Lower Columbia Sockeye Closed Despite Record Return

[pickardjw]

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2024/06/many-sockeye-not-enough-to-protect-a-few-prompting-closure.html
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/lower-columbia-river-salmon-and-steelhead-fishery-update-2024-06-1

376,500 sockeye over Bonneville YTD, but only 45 over Ice Harbor apparently prompting the shutdown.

[Blacklab]

Yeah, that’s something I didn’t expect. I think well it’s Washington, and Oregon expect the unexpected. Maybe they’ll give us a couple days in July. Like they’re doing us a favor, but I won’t hold my breath. I am very disappointed with the decision to close.

[pickardjw]

I think they created a lot of confusion with the compact meeting action notice by stating “bag limit one hatchery steelhead”. Plenty of people thought that meant no chinook either. But the emergency rule change 24 hours later cleared that up I guess.

I told my buddy the trip is cancelled last night. When ODFW updated their regs this morning (12 hours before WA) I told him it was back on.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/26june2024.pdf

[dilleytech]

It’s crazy to me that just because they aren’t sure how many will Cross those dams they have to shut it down but obliviously they will be good returns also given a little time.

[metlhead]

Sucks but makes sense. Gotta let every Snake sockeye make the right turn. Numbers are so low. After Tri Cities no problem