Higher-than-expected numbers of fall chinook salmon crossing Bonneville Dam allowed Oregon and Washington fish managers to relax angling restrictions in the lower Columbia River.
From West Puget Island upriver to Warrior Rock has been closed to all salmon fishing, but will reopen from Friday through Sunday, with a daily bag limit of two salmon, but only one chinook, clipped or unclipped.
From West Puget Island to Buoy 10 remains open for three salmon (one chinook, all coho must be fin-clipped).
From Warrior Rock upriver to Bonneville Dam, scheduled to close Thursday evening, fishing will remain open through Sept. 21 with the two-fish bag limit.
The states announced a revised run forecast from 554,000 adult fall chinook to 680,800.
They’ll meet again next week and may extend sportfishing again.
Meanwhile, state and federal fish managers announced the offshore coho salmon season, including hatchery and non-clipped fish, will end Sunday evening between Cape Falcon near Manzanita and Humbug Mountain south of Port Orford.
