Hanford Reach pumps out record catch of fall chinook
UPDATED 6 p.m. with FACTOIDS:
FISHING -- Although this year's run was a tad lower than the 2013 record run of fall chinook into the Columbia River, anglers set a record for the number of fall chinook caught in the Hanford Reach by topping last year's total catch by more than 3,000 fish.
Here's the summary report by Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist in the Tri-Cities:
The Hanford Reach fall salmon fishery ended on Oct. 31. An estimated 30,747 fall chinook were harvested (27,196 adults and 3,551 jacks) along with 173 coho.
WDFW staff interviewed 12,946 anglers from 4,805 boats along with 1,160 bank anglers. There were 44,371 angler trips (270,129 hours) spent fishing for salmon in the Hanford Reach this fall.
FACTOIDS about the 2014 Columbia River fall chinook run over Bonneville Dam through Oct. 31, 2014:
- Adults - 853,133. 2nd largest since at least 1938. Record 953,222 (2013).
- Jacks – 134,949. 3rd largest since at least 1980. Record 190,233 (1986).
