Prior to the 2017 recreational salmon fishing season off the Oregon Coast, biologists were concerned. That concern is being realized as officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife say the numbers so far this year are not good. From Cape Falcon south to the California border, there have been 682 angler trips with only 116 Chinook landed. The Newport area of the Central Coast has had the best results. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) did limit the seasons and areas to fish this year in anticipation of low returns. An all-salmon season, except for coho, is still underway through Oct. 31st between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mtn., south of Port Orford. But, there are reports of little interest due to the lack of fish. The PFMC cancelled commercial & recreational salmon seasons along 130-miles of California’s North Coast, and from Humbug Mtn. to Eureka, CA to protect the Klamath River Fall Chinook. Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown has requested a federal disaster declaration, and the state’s two US Senators, Ron Wyden & Jeff Merkley support that action. If grants, it would be the fifth federal disaster declaration request for the Oregon salmon industry over the last decade.
