May 2, 2003
May 2, 2003
Defining wild spring/summer chinook salmon
in the Quillayute River System
Action: Makes it lawful for anglers to retain either adipose-fin clipped or ventral-fin clipped hatchery chinook salmon caught in the Quillayute River System. This action involves defining wild chinook in the Quillayute River System (which includes the Quillayute, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Dickey rivers) as being chinook with adipose and ventral fins intact. Hatchery chinook are identified as those fish missing an adipose or a ventral fin, and having a healed scar in the location of the missing fin.
Effective date: Immediately through August 15, 2003.
Species affected: Spring/summer chinook salmon
Location: Quillayute River System, including the Quillayute, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Dickey rivers.
Reason for action: Prior to 2001, releases of hatchery spring chinook from the Sol Duc hatchery were marked with a left ventral fin clip. The adipose clip was used beginning with those released in 2001 (brood year 2000). Consequently, hatchery chinook age 4 and older returning this year have left ventral fin clips, with unclipped adipose fins. Current regulations require release of wild spring/summer chinook. The 2003-04 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet defines wild chinook as those with intact adipose fins. Without this change in definition, anglers would be required to release hatchery chinook age 4 and older as well as the wild chinook.
Other information: The Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers are currently open for salmon, and the Bogachiel, Calawah, and Dickey are due to open July 1.
Information contact: Bill Freymond / Mike Gross, WDFW Region 6 Office, Montesano (360) 249-4628
Defining wild spring/summer chinook salmon
in the Quillayute River System
Action: Makes it lawful for anglers to retain either adipose-fin clipped or ventral-fin clipped hatchery chinook salmon caught in the Quillayute River System. This action involves defining wild chinook in the Quillayute River System (which includes the Quillayute, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, and Dickey rivers) as being chinook with adipose and ventral fins intact. Hatchery chinook are identified as those fish missing an adipose or a ventral fin, and having a healed scar in the location of the missing fin.
Effective date: Immediately through August 15, 2003.
Species affected: Spring/summer chinook salmon
Location: Quillayute River System, including the Quillayute, Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah and Dickey rivers.
Reason for action: Prior to 2001, releases of hatchery spring chinook from the Sol Duc hatchery were marked with a left ventral fin clip. The adipose clip was used beginning with those released in 2001 (brood year 2000). Consequently, hatchery chinook age 4 and older returning this year have left ventral fin clips, with unclipped adipose fins. Current regulations require release of wild spring/summer chinook. The 2003-04 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet defines wild chinook as those with intact adipose fins. Without this change in definition, anglers would be required to release hatchery chinook age 4 and older as well as the wild chinook.
Other information: The Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers are currently open for salmon, and the Bogachiel, Calawah, and Dickey are due to open July 1.
Information contact: Bill Freymond / Mike Gross, WDFW Region 6 Office, Montesano (360) 249-4628