Idaho Fish Report

Chinook fishing continues to be fair but sporadic in the Nehalem Bay and River. Best fishing is probably still in the bay, although there’s no doubt some fish have moved into the river.

With 2019 Chinook salmon returns forecasted to be below average again, fishery managers have taken action to reduce the daily and seasonal bag limit for wild adult Chinook salmon in the Nehalem River Basin. Effective July 1 - Sept 15, 2019, the bag limit for adult wild Chinook salmon will be 1 per day and 1 for the season. The bag limit for jack Chinook salmon will remain 5 per day.

Starting this week (Sept. 16) the bag limit changes to 1 per day and 5 per season, however, if you got your 1 wild Chinook prior to Sept. 16 you may only harvest 4 more from the North Coast aggregate (Necanicum River to Salmon River).

In addition, a “bubble” area has been established in the ocean off the mouth of Nehalem Bay. Beginning July 1, adult wild Chinook caught in the bubble count towards the daily and seasonal bag limit for the Nehalem River and Bay. All other ocean salmon regulations remain in effect. See myodfw.com for details.

Nehalem River and bay is open for hatchery coho only. There is no retention of wild coho in the river or bay.  

Cutthroat should be widespread in the basin.