New Fall Chinook Regulations

New river salmon regulations released by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in June are nowhere near as draconian as the earlier federal waters closures off California and parts of Oregon. Still, fishery managers are expecting a dismal return of chinook salmon to Oregon's spawning rivers this fall, and to help meet escapement goals, the ODFW recently released temporary regulations that restrict bag limits.

Anglers will be allowed to two adult chinook per day, five for the season, on many of the rivers and bays in the western side of the state from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. On most rivers, only one chinook can be wild. Anglers who target the Rogue and Isthmus Slough off Coos Bay can still take up to two wild or fin-clipped fish per day.

For details of these special regulations and new deadline closures, check out the ODFW Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2008/june/061908.asp for details.

In May, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council shut down thousands of miles of ocean chinook fishing in federal waters. But Oregon is allowing some ocean chinook fishing in state waters -- from shore to 3 miles out -- at three specific locations. The waters off the Chetco and Elk rivers and Tillamook Bay are open to chinook on a restricted basis.

Bag limits will also be two fish per day, but only one can be non-finclipped. Anglers can fish off the mouth of the Chetco beginning Oct. 1-4. Additional days may be added on Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18 if there is bad weather for the first dates.

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Off the Elk River, ocean anglers can target chinook Nov. 1-30, and off Tillamook Bay from Sept. 1 through Nov. 15.