelhead. Wind River – No report. 

Drano Lake – 31 bank rods kept one Chinook, one Chinook jack, one coho, released three Chinook, one  coho and 11 steelhead. 93 boats/283 rods kept 134 Chinook, 36 Chinook jacks, 15 coho and released five steelhead. 

Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – No report. 

Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – No report.

2024 Hanford Sport Fishery

The Hanford Reach fall salmon sport fishery starting to heat up. From September 2 through September 8, WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 198 boats (539 anglers) with 119 adult Chinook. Based on sampling, an estimated 290 adult Chinook were harvested from 1,240 angler trips (502 boats) in the fourth week of the fishery. In addition,  12 steelhead were caught and released. Expect harvest of Fall chinook returns increasing this next week.