Columbia Zone

Regulation updates as of December 8, 2023.

The following regulations reflect changes or additions to the permanent regulations listed in the 2023 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Please see e-regulations.

Salmon, steelhead, and shad

Fall Season (August 1 – December 31)

For all fall-season salmonid fisheries, each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmonid bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.

Anglers are reminded that it is unlawful to fish in an area while in possession of fish that are not legal for that area.

Buoy 10 upstream to west Puget Island

Area definition:  From the Buoy 10 line upstream to a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore.

General regulations during fall season:

• Wild coho must be released.
• All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
• Permanent rules for size limits and retention of jacks are in place:
  • Between Buoy 10 and the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line, adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are 16-inches and longer.
  • Between Buoy 10 and the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line, jack retention is prohibited through September 30; Chinook jacks are not allowed if the retention of adult Chinook is closed.
  • Between Tongue Point/Rocky Point and west Puget Island, adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
  • Between Tongue Point/Rocky Point and west Puget Island, the retention of coho jacks (12–20-inches) and Chinook jacks (12–24-inches) is allowed^a when retention of adult fish of those species is allowed.
  • The Tongue Point/Rocky Point line is defined as: a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to the navigation marker at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.

Additional regulations by date period:

• September 8 – October 31: Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is three salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
• November 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is three salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook and only two may be steelhead.

West Puget Island upstream to Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island

Area definition: From a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island.

General regulations during fall season:

• Wild coho must be released.
• All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
• Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
  • Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
  • Retention of Chinook (12–24-inches) and coho (12–20-inches) jack salmon allowed^a when retention of adults of those species is allowed.

Additional regulations by date period:

• September 22 – October 31: Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
• November 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook, hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook.

Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam

Area definition: From a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam.

General regulations during fall season:

• Wild coho must be released.
• All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
• Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
  • Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
  • Retention of Chinook (12–24-inches) and coho (12–20-inches) jack salmon allowed^a when retention of adults of those species is allowed.

Additional regulations by date period:

• August 1 – October 31:  Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
• November 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook, hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook.

Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam

General regulations during fall season:

• Only hatchery coho (adults and jacks) may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge.
• All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
• Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
  • Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
  • Retention of Chinook (12–24 inches) and coho (12–20 inches) jack salmon allowed^a when retention of adults of those species is allowed.

Additional regulations by date period:

• August 1 – October 31: Retention of Chinook and coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
• November 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook, coho and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a Chinook.

The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA)

General regulations during fall season:

• All steelhead must be released September 1 – December 31.
• Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
  • Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
  • Retention of Chinook (12–24-inches) and coho (12–20-inches) jack salmon allowed^a when retention of adults of those species is allowed.

Additional regulations by date period:

• September 1 – December 31: Retention of Chinook and coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.

^a The daily bag limit for jack salmon in Oregon is five fish.

Sturgeon‌

See current Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for legal size, daily and annual bag limits and sanctuary closure areas.‌

Columbia River Mainstem and Reservoirs, Buoy 10 to McNary Dam‌

2023‌

• Sturgeon retention fisheries are closed.

2024‌

• Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Effective January 1, 2024 to February 7, 2024, retention of white sturgeon is allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): Effective January 1, 2024 to January 29, 2024, retention of white sturgeon is allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam): Effective January 1, 2024, white sturgeon retention is allowed under permanent regulations.

COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES

COLUMBIA RIVER MANAGEMENT FACT SHEETS

COLUMBIA RIVER INFORMATION

COLUMBIA RIVER DAM COUNTS