Board of Supervisors to discuss fishing on Klamath

Officials hope to get word out about soaring salmon season

May 10, 2008

By Michelle Ma

Triplicate staff writer

Prospects for a strong salmon fishery on the Klamath River in the coming months will be discussed at Tuesday's Del Norte County Board of Supervisors meeting held in Klamath at the Yurok Tribal Council Chambers.

California Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologists will explain fall tribal and in-river fishing allocations on the Klamath in the wake of this year's complete ocean salmon fishing closure off the coast of California and most of Oregon .

State wildlife officials hope to get the word out that recreational fishing on the Klamath River will soar this fall as salmon that would be allocated for the ocean fishery can instead be caught by in-river fishermen. Sport fishermen on the Klamath system are allowed 22,500 fall chinook, and tribes can harvest 27,000, said Sara Borok, fisheries biologist with the Department of Fish and Game.

"We're looking at up to 100 percent more effort on the Klamath and Trinity (River) this year," said Borok, adding that many fishermen and fishing guides from the Central Valley are expected this fall on the Klamath.

The Sacramento River and its tributaries experienced a collapse of fall-run chinook salmon last year, and this year's returns are projected to be even lower. The Klamath, however, experienced average returns last fall, and the high allocations could lure more Central Valley fishermen northward.

Fisheries biologists will also explain likely fish-possession limits on the Klamath and talk about the recent federal fisheries managers' decision to close this year's ocean salmon season.

"It's a huge hit to the ocean people, but a huge boon to the Klamath (River) folks," Borok said.

Fisheries biologists will present similar information at an evening Klamath Chamber of Commerce meeting held at Klamath Community Center , 219 Salmon Ave. , Klamath, at 6:30 p.m.

Reach Michelle Ma at mma@triplicate.com.

If You Go

•What: Del Norte County

Board of Supervisors meeting

•When: Tuesday at 10 a.m.

•Where: Yurok Tribal

Council Chambers, 190

Klamath Blvd. , Klamath 

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Source:  http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8671