FISHING -- Coho are the latest of the Pacific salmon species prompting records on the Columbia River this year.

From August 1 through September 21, there have been an estimated 119,885 angler trips and 22,483 Chinook, 6,842 steelhead, and 4,919 coho kept, according to Joe Hymer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Columbia River fisheries biologist. 

Since at least 1980, Hymer added:

• The coho catch is a new record! (previous record 4,027 fish in 1986). 
• The angler trips and Chinook kept are the 4^th highest on record.  Last year was the record for both (141,481 angler trips and 31,879 Chinook kept).  With over a month to go, will we set a record?   
• The steelhead kept catch from August through October is the 3^rd largest.  The record was 12,053 fish in 2011 which seems pretty safe at this point.