Columbia River boat angling for spring chinook opens from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam

May 26, 2011

May 26, 2011

Columbia River boat angling for spring chinook
opens from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam

Action: Beginning Friday, May 27, angling for salmon and steelhead from boats is permitted on the mainstem Columbia River from Beacon Rock upstream to the boat angling deadline at Bonneville Dam. Effectively opens the Columbia River from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point Line upstream to Bonneville Dam for both boat and bank anglers (except for those waters closed under permanent regulations) .

Species affected: Salmon and steelhead

Location: Mainstem Columbia River from Beacon Rock upstream to the boat angling deadline at Bonneville Dam

Effective date: May 27 through June 15, 2011

Daily bag limit: Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead or sockeye), of which no more than 2 may be adults and no more than one may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook and wild steelhead. Sockeye count toward the daily adult salmonid limit. Salmon minimum size is 12-inches.

Additional rules: It is unlawful when fishing from vessels that are less than 30 feet in length, substantiated by Coast Guard documentation or Marine Board registration, to totally remove from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released.

Anglers may not possess in the field salmon or steelhead mutilated so that size, species or fin clip cannot be determined until anglers have reached their automobile or principle means of land transportation and have completed their daily angling.

In Deep River (Wahkiakum County), the hatchery adult chinook daily limit is the same as the adjacent mainstem Columbia River when the mainstem Columbia River is open for adult chinook retention. When the adjacent mainstem Columbia River is closed for adult chinook retention, the salmon daily limit will revert to permanent rules for Deep River.

Reason for action: There are upriver fish remaining on the harvest guideline for the non-Indian recreational fisheries, based on current forecasts and management agreements.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.