Astoria Report/My Plan of Action Next Time

Went for a test run on the Columbia yesterday. Fished the stretch right by the Hammond launch from 12-5 (yes, got out there pretty late but it was just to get a feel for the fishery). Didn't see a single fish hooked, of course I was paying close attention to my closer surroundings and some people might have hooked up a couple hundred yards away without me knowing. Ran a standard rig, herring with a sure spin and a pink and silver flasher, along with an 8 ounce weight (realized I needed heavier weights to get the right angle for trolling and brining the herring would toughen the scales which is necessary). Talked to a few guys who said the bite was pretty good at first light and closer to buoy 10, then it dropped off. From what I gathered, next time I go I plan to start at social security beach closer to buoy 10 in the beginning of incoming tide, then focus on the Hammond stretch towards high tide. If anyone has tips, please let me know! Overall great, fun day on the water, even though no fish were hooked!

I was also not very impressed with the B10 fishery. This was my first trip to that fishery. On Saturday I caught a small chinook near Shipwreck. With a one nook limit, I was done by 0630. So I sat on the beach for the rest of the day, waiting for Sunday to come around. Sunday AM I fished right at Buoy 10, literally right at the buoy. With the 10 mph wind and surf, that was a sporty trip. Once the tide switched, I couldnt hold my troll and went back in. Then Sunday PM I fished  at shipwreck again. Among the hundreds of boats out there, I did not see ONE fish hooked or netted. 

@lutefisk wish i could fish shipwreck, but i launched from the Oregon side and don't want to paddle across the river.

@lutefisk wish i could fish shipwreck, but i launched from the Oregon side and don't want to paddle across the river.

You can legally launch from the Washington side with your Oregon license.

Guy working on my deck reports that the coho fishery is popping off at the mouth of the Columbia right now.... Figured I'd throw that second-hand (maybe third-hand, come to think of it) bit of information out there

@lutefisk wish i could fish shipwreck, but i launched from the Oregon side and don't want to paddle across the river.

You can legally launch from the Washington side with your Oregon license.

I know I can fish the Washington side, just don't want to paddle all the way there . I meant to say I can't launch from Washington with my Oregon license.

Guy working on my deck reports that the coho fishery is popping off at the mouth of the Columbia right now.... Figured I'd throw that second-hand (maybe third-hand, come to think of it) bit of information out there

I'll be there this Saturday. Any recs as to depth on line counter?

@lutefisk wish i could fish shipwreck, but i launched from the Oregon side and don't want to paddle across the river.

You can legally launch from the Washington side with your Oregon license.

strange thing about this, I think it is correct, the Oregon Columbia River zone regs 2016 book and earlier:

e. Anglers with a valid resident or non-resident license issued by either Oregon or Washington may launch or take out their boats from either shore.

but that line vanished from the regs book in the 2017 and I don't know why.   

Guy working on my deck reports that the coho fishery is popping off at the mouth of the Columbia right now.... Figured I'd throw that second-hand (maybe third-hand, come to think of it) bit of information out there

I'll be there this Saturday. Any recs as to depth on line counter?

It wasn't a first hand tip -- he didn't know much other than that it was active. And honestly, I wouldn't put a ton of weight on this second or third hand account.

If I were you I'd try to fish close to the depth that you're marking fish at. If you don't have a fish finder, maybe use your radio to see if anyone is willing to provide the depth. You can also holler at boats as you cross paths.

I meant to say I can't launch from Washington with my Oregon license.

Sure you can.  It doesn't matter where you launch as long as you license is valid for the waters you are fishing in. 

If you were beached or standing on the Washington shore, fishing with an Oregon license, you would receive a citation.

I meant to say I can't launch from Washington with my Oregon license.

Sure you can.  It doesn't matter where you launch as long as you license is valid for the waters you are fishing in. 

If you were beached or standing on the Washington shore, fishing with an Oregon license, you would receive a citation.

Oh wow I never knew. I assumed if you were stopped when walking to your car with fish, you'd be fined if you had an out of state license. Now I have to debate about fishing shipwreck or launching from social security beach

Ethan... Hard to read sarcasm on this forum, but you need to read the regulations for possession of Salmon while fishing the Columbia River from the Washington side.  The retention laws are based on the place where you land a fish (where you park/launch).  It is legal to fish the common waters of WA and OR with only an Oregon license, but if you beach at Shipwreck on the WA shore with only having an Oregon Salmon Tag, you will be cited.  Probably a fine and they take your fish. They have the option to take your kayak and your vehicle if it's egregious.  Read the regulations. Don't rely on the forum for laws.

Ethan... Hard to read sarcasm on this forum, but you need to read the regulations for possession of Salmon while fishing the Columbia River from the Washington side.  The retention laws are based on the place where you land a fish (where you park/launch).  It is legal to fish the common waters of WA and OR with only an Oregon license, but if you beach at Shipwreck on the WA shore with only having an Oregon Salmon Tag, you will be cited.  Probably a fine and they take your fish. They have the option to take your kayak and your vehicle if it's egregious.  Read the regulations. Don't rely on the forum for laws.

No sarcasm here.  I have to disagree with you.  I've been checked by LEO at WA launches with tagged fish on an Oregon license and everything was good.  This is commonplace (and legal) at many Columbia River launches.

Where do you see it differently in the regs?

Take a look at (4).  It reads like landing fish in Washington using Oregon license reciprocity to me.

"Oregon license reciprocity.
(1) A person may, from a vessel or other floating device, fish for game fish, food fish, unclassified fish, and shellfish, unless otherwise prohibited, from Pacific Ocean waters within three miles of the Washington coast from Leadbetter Point to the Washington-Oregon boundary, and from the concurrent waters of the Columbia River where the river forms the boundary between Oregon and Washington if the person possesses a valid Oregon resident angling license or a valid Oregon resident shellfish license, but only if Oregon recognizes as valid a comparable Washington personal use license in Pacific Ocean waters within three miles of the Oregon coast from the Oregon-Washington boundary to Cape Falcon and the concurrent waters of the Columbia River.
(2) This reciprocity applies only to fishing from a vessel or other floating device. Fishing from the Washington shore requires a Washington personal use license.
(3) This reciprocity applies only to Oregon residents, and residents of other states must possess either a valid Washington license or a valid Oregon license to take game fish, food fish, unclassified fish, and shellfish from the waters of the respective states.
(4) Any game fish, food fish, unclassified fish, or shellfish landed into Washington must conform with current rules in effect for the point of landing including, but not limited to, daily limits, possession limits, annual limits, size restrictions, and sex restrictions."

From your regulations exerpt:   Fishing from the Washington shore requires a Washington personal use license.

Check Washington Regulations for landing in WA with an Oregon Licence tagged game fish. 

Snopro, just curious when were you checked by Washington State Police that they allowed your OR license to suffice for a tagged fish on WA shores?  As Roger Dodger mentioned, there was a change in 2017. 

If it was me, I'd call Washington Department of Wildlife because I don't know the law enforcement.

Oregon Regulations.