Oregon Public Broadcasting

Salmon anglers can look forward to a pretty decent ocean fishing season this summer off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. A federal fisheries panel Thursday approved more generous catch limits than in the recent past. The Pacific Fishery Management Council approved a full May to September salmon season for the Oregon and Washington coasts.

That represents a turn for the better, especially for the ocean from around Tillamook, Oregon south. That area was virtually closed to commercial salmon fishing for the past two years to protect dwindling runs bound for the Sacramento River basin. Commercial fisherman Jeff Reeves of Coos Bay has stayed afloat by crabbing. Reached on his boat, Reeves said he's raring to cast his lines for salmon again. “Most of the fleet takes it as a blessing to be allowed to go fishing. We would have guessed there would have been no fishing season based on preliminary numbers," he said.The turnaround is made possible by updated forecasts that call for strong Chinook or king salmon returns to West Coast rivers. Fishing for Coho salmon or silvers will be more restricted because those fish aren't doing as well.

For more information:

Pacific Fishery Management Council