Oregon and Washington Fish and Game Close Chinook season early

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Facebook post.

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Recreational salmon and steelhead fishing will close starting Saturday on the Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the Hwy. 395 Bridge near Pasco, Wash., under rules adopted today by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington.

The closure is based on the latest fall Chinook run forecast, which indicates the Upriver Bright component, which includes ESA-listed Snake River wild Chinook, is tracking at 71 percent of the preseason forecast of 579,600 Chinook. Coho salmon and steelhead returns have also been revised downward from pre-season forecasts.

Based on the revised run-size projection, fishery managers estimate that combined non-treaty fisheries have exceeded the allowed harvest limit on Upriver Bright Chinook. The states opted to also close the recreational coho salmon and steelhead seasons to prevent any additional Chinook mortalities that might have occurred as the result of incidental bycatch.

For more information, visit the Regulations Update Page on the ODFW website.