Closure affects Siuslaw River August through December 2022

Update June 2 — The below mentioned meeting scheduled for June 7 at the Florence Events Center has been cancelled and rescheduled as an online webinar. 

The meeting will now be live streamed here www.youtube.com/user/IEODFW on June 7 at 6 p.m.

Public comments and questions for ODFW's fish biologist are encouraged and should be submitted at odfw.wufoo.com/forms/2022-fall-coastal-salmon-seasons/.

May 26, 2022 — The Port of Siuslaw and local anglers are bracing for an unanticipated cancellation of the upcoming Chinook Salmon season on the Siuslaw River and other areas of the Oregon Coast.

On May, 26 ODFW stated, “Forecasts for wild Chinook in several coastal tributaries have fallen below closure criteria identified in the 2014 Coastal Multi-species Conservation and Management Plan (CMP), which guides ODFW’s management of coastal fall Chinook.”

The Siuslaw River and Floras Creek/New River will be closed to all forms of salmon angling from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31. 

According to ODFW, this also means no wild fall Chinook retention in 2022 in several areas. In areas where no retention is allowed an angler may catch a fish but must release it immediately. 

The basins of Tillamook Bay (including Tillamook, Wilson, Trask, Kilchis and Miami rivers) and Elk River will remain open for retention of hatchery salmon. Restrictions in the nearshore ocean areas adjacent to the mouth of Tillamook Bay are also being considered.

The Coquille River will be closed to all salmon angling from July 1 to Dec. 31. 

The reasoning behind the decision is the lingering effects of very poor ocean conditions that began in 2014  and are still impacting wild coastal fall Chinook.

Ocean conditions have since improved, but positive effects will not be seen until future years.

Other coastal river systems will remain open for wild fall Chinook under permanent rules although daily/seasonal bag limits will be reduced in the Coos, Sixes, Hunter Creek, Pistol, Chetco and Winchuck rivers, as specified in ODFW management plans.

These temporary regulations will take effect on Aug. 1 in most systems, but as early as July 1 for some.

ODFW will host a public webinar on Tuesday, June 7, at 6 p.m. to discuss the fish forecast for the 2022 freshwater fall Chinook and coho fisheries along the Oregon Coast.

Also on Tuesday, June 7, the ODFW is hosting a Fall Salmon Season meeting at the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St., at 6 p.m.

ODFW will cover the process for setting salmon seasons, data on salmon returns — Chinook and Coho — and this year’s regulations.

For more information, visit www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/.

Public comments and questions can be addressed to odfw.wufoo.com/forms/2022-fall-coastal-salmon-seasons/.