OCEAN SALMON ACTION NOTICE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized their recommendations for 2020 ocean salmon seasons on Friday, April 10.  Draft copies of the adopted seasons will be available at the PMFC’s website in the near future (www.pcouncil.org), and graphics of the recreational and commercial troll seasons have been made available on www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/.  Seasons beginning in May are not official until receiving final approval by the Secretary of Commerce, and adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for waters within 3 nautical miles of shore.

The adopted regulations for Chinook Salmon reflect the improved status of Sacramento River fall Chinook.  Most of the north migrating stocks of Chinook (Oregon Coastal Chinook stocks from the Nehalem River south to the Elk River as well as a number of Columbia River Chinook stocks) are in moderate to poor condition.  These north migrating stocks of Chinook contribute very little to Oregon’s ocean seasons, but are very important to Oregon’s estuary and river recreational seasons.

Columbia basin hatchery Coho Salmon abundance is forecast to be very poor this year, and recreational coho quotas are much reduced from what was available in 2019.

Recreational Season Summary:

Ocean waters off the Columbia River from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon will be open for recreational salmon fishing for Chinook only from June 20-28 with a one fish bag limit and a 22” minimum length.

The all salmon season will open on June 29 and continue through the earlier of September 30 or quota with a hatchery mark selective Coho Salmon quota of 13,250, and a Chinook Salmon guideline of 7,000.  The daily bag limit will be two salmon, but no more than one Chinook Salmon and all Coho Salmon must have a healed adipose fin clip.  Minimum length for Chinook is 22” and the coho minimum length is 16”.

Recreational Chinook Salmon seasons on the central Oregon Coast from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened for Chinook Salmon on March 15 and will continue through October 31.  The area from Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA Border will be open for recreational Chinook Salmon beginning on June 20 and continuing through August 7.  Chinook minimum length from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA Border is 24”.

The hatchery mark selective Coho Salmon season from Cape Falcon to the Humbug Mt. will be open from June 27 through the earlier of August 16 or the quota of 22,000 adipose fin-clipped Coho Salmon.  There will be also be a much more limited non-selective Coho Salmon season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. in September.  This non-selective season will open on September 4 and be open each Friday and Saturday through the earlier of September 30 or the quota of 3,000 non mark selective Coho Salmon.  Coho minimum length of 16”.

Commercial Troll Season Summary:

The commercial troll salmon seasons north of Cape Falcon will have very limited Chinook Salmon quotas again this year.  The fishery will be managed by quotas, season length, and vessel landing week (Thursday-Wednesday) limits.  The early Chinook Salmon only season will start on May 6 and will continue through the earlier of June 28 or the overall quota of 13,820 Chinook Salmon, or the Leadbetter Pt. to Cape Falcon subarea cap of 3,770 Chinook Salmon.  The season will have a 75 Chinook Salmon per vessel per landing week (Thurs-Wed). 

The summer all salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon will open on July 1 and continue through the earlier of the overall Chinook Salmon quota of 13,820 Chinook or 2,000 fin clipped coho.  Landing week (Thurs-Wed) limit of 10 adipose fin-clipped Coho Salmon per vessel.  Mandatory call-in requirements within an hour of landing are in place for all quota managed seasons.  Vessels must call in to (541)867-0300 x271 with vessel name, vessel number, number of harvested salmon by species, port of landing, destination, and estimated time of delivery.  The mandatory report can also be made by email to nfalcon.trollreport@state.or.us

From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. the Chinook Salmon season will be open April 20-May 5, May 26-31, June 4-August 25, and September 1 through October 31. Beginning September 1, a 75 Chinook Salmon per vessel weekly limit (Thursday through Wednesday) will be in place. 

From Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA Border, the commercial troll fishery will be open April 20-May 5 and May 26-31 without quota limitations.  The June quota managed season will be open June 4 through the earlier of June 30 or a 700 Chinook quota with landing week (Thurs-Wed) limits of 40 Chinook Salmon per vessel.  The July quota managed season will be open July 1 through the earlier of July 31 or a 300 Chinook quota with landing week (Thurs-Wed) limits of 40 Chinook Salmon per vessel.  Unused quota from June may be transferred forward to the July quota period on an impact neutral basis.  Mandatory call-in requirements within an hour of landing are in place for all quota managed seasons.  Vessels must call in to (541)867-0300 x252 with vessel name, vessel number, number of harvested salmon by species, port of landing, destination, and estimated time of delivery.  The report may also be made by email to kmzor.trollreport@state.or.us

Other Information:

Both commercial troll salmon fishermen and recreational anglers should review the full regulations prior to participating in the ocean salmon fisheries.  Commercial reporting requirements via phone or email remain in effect for all quota managed salmon seasons.

Due to the fluid nature of regulatory and access changes to recreational fisheries from the COVID-19 pandemic, anglers are advised to verify that seasons remain open and access to fishing areas are available prior to initiating a trip.  As of April 11, Oregon has prohibited out of state anglers from participating in any fishing activity in Oregon, the Columbia River has closed to salmon and steelhead angling, and there are significant limitations on travel, social distancing, etc. in Governor Brown’s Executive Orders.  In addition, many facilities are closed in coastal communities including parks, boat ramps, lodging, and other facilities.

Questions regarding the fishing regulations should be directed to Eric Schindler at (541)867-0300 x252 or Justine Kenyon-Benson at (541)867-0300 x271.