Lower Columbia River spring chinook fishery season set

February 21, 2019

Action: Sets fishing regulations for spring chinook on the mainstem Columbia River below Bonneville Dam to the Warrior Rock line. Mainstem Columbia River waters below Warrior Rock line are closed to salmon and steelhead fishing.

Effective date: March 1 through April 10, 2019

Species affected: Spring chinook, steelhead, shad

Location: The mainstem Columbia River from the Warrior Rock lighthouse through Red Buoy #4 to the orange marker atop the dolphin on the Washington shore (Warrior Rock line) upstream to Bonneville Dam.

Reason for action: Sets the 2019 spring salmon and steelhead season in the Columbia River consistent with the Compact Action of Feb. 20, 2019. Spring chinook runs are projected to be significantly lower than recent years. The fisheries were set within allowable catch levels for upriver spring chinook and to minimize impacts to Cowlitz and Lewis River spring chinook.

Additional information: Open for boat and bank fishing for chinook, coho, steelhead from the Warrior Rock line to Beacon Rock, plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. The legal upstream boat boundary is defined as the deadline marker on the Oregon bank (approximately four miles downstream from Bonneville Dam Powerhouse One) in a straight line through the western tip of Pierce Island to a deadline marker on the Washington bank at Beacon Rock.

Daily limit is 6 adipose fin-clipped salmonids, including no more than 2 adults of which no more than 1 may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook, wild coho and wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Shad retention is permitted.

Barbless hooks are required and anglers must purchase a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement.

Information contact: Region 5: (360) 696-6211.

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.