02-19-2008, 10:10 PM
SALEM, Ore. - Fisheries managers from Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife met today and approved the guidelines for the 2008 recreational spring chinook seasons on the mainstem Columbia River.
Oregon fishery managers also announced regulations for the Willamette River and its tributaries above and below Willamette Falls.
The Columbia River Compact set the following spring chinook seasons today:
Mainstem Columbia River above the Willamette River will open six-days-per week
* March 16 through April 30 from Hayden Island west power lines to Bonneville Dam, with a one-fish daily limit; closed to all sport-fishing on Tuesdays
* March 16 through May 10 from Tower Island power lines above Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam, with a two-fish daily limit; from Bonneville Dam to Tower Island bank fishing only, with a two-fish daily limit<br />
* Catch expectation of 18,100 spring chinook
Mainstem Columbia River below the Willamette River open seven-days-per week
* March 24 through April 4 from Buoy 10 to Hayden Island west power lines with a one-fish daily limit<br />
* Catch expectation of 3,000 spring chinook
Willamette River and Willamette tributaries open seven-days-per week
* One-fish daily limit beginning March 1<br />
* Catch expectation of 5,500 spring chinook
Commercial Fishery on the mainstem Columbia River
* Commercial fishing is restricted to the area from the Hayden Island west power lines to Beacon Rock<br />
* Preseason catch objective is 5,200 spring chinook
Commercial Select Area Fisheries
* Open from mid-February through mid-June<br />
* Catch objective of 3,700 chinook
The mainstem Columbia River from the I-5 Bridge to the mouth remains open to salmon fishing through Feb. 24. There were no changes to the regulations on the Sandy River, which remains open with a two-fish daily limit.
Approved seasons are based on preliminary run projections that 269,300 fish will return to the Columbia River--the third largest return since 1977--and that 34,000 fish will make up the Willamette River return, the lowest since 1997.
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 2 percent of the total upriver run that includes ESA-listed Snake River spring/summer chinook and Upper Columbia River spring chinook.
Anglers participating in these fisheries may also retain shad and hatchery steelhead within daily catch limits established by each state. Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the current 2008 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet remain in effect the entire year.
Additional information may also be found on ODFW's Web page at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/index.asp
Oregon fishery managers also announced regulations for the Willamette River and its tributaries above and below Willamette Falls.
The Columbia River Compact set the following spring chinook seasons today:
Mainstem Columbia River above the Willamette River will open six-days-per week
* March 16 through April 30 from Hayden Island west power lines to Bonneville Dam, with a one-fish daily limit; closed to all sport-fishing on Tuesdays
* March 16 through May 10 from Tower Island power lines above Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam, with a two-fish daily limit; from Bonneville Dam to Tower Island bank fishing only, with a two-fish daily limit<br />
* Catch expectation of 18,100 spring chinook
Mainstem Columbia River below the Willamette River open seven-days-per week
* March 24 through April 4 from Buoy 10 to Hayden Island west power lines with a one-fish daily limit<br />
* Catch expectation of 3,000 spring chinook
Willamette River and Willamette tributaries open seven-days-per week
* One-fish daily limit beginning March 1<br />
* Catch expectation of 5,500 spring chinook
Commercial Fishery on the mainstem Columbia River
* Commercial fishing is restricted to the area from the Hayden Island west power lines to Beacon Rock<br />
* Preseason catch objective is 5,200 spring chinook
Commercial Select Area Fisheries
* Open from mid-February through mid-June<br />
* Catch objective of 3,700 chinook
The mainstem Columbia River from the I-5 Bridge to the mouth remains open to salmon fishing through Feb. 24. There were no changes to the regulations on the Sandy River, which remains open with a two-fish daily limit.
Approved seasons are based on preliminary run projections that 269,300 fish will return to the Columbia River--the third largest return since 1977--and that 34,000 fish will make up the Willamette River return, the lowest since 1997.
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 2 percent of the total upriver run that includes ESA-listed Snake River spring/summer chinook and Upper Columbia River spring chinook.
Anglers participating in these fisheries may also retain shad and hatchery steelhead within daily catch limits established by each state. Catch limits and other restrictions listed in the current 2008 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet remain in effect the entire year.
Additional information may also be found on ODFW's Web page at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/index.asp