Statewide

Fall coastal salmon management

June 29, 2023

Fall salmon fishing seasons in rivers along Oregon’s coast from Necanicum River to the Winchuck River depend on the outlook for wild Chinook and coho. Expect fewer closed fisheries in 2023 over 2022 thanks to a somewhat improved forecast for fall Chinook and another strong coho run.

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Fall salmon regulations for coastal rivers announced
Alternative 2 selected, allowing for additional harvest in some rivers

For the full list of Chinook regulations that take effect as early as July 1 in some rivers, visit the Fishing Report for the SW Zone and NW zone and click Regulation Updates.

To view a recording of the June 14 webinar, scroll to the bottom of the page.

News releases

Wild coho regulations for coastal rivers posted ‌

Proposals for fall salmon seasons in coastal rivers announced

June 14 webinar on fall salmon outlook in coastal rivers, potential regulations

What’s the outlook for coastal fall salmon seasons for 2023? Watch the June 14 webinar to find out more about both in-river fisheries and potential regulations for nearshore ocean waters adjacent to several tributaries.

For 2023, coho is again a bright spot with fishery managers forecasting the third consecutive year of good returns. There should be opportunities for wild coho fishing in bays and rivers in many basins across the coast.

Due to somewhat improved forecasted returns, several basins that were closed to wild Chinook retention last year will be open this year. Fishery managers only anticipate wild Chinook retention closures in the Elk River (closed for the last few years) and the Coquille River. The Rogue River will be open to Chinook fishing per permanent regulations (unlike California rivers which are closed).

But fishery managers have ongoing concerns about the long-term health of Chinook populations based both on region-wide trends, and recent declines in some Oregon coastal basins. Severe Chinook population declines in recent years have resulted in fishing restrictions and closures in many locations. This year, California has closed all ocean and freshwater recreational salmon fishing due to poor returns to the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers.

Ocean conditions are also on a downturn again. NOAA predicts an El Nino in the Pacific Ocean this summer which brings warmer waters, less upwelling of nutrients that salmon rely on and overall worse conditions for salmon.

“There has been a brief period of generally good ocean conditions in 2021 and to a lesser extent in 2022, that benefited some runs of salmon,” said Shaun Clements, ODFW Deputy Fish Division Administrator. “But the developing El Nino will bring a return of poor conditions and it may be some time before we see several years of really good Chinook salmon returns in a row across the coast, as we used to prior to 2015.”

Coastal fall Chinook management is guided by the 2014 Coastal Multi-species Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) and the 2013 Rogue Fall Chinook Plan, with fishing regulations set based on Chinook population status. The Plans also allow for adaptive management as necessary. Because Oregon coast coho are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, their management is guided by federal management plans and fisheries must be approved annually by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

After the webinar, a survey will be available for anglers and others interested to provide their feedback/comments on alternatives. ODFW’s North Coast office in Tillamook will also host an in-person meeting in Tillamook on June 15 at 6 p.m. at the ODFW Tillamook office, 4907 Third Street.

Final rules will be adopted and announced in early July.