Avoid eating Columbia fall chinook with hole punched in tail
FISHING -- Anglers who catch chinook salmon on the upper Columbia River with a hole punched in the tail fin must release them, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The fish, which include wild and hatchery fall chinook, have been sedated with the chemical anesthetic MS-222 during sampling at Priest Rapids Dam. The fish tainted with the chemical are marked with a 1/4-inch diameter hole punch in the upper tail fin.
They may be found from the blue bridge in the Tri-Cities up to Chief Joseph Dam.
The fish will not be safe to eat until three weeks after sedation.
The requirement to release fish with hole punches will continue through Oct. 31.
