State officials are reducing the daily coho limit to one adult hatchery fish beginning Sunday in 13 lower Columbia River tributaries in Washington.
The daily limit is being slashed from six coho down to one to preserve salmon for hatchery escapement and restoration programs.
The waters affected include the Washougal, Lewis, Kalama, Cispus, Tilton, Green, Toutle, Cowlitz, Elochoman, Grays and Deep rivers plus Mayfield Reservoir and Lake Scanewa.
Cindy LeFleur, regional fish program manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the early coho return to hatcheries is about a third of the projected level of 26,000.
“The late run is just getting started, but we’re seeing the same trend,’’ LeFleur said. “We’re not ready to close the fishery completely for coho, but do believe a more conservative approach is in order.’’
Anglers can catch up to two adult salmon per day, including one hatchery coho in combination with chinook. Except for chinook caught in the Deep and Lewis rivers, only coho and cinook marked with a clipped adipose fin may be retained.
Poor coho returns have prompted the state to close all salmon fishing in several Puget Sound tributaries plus Grays Harbor and its tributaries.
“Last year, we had a strong return of nearly a million coho to the Columbia River, LeFleur said. “This year, we’re clearly going to fall far short of that mark, which show how quickly ocean conditions can change.’’
