GOLD BEACH, Ore. – Salmon fishing is in full swing in the lower Rogue River, bay, and ocean.

This time of year, Rogue River water temperatures reach the mid-70s. This creates a thermal barrier for Chinook and separates the spring and fall runs. The fall Chinook stage in the bay and ocean, waiting until the river cools (usually in mid-August) before migrating upstream.

With the ocean Chinook fishery open this year, ODFW is reminding anglers of regulation differences between the ocean and rivers including harvest location codes. ODFW also is providing information on monitoring and new creel surveys.

Harvest tag location codes:

• Rogue Bay (mouth to Elephant Rock) salmon harvest: code 225.
• Ocean salmon harvested off the Rogue River and landed in Gold Beach: code 16.

Ocean salmon regulations: ocean regulations apply if an angler trolls from the river and crosses the line from the tip of the north jetty to tip of the south jetty.

• No more than two single point barbless hooks per line.
  • When the ocean is open to salmon fishing, it is illegal to troll with barbed  hooks from the Rogue Bay to the ocean.
• Minimum length is 24 inches for Chinook salmon.
  • If a jack Chinook is on the boat, it is illegal to fish in the ocean for salmon.

Anglers are reminded to immediately tag harvested salmon. Fish must be tagged before an angler can resume fishing.

Creel surveys:
The bay fishery is very popular and crowded when fall Chinook are staging there waiting to migrate when the river cools. On average during peak months, 75 – 130 boats a day crowd into a very small estuary trying to catch Chinook. The fishery typically kicks off in mid-July with August the peak month.

This year, anglers may encounter an ODFW creel surveyor. The creel survey data adds to angler provided information (Chinook tagged on harvest cards). The creel will provide more information on trends in fishery participation and hatchery fish. If anglers are checked by a uniformed ODFW creeler, they should be prepared to show their harvest tag (electronic or paper) and their catch.

Fall Chinook monitoring:
Fall Chinook returns to the Rogue River have been monitored since 1974 by a seining project at Huntley Park in the lower river. Seining begins July 22 and runs through Oct. 30. Check the fish counts web page for biweekly updates and subscribe to receive those via email.

Last year's estimated number of adult Chinook salmon that passed Huntley Park seining site was almost 30,000 adult Chinook. This year's forecast is 46,000 adult fall Chinook.

Report poachers:
See a game violation? Protect Oregon's Wildlife – Turn in Poachers. Report it to *OSP (*677) on a mobile device or call 1-800-452-7888. Earn cash rewards or hunter preference points, and you can remain anonymous.