4/16/2021 OCEAN SALMON ACTION NOTICE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized their recommendations for 2021 ocean salmon seasons late in the evening on Thursday, April 15.  Copies of the adopted seasons will be available at the PMFC’s website in the near future (www.pcouncil.org) in PreSeason Report III, and graphics of the recreational and commercial troll seasons have already been made available on www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/.  Seasons from May 16 on are not official until final approval by the Secretary of Commerce, and adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for waters within 3 nautical miles of shore.

Klamath River fall Chinook salmon was a severely constraining stock on seasons from Cape Falcon through California.  This year’s Columbia basin hatchery Coho salmon abundance is forecast to be one of the best since the late 1970s, and recreational coho quotas and seasons reflect this big increase.  North of Cape Falcon, Chinook quotas were most restricted by tule fall Chinook from the Columbia, while the most constraining stock of wild coho were from the Queets River along the North Washington Coast.

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 all salmon except coho from June 19-26 with a one fish daily bag limit and a 22” minimum length.

The all salmon season North of Cape Falcon will open on June 27 and continue through the earlier of September 15 or quota with a hatchery mark selective coho quota of 42,400.  There is also a Chinook guideline in this area of 7,200.  The daily bag limit will be two salmon, but no more than one Chinook and all coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.  Minimum length for Chinook is 22” and the coho minimum length is 16”.

Recreational Chinook seasons on the central Oregon Coast from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened on March 15 and will continue through October 31.  The area from Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA Border open for recreational Chinook beginning on June 19 and continue through August 15.  The Chinook minimum length in all seasons from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA Border is 24”.

The hatchery mark selective coho salmon season from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA Border will be open from June 12 through the earlier of August 28 or the quota of 120,000 adipose fin-clipped coho. There will be also be a much more limited non-selective coho season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. in September.  The September non-selective season will open on September 10, and be open each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through the earlier of September 30 or the quota of 14,000 non-mark selective coho.  The open days in September may be adjusted in season.  Coho minimum length of 16”.   

All recreational anglers are limited to no more than 2 single point barbless hook per line when fishing for salmon, and for any species if a salmon is on board the vessel.

Commercial Troll Season Summary:

The commercial troll salmon seasons north of Cape Falcon will have limited Chinook quotas again this year.  The fishery will be managed by quotas, season length, and vessel landing week (Thurs.-Weds.) limits.  The early all salmon except coho season opens May 15 and will continue through the earlier of June 29 or the overall quota of 15,375 Chinook salmon, or the Leadbetter Pt. to Cape Falcon subarea cap of 4,195 Chinook.  The early season will have a 75 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thurs-Wed) limit. 

The summer all salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon will open on July 1 and continue through the earlier of the overall Chinook quota of 15,375 Chinook or quota of 5,000 fin-clipped coho.  Landing week (Thurs-Wed) limit of 20 adipose fin-clipped coho per vessel.  Minimum lengths are 27” for Chinook, and 16” for coho.  Vessels must land in the area or into Garibaldi.  Mandatory call-in requirements within an hour of landing are in place for all troll salmon seasons in this area.  Vessels must call in to (541)857-2546 with vessel name, vessel number, number of harvested salmon by species, port of landing, destination of fish, and estimated time of delivery.  The mandatory report can also be made by email to [email protected]  Oregon vessels may only fish south of Leadbetter Pt., Washington.

NOTE:  Any boats fishing in the area North of Cape Falcon and retaining Chinook that are greater than 27” but less than 28” must land all salmon into ports N. of Cape Falcon.  Boats may only land Chinook in this size range into Garibaldi if the season S. of Cape Falcon has been closed more than 48 hours. 

In the area from Cape Falcon to the Heceta Bank Line (43o 58’ 00” N lat.), and from Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA border the first season is from March 20-April 30 for all salmon except coho. 

From Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border, the next openings for all salmon except coho will be May 1-5, May 10-21, and May 26-31.

From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. the all salmon except coho season dates in June include June 5-7, June 12-14, June 19-21, and June 26-28.

From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. for all salmon (all coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin-clip) the open dates include: July 5-7, July 12-14, July 19-21, July 26-28, August 1-4, August 8-10, and August 15-17.  During these openings in July and August, salmon trollers may retain up to 20 hatchery fin-clipped coho per week (Thurs. through Weds.).  Coho in possession must not exceed the number of Chinook in possession at any time.  There is an overall quota of 10,000 marked coho for this season.  If the coho quota is met prior to the last opening in August, then the season will continue for all salmon except coho for any remaining open days.

From September 1 through October 31 in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. the season will be open for all salmon except coho.  Vessels are limited to no more than 75 Chinook per week (Thurs. through Weds.) during this season.

From Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA border, there are two quota seasons in June and July.  During these seasons all salmon must be landed into Port Orford, Gold Beach, or Brookings.  The June quota season will be open June 1 through the earlier of June 30 or a 300 Chinook quota with landing week (Thurs-Wed) limits of 20 Chinook per vessel.  The July quota season will be open July 1 through the earlier of July 31 or a 200 Chinook quota with landing week (Thurs-Wed) limits of 20 Chinook per vessel.  Unused quota from June may be transferred 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)857-2538 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 [email protected]

Other Information:

Both commercial troll salmon fishermen and recreational anglers should review the full regulations prior to participating in the ocean salmon fisheries.  Single point barbless hooks are required in all ocean salmon seasons.  Commercial salmon trollers are reminded that they are restricted to no more than 4 spreads per wire for all seasons from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border.

Questions should be directed to Eric Schindler at (541)867-0300 x252 or [email protected]