Initial Columbia River recreational spring Chinook seasons set

Photo Courtesy of USFWS     CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted recreational spring Chinook seasons for the Columbia River during a joint state hearing today. Effective March 1 (downstream of Bonneville Dam) and April 1 (upstream of Bonneville Dam), the following regulations will take the place of permanent rules for the …

New updates to 2023 steelhead fishing restrictions on the Columbia

Photo provided by BLM   Effective Jan. 6 through March 31, 2023, the Columbia River mainstem is closed to both angling for and retention of steelhead from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam). The rule has been modified to reflect the original intent to close angling for steelhead.   …

New Rogue-South Coast steelhead angling license products available for purchase; MyODFW app update needed

  CENTRAL POINT, Ore.–The new Rogue-South Coast steelhead validation ($2 for residents/$4 for nonresidents) and wild steelhead harvest tag ($10 for residents/$20 for nonresidents) are now available for purchase online and at license sale agents. Anglers using electronic tagging need to update their MyODFW app to the latest version (Version 3.01 available today in Google …

Delays continue for ocean commercial Dungeness crab season

Photo of crab pots by Anne Hay   NEWPORT, Ore – The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season remains closed as round two of pre-season testing shows crabs remain too low in meat yield in some areas. Elevated domoic acid is still detected in some crab viscera (guts). Round three of crab meat yield and biotoxin …

New winter steelhead tag must be purchased for winter steelhead fishing in Rogue and shouthern coast areas starting 2023

Photo courtesy of USFWS Pacific Southwest Region   CENTRAL POINT, Ore – New steelhead angling regulations begin Jan. 1 in the Rogue and South Coast rivers. In this area, a winter steelhead season (Dec. 1 – Apr. 30) is now established with the 2023 initial season being Jan. 1 – Apr. 30. During this season, …

Oregon commercial Dungeness crab season delayed

Photo by Julie Gentry   NEWPORT, Ore – The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season opener is delayed until at least Dec. 16 for the entire Oregon coast. Pre-season testing shows crabs are too low in meat yield in some areas. Elevated domoic acid also was detected in some crab viscera (guts). Targeted to open Dec. …

Recreational crabbing closes in bays and estuaries on Oregon’s southern coast due to marine toxins

  NEWPORT, Ore – The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and ODFW closed recreational bay and estuary crabbing from eight miles north of Winchester Bay (43 degrees 47′ at Tahkenitch Creek) to the California border. Recent test results show domoic acid, a marine toxin, is above the human health closure limit. Recreational bay and estuary …

Oregon Offering Free Fishing days after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-26th

  SALEM, Ore.—#OptOutside the two days after Thanksgiving and make fishing part of your plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26, 2022. No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod …

Washington salmon season tentatively set for 2020-2021

  OLYMPIA – Continued low returns of some key Chinook salmon stocks are expected to limit numerous Washington salmon fisheries in the upcoming season, state fishery managers announced today. The state’s 2020-21 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty tribal co-managers, were tentatively set today during the …

Commission approves modifications to its Columbia River salmon fishery policy

  SPOKANE – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has agreed to allow the use of gillnets during the fall salmon fishery on the lower Columbia River while state fishery managers work with their Oregon counterparts to develop a joint long-term policy for shared waters. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to …