Clackamas, Ore — State fishery officials met today and decided to extend the mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery to retention of adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to the I-5 Bridge through June 15, 2007.
The salmon fishery in this area re-opened May 16, 2007 and was originally scheduled to close May 31.
“Based on recent catch rates and fish passage at Bonneville Dam, staff feel confident that we can safely offer additional days on the river without exceeding the ESA limit” says John North, ODFW Columbia River Fisheries Manager.
Fish managers set the Columbia River spring Chinook fishery based on the number of fish expected to return from the ocean and the allowable impact to wild salmon and steelhead stocks listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. "Impacts" are the unintended mortalities associated with handling and releasing wild fish. This year, non-Indian impacts are limited to 1.5 percent of the total upriver run that includes ESA-listed Snake River spring/summer Chinook and Upper Columbia River spring Chinook.
For the spring Chinook fishery, Oregon anglers may keep two adult adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon per day. Catch limits for jacks remain in effect as per permanent regulations. The steelhead season opened May 16 from Tongue Point to the I-5 Bridge and will open on June 16 from I-5 upstream to Bonneville Dam. Shad angling is open all year except during April 1-May 15 from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam.
Through June 15, all non-adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon must be released immediately unharmed and it is unlawful to totally remove from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released when fishing from boats less than 30 feet in length.
The summer Chinook fishery is scheduled for June 16-30 from Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam and June 16-July 31 from Bonneville Dam upstream to the OR/WA border. During this summer season, the Oregon daily bag limit for adult salmon and adipose fin-clipped steelhead is two fish in any combination. Retention of non-adipose fin clipped Chinook (adults and jacks) is allowed during this fishery.
At today’s hearing, fishery manager’s also decided to prohibit retention of white sturgeon in John Day Pool (John Day Dam to McNary Dam) effective 11:59 PM Sunday June 10, 2007 because the annual harvest guideline of 165 fish is expected to be reached by that date.
Additional information may also be found on ODFW's Web page at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/OSCRP/CRM/action_notes.html.
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