Fishing Rule Change

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
October 14, 2010

Chinook retention re-opens in lower Columbia River

Action: Opens the Columbia River downstream of the Lewis River for chinook retention.

Effective date: Oct. 15 through Dec. 31, 2010.

Species affected: Chinook salmon.

Location: The mainstem Columbia River from the Buoy 10 line upstream to a line from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse, through Red Buoy #4, to the orange marker atop the dolphin on the Washington shore.

Reason for action: The lower river chinook stocks have moved out of the mainstem Columbia and there are harvestable numbers of upriver fall chinook available for harvest based on the current run-size projection.

Other information: Effective Oct. 15, the entire lower Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam will be open for chinook retention. As per permanent rules the area from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam will be closed to all salmon angling from Nov.. 1 through Dec. 31, 2010.

Daily limit is six salmonids of which no more than two may be adult salmon or hatchery steelhead or one of each. Release all salmon other than chinook and hatchery coho. Any chinook, adipose fin clipped or not, may be retained.

Information contacts: Region 5 office: (360) 696-6211.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license. Check the current WDFW ?Fishing in Washington? rules pamphlet or the Fishing section of the WDFW webpage at wdfw.wa.gov for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500; press 2 for recreational rules; call the Shellfish Rule Change hotline, (360) 796-3215, or toll free 1 (866) 880-5431.