The first ocean fishing season of 2026 starts Saturday (March 14), with the opening of the bottomfish season in Marine Areas one and two.
On the lower Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam there were 72 salmon boats and 51 Washington bank rods were tallied on the March 7 flight count.
Indian tribes in western Washington warn salmon ecosystems are being destroyed faster than they can be restored.