But the prospect of a first-ever ban on salmon fishing this year has Smith considering something almost unthinkable: a day job on dry land.

Smith says if salmon fishing is banned this year, a job on land may be required in order to keep his boat, or he may have to borrow money in order to keep fishing.

He says other fishing businesses will be hard hit if the season is cancelled, and he blames government mismanagement for the impending crisis.

The ban would include most all of the Oregon coastline and extend nearly 700 miles, from Cape Falcon near Astoria to as far south as Point Sur near San Francisco.

Scientists and fishing officials say the salmon run this year could fall below sustainable levels if fishing is allowed, and a fishing ban is the only way to keep the run from shrinking further still.

The run of fall Chinook salmon is expected to be just 29,000 fish, about 6,000 fewer than required to maintain the run.

Fishing industry officials say mistakes made in the conflict over Klamath Basin water levels and tribal allocations have led to the problem.

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council is expected to decide the issue by vote in mid-April.

Smith says that if the ban is approved, many fishing boats will be put up for sale.