Retention of sockeye continues through July 6

Today Oregon and Washington fishery managers announced the early closure of the summer adult chinook fishery from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Wash.  The season will close on Tuesday, July 1 at 12:01 a.m.

The season was scheduled to end on July 31 or when the available quota was met.  Catch rates in the fishery have been higher than expected and the fishery is projected to exceed the available quota by June 30.  Retention of chinook jacks will remain open in the Columbia River.

In addition, retention of sockeye salmon from the river mouth upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Wash. has been extended through July 6.

Also on Friday, managers opened a limited non-Indian commercial sockeye salmon season for Monday, June 30 from 12 to 9 p.m. The return of sockeye salmon to the Columbia River has unexpectedly large this year, making fish available for commercial harvest.