BROOKINGS, Ore. - Fall salmon anglers will get a 12-day October ocean salmon season and a lengthy in-river fishery, Oregon wildlife officials decided June 4.
The popular "bubble" fishery in the ocean just off the mouth of the Chetco will run Oct. 1-12, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission decided. The in-river season above tidewater opens Nov. 6 with a two-fish-per-day limit.
The October ocean season has a reputation of being Oregon's most consistent trophy salmon fishery, with king topping 50 pounds reported almost every year.
"The big salmon stack up near the mouth, waiting for enough rain to move into the river," says Brookings guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. "Lots of fish over 30 and 40 pounds are caught each season near the mouth, and a few over the 50-pound mark are landed."
Last year, one of Martin's customers landed a 58-pounder at the mouth of the river.
Biologists decided not to allow a bubble fishery in the ocean last fall because of a predicted low return. Once the season was over, however, the spawning sureveys indicated the run was well above average. Another strong run, around 180 percent of normal, is expected this fall.
The Chetco has a unique run of 4- and 5-year-old salmon. The extra year or two in the ocean allows many fish to reach trophy size.
Biologists asked the Fish and Wildlife Commission to delay the in-river opener until Nov. 6 to protect salmon held up in tidewater during low flows. When the river opens in early November, anglers can keep two fish per day, including wild fish.
"The salmon run peaks around Thanksgiving, so we should have an excellent opportunity to get some nice kings this fall," Martin said. "Last year we were catching salmon until late December."
