April 28, 2020 3:15 a.m.
In the wake of poor Chinook salmon returns in 2019, and a low fall Chinook forecast for the rest of the year, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced it is reducing the bag limit on the Siletz River.
An ODFW release said the limit for early returning wild Chinook is now one adult Chinook per day effective on Friday. The change will be in effect until July 31st. Prior to the change, the bag limit has been two adult wild Chinook.
The release said the reduced bag limit was triggered by a provision in ODFW’s Coastal Multi-Species Conservation Management Plan that requires the agency to lower harvest levels when population forecasts decline to a certain point. The release said the reduced limit is intended to improve natural production of wild Chinook.