September 21, 2023
Lower Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishery update
Action: Opens Chinook and hatchery coho retention from west end of Puget Island to below the new Bonneville Dam Powerhouse. Maintains previous announced changes from Buoy 10 to the west end of Puget Island.
Species affected: Salmon.
Effective Date: Sept. 22 through Dec. 31, 2023.
Location: From a true north and south line projected through Buoy 10 upstream to the west end of Puget Island (a line at the west end of Puget Island projected from green navigation marker 39 on the Washington bank to green navigation marker 41, then to red navigation marker 42, and terminating at red navigation marker 44A on the Oregon bank).
- Immediately through Sept. 30: Daily limit is three adult salmon including no more than one Chinook. Chinook minimum size is 24 inches. Coho minimum size is 16 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Oct. 1 through Oct. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to three adults including no more than one Chinook may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Nov. 1 through Dec. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to three adults including no more than one Chinook and no more than two hatchery steelhead may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
From the west end of Puget Island upstream to Beacon Rock:
- Sept. 22 through Oct. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to two adult salmon including no more than one Chinook. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Nov. 1 through Dec. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to two adults including no more than one Chinook and no more than two hatchery steelhead may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
From Beacon Rock upstream to a line from the Hamilton Island boat ramp to an Oregon boundary marker on the westernmost point of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon mainland shore:
- Sept. 22 through Oct. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to two adult salmon including no more than one Chinook. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Nov. 1 through Dec. 31: Closed.
From a line from the Hamilton Island boat ramp to an Oregon boundary marker on the westernmost point of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon mainland shore upstream to a point 600 feet below the new Bonneville Dam Powerhouse:
- Sept. 22 through Oct. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to two adult salmon including no more than one Chinook. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.
- Nov. 1 through Dec. 31: Daily limit is six. Up to two adults including no more than one Chinook and no more than two hatchery steelhead may be retained. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead.
Reason for action: The Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recently updated the upriver stock component of the Chinook return to the Columbia River mouth to 613,000. Current in-season evaluation of catch and stock composition allows for additional Chinook and hatchery coho retention opportunity in areas downstream of Bonneville Dam.
Additional information: Additional rules and area descriptions can be found in the 2023/24 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Information contact: Region 5, 360-696-6211.