FISHING -- Starting June 16 and running through Aug. 15, 2015,changes for chinook and sockeye salmon fishing in the Columbia will:

1. Implement a new salmon fishery management area in the Columbia River near the mouth of the Yakima River in the Tri-cities.
2. Implement protective salmon daily limits in the new management area, while providing more liberal daily limits in the remainder of the Hanford Reach upstream.

The changes were just announced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Here are details.

Area 1:  Columbia River from Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco to the Interstate 182 Bridge at Richland near Columbia Point (new Catch Record Card Code “534”)

Daily Limit: Daily limit of three (3) salmon, of which no more than one (1) may be adult hatchery chinook and no more than two (2) may be sockeye. Release wild adult chinook.

Area 2: Columbia River from the Interstate 182 Bridge at Richland near Columbia Point to Priest Rapids Dam. (CRC 535, 536)

Daily Limit: Daily limit of eight (8) salmon, of which no more than two (2) may be adult hatchery chinook and no more than six (6) may be sockeye. Release wild adult chinook.

Other information: Anglers must use barbless hooks when fishing for salmon and must have a current Washington fishing license, as well as a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement (CRSSE). Anglers may fish with two poles with the Two-Pole Endorsement, except for sturgeon.

Reason for action:  WDFW is creating a new salmon fishery management area near the mouth of the Yakima River to manage fishing effort, harvest and provide protective daily limits in this short, six-mile river section.

These changes were proposed and discussed during the North of Falcon salmon season rule-setting public process and will be adopted by permanent rule later this summer and be published in the 2015-16 sport fishing rules pamphlet.

For more information on fishing seasons, see WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.

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