The states of Oregon and Washington have released their first run projections for salmon and other fish returning to the Columbia River and its tributaries in 2019. While much of the news is discouraging, especially for the highly-prized spring Chinook, there are some bright spots.
The states outlined the projections at the annual Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association’s annual Run Forecast Meeting held Tuesday in Milwaukie, Ore.
In 2018, salmon and steelhead fishing was marked by poor returns and unprecedented closures all through the Columbia basin. Eventually, the entire Columbia River and many tributaries were completely closed for both salmon and steelhead to protect the poor runs.
The terrible ocean conditions that persisted for years have broken up, but salmon and steelhead returns will probably take a number of years to recover. The projections for 2019 reflect that fact.
Not all of the projections have been calculated, but the states released the numbers for spring Chinook and a few other runs.
Columbia Spring Chinook
Last year’s upriver spring Chinook run came in well below the 166,700 adults that were supposed to return, and eventually only 115,081 “springers” managed to pass Bonneville Dam. The run was also one of the latest runs on record.
Anglers made 89,882 trips for spring Chinook on the lower Columbia in 2018, and kept 7,509 adult Chinook, while releasing 1,530. The season was open January and February with a two-Chinook limit from the I-5 Bridge to the mouth, and from March 1 through April 7 from Buoy Ten at the mouth to Bonneville Dam with a one Chinook limit.
Fishing was allowed seven days a week.
The season was reopened for one day, April 14, and then it opened again from May 25 to June 15.
Next year will undoubtedly see a season structure that is even more restrictive, given that the projection for upriver spring Chinook this year is only 99,300. The total run of spring Chinook to the river, including all fisheries and the SAFE areas, will be about 157,000 adults.
Spring Chinook seasons are usually set in February.
Fishing guide Bill Monroe is concerned about the low projection and what it might mean for anglers.
“Are we even going to get a first week of April fishery?” he asked. “Is this the year we think about opening it for the last week of March and the first week of April? I’m just thinking how we can get the most bang for our buck.”
Cowlitz River
The Cowlitz River was only projected to receive 5,150 spring Chinook adults last year, but only 3,974 springers returned. The 2019 projection is even worse, and only 1,300 springers are expected this year.
The 10 year average is over 15,000 adults.
Anglers kept over 800 spring Chinook in the Cowlitz last year, but the projection for 2019 is about the same as the hatchery escapement goal, so the spring Chinook season may see restrictions.
Kalama River
The Kalama River was a rare good spot last year, with the projection of 1,450 getting beat by an actual return of 2,294 adults. Anglers kept about 1,000 adult springers last year. This year, 1,400 springers are expected to return.
Willamette River
The Willamette River fishery managed to hold its own last year, although it only came in at about 70 percent of the projected 53,820 expected return. Anglers made over 58,000 trips to the Willamette last spring, and they harvested 6,069 adults.
A low spot in the run came at the Clackamas River, a tributary of the Willamette. Historically a very good river for catching spring Chinook, the river only gave up 7 adults to anglers last year as 2,657 adults returned to the Clackamas in 2018. About 2,800 are expected to return this year.
A total of 40,200 adults are expected to return to the Willamette River this year, and the permanent regulations of a seven-days-a-week fishery with a two Chinook limit will probably prevail.
Sandy River
Only 130,000 spring Chinook smolts are planted in the Sandy each year, but returns here have been solid. The projection was for 5,400 spring Chinook in 2018, and 4,733 actually showed. Anglers kept from 300 to 400 adults in 2018.
Columbia Summer Chinook
The Columbia summer run of Chinook under-performed last year, with the actual return of 42,120 adults coming in well below the 67,300 that were expected. The projection for next year is below each of those figures, with an expected return of 35,900 adults.
Sockeye
The sockeye run beat the 2018 expectation of 99,000, with a total return of 210,915 in 2018. This year 94,400 adults are expected back to the Columbia.
Columbia River coho
This may be the brightest spot for Columbia salmon fisheries. While the final projection is not yet finished, the Ocean Salmon Columbia River Program Manager for the ODFW, Tucker Jones, noted that the coho jack returns were strong, an indicator of a possible good run of adults next fall.
“We had a good Jack return this year.” he said.
The jack return was about 50 percent higher than the 10-year average.
Shad
Shad anglers on the Columbia set a record for catches in 2018, with a harvest of over 250,000. About 6.3 million shad crossed Bonneville last year, and this year shad are expected to have another outstanding run.
