Two chinook now allowed in ocean salmon fishery

ILWACO — Anglers may keep two chinook now as part of their two-salmon bag limit when fishing in the ocean off northern Oregon and southern Washington.

Federal officials increased the daily effective Sunday between Cape Falcon in Oregon and Leadbetter Point in Washington.

“When the regulations were set this spring, anglers were limited to only one chinook per day,” said Eric Schindler, ocean salmon project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This was to ensure enough chinook were available for the full season. Catch and effort estimates through July 31 indicated that the one-chinook bag limit restriction can be lifted with little risk of having to close early.”

Through July 31, only 15 percent of the chinook guideline and 20 percent of the coho quota had been taken.

Salmon fishing off the Columbia River mouth opened June 26 and continues until Sept. 30 or 33,600 fin-clipped coho are caught.

The bag limit at Buoy 10, the lower 16 miles of the Columbia River downstream of Tongue Point, is two adult salmon, but only one chinook, through Aug. 28.

Chinook retention at Buoy 10 is prohibited beginning Aug. 29.

Washington sampled 86 anglers with no salmon at Buoy 10 between Aug. 1 and 4.