Recreational halibut fishing to open for additional days in coastal areas

  Action: Opens recreational halibut fishing on Saturday, June 15 in Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push). Opens recreational halibut fishing Thursday, June 20 in Marine Area 2 (Westport) and Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco and Chinook). Opens the nearshore area in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco and Chinook) seven days per week beginning …

Barbless hooks to become voluntary on much of Columbia River and tributaries

  OLYMPIA – Anglers on a large portion of the Columbia River and many of its tributaries will no longer be required to use barbless hooks when fishing for salmon and steelhead beginning June 1. In March, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission directed the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to make the …

Additional public meeting planned to discuss sturgeon regulations in Washington

  OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled an additional public meeting in Montesano to discuss possible changes to sturgeon regulations, including a night closure on the Chehalis River. The first meeting was held in The Dalles, Oregon on May 22. Upcoming meetings scheduled by WDFW and the Oregon Department …

California Inland Salmon Seasons Approved at Fish and Game Commission Meeting

  California’s inland salmon anglers can look forward to a better salmon fishing season than last year. A projected return of 379,600 spawning Sacramento River fall-run Chinook Salmon to Central Valley rivers has allowed fishery managers to return to a two salmon daily limit with four salmon in possession. This is a welcome increase over …

WDFW seeks public input on sturgeon fishing regulations

Photo courtesy of Oregon Fishing Guides Columbia River Fishing Adventures   OLYMPIA – State fish managers are hosting a series of public meetings in May and June to discuss sturgeon fishing regulations in Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have scheduled public meetings …

Public meetings to be held in Oregon to discuss Fall Chinook fisheries

Photo by Steve W. – ODFW   SALEM, Ore.—Meetings to discuss regulation changes in response to low returns of fall Chinook are kicking off tonight in Nehalem. See full list of meetings below. ODFW is proposing temporary harvest limits and closures for coastal wild fall Chinook fisheries due to low escapement in 2018 and poor …

Invasive Northern Pike Threaten Columbia River salmon and steelhead stocks.

  Northern pike are some of the most troubling aquatic invasive species in the Northwest. So far, they haven’t made it past Washington’s Lake Roosevelt. Two dams stand in their way. And lots of people trying to stop them. If the fish make it past Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River, they could greatly harm imperiled salmon downstream. …

Snake River spring chinook season will have limited openings for 2019

  WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE   Snake River spring chinook fishery to open two days per week   Action: Spring chinook salmon fishery opens two days per week (Saturday and Sunday) beginning May 11, 2019 in sections of the Snake River.  Effective date:  May 11, 2019 until further notice. Species affected: Salmon. Locations:  A)  Below Little Goose Dam:  The Snake River …

Skykomish River set to open for Hatchery Chinook

  WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE     The Skykomish River to open May 25 to fishing for hatchery chinook salmon   Action:  The Skykomish River will open to fishing for hatchery chinook salmon on May 25 (the Saturday before Memorial Day) to coincide with the gamefish season.  Effective dates:  May 25 through July 31, 2019. Species affected:  Hatchery …

Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement no longer required beginning July 1st

  OLYMPIA – Anglers who fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River basin will no longer be required to purchase an endorsement to do so beginning July 1. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has collected an $8.75 annual fee – known as the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement – …