Oregon Lowers Youth License Age
Each week we round-up the top fishing news from the Northwest and beyond. Do you have a news tip? E-mail us at news /at/ salmonuniversity.com.
Limit Cut in Area 7, Area 6 Reopens
Effective March 12, the daily catch limit for chinook salmon in Washington’s Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will be reduced to one chinook, with a two salmon limit, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) last week announced. Meanwhile, salmon fishing will reopen March 12-18 in Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait).
Oregon License Age Drops to 12
Oregon children now need a fishing license beginning at age 12, instead of age 14 as previously required, the Longview Daily News reports. However, under the new system, a single license will cover children for angling, shellfishing, and hunting.
The youth license was developed to simplify the youth license requirements for hunting and fishing, according to a news release. “There was way too much complexity involved for parents to get hunting and fishing licenses for their kids,” said Rick Hargrave, administrator of ODFW’s Information and Education Division.
Fishing licenses are not required until age 15 in Washington, and 14 in Idaho.
Mad Max Fishery Implemented on Columbia
Since Monday, March 3, anglers have been able to fish for bass, walleye, and channel catfish without daily catch or size limits from the mouth of the Columbia River, 545 miles upstream to Chief Joseph Dam. An emergency rule approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) removed the remaining limits for those species on the Columbia River downstream from the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles above McNary Dam.
“The immediate purpose of this emergency rule is to bring the fishing regulations into alignment on both sides of the big river,” said Bruce Bolding, WDFW warmwater fish manager. “Oregon’s rule deregulating these fisheries has been in place since Jan. 1, but Washington’s new permanent regulations don’t take effect until July 1. This emergency measure bridges the gap so that both states have concurrent regulations.”
According to the WDFW, the main goal of deregulating the fisheries for bass, walleye and channel catfish is to increase the harvest of those non-native species.
RBFF Launches New Website
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) relaunched its website this week with a streamlined look. According to the foundation, the new TakeMeFishing.org is geared towards less experienced anglers and boaters that need help understanding all it takes to have a successful day out on the water.
The RBFF’s “Take Me Fishing” campaign was launched in 2007 with the goal of introducing families and newcomers to boating and fishing. The campaign’s Spanish-language counterpart, Vamos A Pescar, debuted in 2013.
