There will be no ocean chinook fishing, sport or commercial along most of the Oregon coast before Sept. 1.
The exception will be seasons north of Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, which includes the zone off the mouth of the Columbia River.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council ended its first session of an annual season-setting process by approving no ocean chinook fishing anywhere south of Cape Falcon in all three of its alternatives for seasons. Each alternative details specific quotas and seasons for zones from the Canadian border south to California.
Federal managers already have shut down March, April and May chinook fishing coastwide.
One alternative will be approved at its April 1-7 meeting in Foster City, California, on San Francisco Bay. Managers can amend the alternatives, but appear unlikely to change their minds about chinook.
Sharp declines in northern California chinook forecasts are behind the closures.
However, improved coho salmon numbers will allow anglers to fish the ocean along the entire Oregon coast and chinook and coho seasons are in the offing north of Cape Falcon and along much of the Washington coast.
And both hatchery and wild coho seasons are included in all three alternatives between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain near Port Orford.
While most Oregon anglers will get to fish for coho somewhere in the ocean, Californians will see no ocean salmon seasons at all.
All three alternatives are posted on the Management Council’s website.
Public hearings will be held in each state, but only for in-person attendance, not remote or online.
All will be from 7-9 p.m. at:
Washington: Monday, March 20, Chateau Westport, Beach Room, 710 S Hancock Ave., Westport.
Oregon: The Mill Casino, Willow Beargrass Room, 3201 Tremont Ave., North Bend.
California: Courtyard by Marriott Santa Rosa, Sonoma Ballroom, 175 Railroad St., Santa Rosa.
— Bill Monroe for The Oregonian/OregonLive
