Coho Season Opens Monday

The recreational ocean fishing season for coho salmon opens Monday along the southern Washington coast and on Aug. 5 for the northern coast.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said negotiations with Canada over catch levels of Washington-bound coho and British Columbia-bound sockeye resulted in an agreement Friday to allow a catch of 75,000 coho off the Washington coast.

Recreational fishermen have been allocated 56,200 coho, which will provide for minimal fishing seasons, while non-Indian commercial fishermen will get the other 18,800.

Different catch quotas have been set for each of the four areas off the coast. The daily limit will be two coho, all chinook taken must be released, and hooks must be barbless.