Salem-News.com Fisheries articles

A Fish Story

The problems facing our Sockeye and other fisheries are not secret.

(GOLD RIVER, B.C.) - Historically the Pacific Northwest of North America has been one of those spots in the world where food is usually always abundant. The sea along its coast has always been a good provider, and the most important gift that that sea has offered up is the Pacific salmon that once filled its rivers and streams from far west of Alaska to Central California. That is changing.

This year the return of Sockeye to the Fraser River collapsed and finally the Canadian government is ordering judicial inquiry into why this happened.

Master Fisherman Will Share Skills During Creekside Flyfishing Program

TFO’s entire selection of fly rods wll be available for participants to test on the creek and pond adjacent to the shop.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Creekside Flyfishing will be hosting a winter steelhead seminar this Saturday, November 21st. The event will take place in Pringle Plaza at the Creekside Fly Shop, 350 Liberty St SE from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and admission is free.

The host is Rich Youngers, owner of Creekside Flyfishing and a long-time NW fishing guide. There will be many programs worth catching here.

Wild Coho Season Closes in Yaquina, Nehalem Basins

Fin-clipped hatchery coho may be retained in both the Yaquina and the Nehalem basins.

(TILLAMOOK, Ore.) - The first wild coho season in 15 years on two coastal river basins will close this week as anglers reach harvest limits designed to provide what biologists hope will become Oregon’s newest sustainable salmon fishery.

Retention of non fin-clipped coho will close on the Yaquina and Nehalem rivers at the end of the regular fishing day on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Both rivers will remain open to adipose fin-clipped hatchery coho through the end of the year. In addition, the Yaquina remains open for chinook salmon under 2009 temporary rules.

ODFW Raises Coho Salmon Bag Limit on Upper Willamette

Fishery managers are projecting that 700,000 coho will return to the Columbia River this year, which would be the largest return since 2001.

(CORVALLIS, Ore.) - Anglers may keep an additional coho salmon on the Willamette River and its tributaries above Willamette Falls under new rules adopted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Effective September 1st, the daily bag limit for coho salmon and steelhead in combination increases to three fish on the Willamette River above Willamette Falls, Molalla, and Santiam rivers.

Former NW Governors `Fillet` Federal Salmon Plan (AUDIO)

A letter from the Governor asks the federal government to craft a new salmon recovery plan that is "lawful and science-based."

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - In about one week, the federal government will announce whether it will throw out the previous administration's plan for endangered native salmon recovery and start over.

Three former Northwest governors have already made their minds up, including John Kitzhaber here in Oregon, Cecil Andrus in Idaho and Mike Lowry in Washington.

Newport, Oregon Will be NOAA`s New Marine Operations Center in the Pacific

Verger Praises Selection of Oregon coast harbor town.

(COOS BAY, Ore.) - Senator Joanne Verger (D-District 5), representing the Oregon coast from Lincoln City to Coos Bay, praised the selection today of the Port of Newport as the newest home of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Marine Operations Center in the Pacific.

“This is monumental news for our coast and for our state,” said Verger.

Fishing for Energy Comes to the Oregon Coast

Innovative program helps with the disposal and removal of old fishing gear and marine debris.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Fishing for Energy is catching on in Oregon. Garibaldi and Newport will be the first port communities in the state to participate in the innovative partnership that provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear that is then turned into energy.

The Fishing for Energy partnership will place collection bins at the ports to collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear beginning in August.

Ocean Salmon Fishers Reminded to Know the Rules Before Angling

Minimum sizes for coho are 16", Chinook – 24", and Steelhead -20"

(SALEM, Ore.) - In June, Ocean Salmon Sport Seasons began up and down the Oregon Coast. Ocean coho angling continues to improve with anglers on the north and central coast averaging one to two fish each.

As the catch rate improves, anglers are reminded of the rules relating to the ocean sport salmon seasons.

Chinook Season to Close on Snake River

This closure is necessary to resolve confusion caused by non-concurrent regulations between Oregon and Idaho.

(LA GRANDE, Ore.) - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today the upcoming closure of the Snake River spring chinook sport fishery. The closure is effective July 2nd 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

The season for Snake River hatchery fish opened on May 30th from the Dug Bar Boat Ramp to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam. Fishery managers say they opened this sport season because the predicted number of hatchery spring chinook returning to the base of Hells Canyon Dam exceeded the number needed for broodstock purposes.

Historic Oregon Marine Reserves Bill Clears Oregon House Unanimously

HB-3013 A will implement the recommendations of the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC).

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon House of Representatives approved HB-3013 A on Thursday, outlining a detailed plan and timeline to complete evaluation of six potential marine reserve sites recommended by the Governor’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council.

In addition, the bill establishes two pilot marine reserve projects at Otter Rock near Depoe Bay and Redfish Rocks near Port Orford and prescribes a process to evaluate the potential for reserves in four other areas of the coast. The vote was 51-0.