Columbia River - below Bonneville Dam spring chinook sport fishing season extended

April 5, 2012

April 5, 2012

Columbia River – below Bonneville Dam
spring chinook sport fishing season extended

Action: Extends the season for chinook and steelhead angling on the mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam.

Species affected: Spring chinook, steelhead and shad.

Area: The mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam.

Restrictions: BANK ANGLING ONLY FROM BEACON ROCK UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM. Closed to fishing for salmonids and shad from boats between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam. The Beacon Rock boundary is defined as a line projected from the deadline marker on the Oregon bank (approximately four miles downstream from Bonneville Dam Powerhouse 1) through the western tip of Pierce Island to a deadline marker on the Washington bank at Beacon Rock.

Effective date: Immediately through April 13, 2012, except closed April 10.

Daily bag limit: Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead), of which no more than two may be adult chinook or steelhead, and no more than one may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook and wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size: 12 inches.

Additional rules: 1.) On the mainstem Columbia River, anglers may not possess in the field salmon and steelhead mutilated so that size, species or fin clip cannot be determined until the angler has reached their automobile or principle means of land transportation and has completed their daily angling.

2.) Effective immediately through April 30, 2012, angling for all species is prohibited from a line between the upstream end of Sand Island (located east of Rooster Rock State Park) and a marker on the Oregon shoreline, downstream to a line between the lower end of Sand Island and a marker on the Oregon shoreline

3.) Effective immediately through June 15, 2012: For the mainstem Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishery from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Oregon/Washington border, it is unlawful when fishing from vessels which 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.


Reason for action: Harvestable numbers of hatchery salmon remain available based on the forecasts, associated management agreements, and harvest estimates to date.

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.