Much of the Hanford Reach portion of the Columbia River above the Tri-Cities closed Tuesday to salmon fishing, and for the final week anglers averaged 2.7 fall chinook per boat, and one fish for each 12 hours from the bank. Harvest for the week was estimated at 4,009 adult chinook and 224 chinook jacks. Checks of steelheaders in the lower Reach showed 150 anglers with 135 steelhead.
Tuesday also was the last day for salmon on the Yakima, and checks for the final week tallied 260 anglers with 102 adult chinook, four jacks and one coho. For the season, 7,903 angler trips were taken to the Yakima, resulting in a harvest of 2,478 adult chinook, 342 chinook jacks, and 87 coho. According to state biologist Paul Hoffarth in Pasco, this year’s harvest breaks the record of 2,300 fall chinook set in 2002.
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