Salem, Ore. – Summer ocean salmon fishing kicks into gear when a recreational coho salmon fishing season for Oregon coastal waters south of Cape Falcon opens Sunday, June 22.

In the ocean from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border, the salmon season is open seven days-per-week, June 22 – Aug. 31, or until attainment of a 9,000 coho salmon quota is reached. The allowed bag limit is two adipose fin-clipped coho per day.

In the ocean from Cape Falcon north to Leadbetter Point in Washington (Columbia River Ocean Area) the season is currently open seven-days-per-week for chinook only.  Effective June 21, the daily bag limit will increase from one chinook to two chinook.  Beginning June 29, this area will open for all salmon species.  This season for chinook and adipose fin-clipped coho will extend until September 30 or until either the 10,180 coho quota or the 5,300 chinook quota is reached. Fishing will be allowed Sunday through Thursday with a two salmon per day limit.

The limited salmon seasons were approved by the Pacific Fishery Management Council in April. At that meeting, the Council voted for the first time in history to close all commercial salmon fishing off the Oregon coast due to a dramatic decline in the number of Sacramento River chinook expected to spawn.

Despite the closure, managers from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife were able to secure a limited recreational fishing opportunity for coho salmon off the Oregon coast.

Season updates, regulations, and other ocean salmon fishing information are available on-line at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmon/

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