09/008/2016 – John Snyder – Washington State Fishing
WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Action: Anglers are required to release chinook salmon that have a ¼-inch diameter (round) hole punched in the upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin
Effective dates: Sept. 15 – Oct. 31, 2016
Species affected: Fall chinook salmon (hatchery and wild)
Location: Columbia River from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to Chief Joseph Dam
Reason for action: Fall chinook salmon are sedated in a chemical anesthetic, MS-222, during sampling at the Priest Rapids Dam. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a 21-day withdrawal period before human consumption of fish anesthetized in MS-222. WDFW staff is applying the ¼-inch diameter hole, which is punched in the upper lobe of the tail of sampled fish, so that anglers can visually identify fish that must be released. Columbia River Salmon marked and released at Priest Rapids Dam may be caught in fisheries both upstream and downstream (fall back below the dam).
All other current regulations apply to Columbia River guided fishing and sports fisheries not affected by this rule change.
Information contacts: John Easterbrooks, Region 3 Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima) or Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624 (Ephrata)
