OAR 635-042-0170
Tongue Point and South Channel Select Area Commercial Fishery


(1) Salmon (except Chum), Shad, and White Sturgeon may be taken with gillnets for commercial purposes during open fishing periods in Tongue Point and South Channel as described below:
(a) The Tongue Point Select Area is defined as waters of the Columbia River bounded by a line from a regulatory marker on the eastern shore of Tongue Point (midway between the red USCG light “2” at the tip of Tongue Point and the northern-most pier (#8) at the Tongue Point Job Corps facility) to the flashing green USCG light “3” on the rock jetty at the northwest tip of Mott Island, a line from a regulatory marker at the southeast end of Mott Island northeasterly to a regulatory marker on the northwest shore of Lois Island, and a line from a regulatory marker located on the Oregon shore approximately 300 yards northwest of the railroad bridge crossing the John Day River projecting easterly to a regulatory marker on the southwest shore of Lois Island.
(A) If the marker on the eastern shore of Tongue Point is not in place, the downstream boundary is defined by a line projecting from a point (46°12’31.1“N latitude 123°45’34.0”W longitude) on the eastern shore of Tongue Point to the flashing green USCG light “3” on the rock jetty at the northwest tip of Mott Island.
(B) If the marker on the Oregon shore is not in place, the upstream boundary is defined by a line projecting from a point (46°10’57.7“N latitude 123°44’35.3”W longitude) on the Oregon shore approximately 300 yards northwest of the railroad bridge crossing the John Day River projecting easterly to a regulatory marker on Lois Island.
(b) The Tongue Point Winter-Spring Subarea is defined as waters of the Columbia River bounded by a line from the end of the southern-most pier (#1) at the Tongue Point Job Corps facility projecting in a straight line through flashing red USCG light “6” to the shore of Mott Island, a line from a regulatory marker at the southeast end of Mott Island northeasterly to a regulatory marker on the northwest shore of Lois Island, and a line from a regulatory marker located on the Oregon shore approximately 300 yards northwest of the railroad bridge crossing the John Day River projecting easterly to a regulatory marker on the southwest shore of Lois Island. If the marker on the Oregon shore is not in place, the upper boundary is defined by a line projecting easterly from a point (46°10’57.7“N latitude 123°44’35.3”W longitude) on the Oregon shore approximately 300 yards northwest of the railroad bridge crossing the John Day River to a regulatory marker on the southwest shore of Lois Island.
(c) The South Channel Select Area is defined as waters of the Columbia River bounded by a line from a regulatory marker on the Oregon shore at John Day Point projecting northeasterly to a regulatory marker on the southwest shore of Lois Island, and a line from a regulatory marker on Settler Point projecting northwesterly to the flashing red USCG light “10” then projecting westerly to the eastern tip of Burnside Island.
(2) Open fishing periods are established in four segments categorized as the winter season in subsection (2)(a); the spring season in subsection (2)(b); the summer season in subsection (2)(c); and the fall season in subsection (2)(d).
(a) Winter Season
(A) Open area includes the Tongue Point Winter-Spring Subarea defined in (1)(b) above.
(i) The minimum mesh size is 7-inches.
(ii) Open fishery periods are as follows:
(I) 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. April 8; and
(II) 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. April 12
(B) Open area includes the South Channel Select Area defined in (1)(c) above.
(i) The minimum mesh size is 7-inches.
(ii) Open fishing periods are as follows:
(I) 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. April 8;
(II) 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. April 12; and
(III) 9:30 p.m. April 14 to 1:30 a.m. April 15.
(b) Spring Season
(A) Open area includes the Tongue Point Winter-Spring Subarea and the South Channel Select Area defined in (1)(b) and (1)(c) above.
(B) The maximum mesh size is 9.75-inches.
(C) Open fishing periods are as follows:
(i) 12:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. April 20;
(ii) 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. April 23;
(iii) Nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following morning on April 27 and April 29; and
(iv) Nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following morning each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from May 3 through June 15.
(c) Summer Season
(A) Open area includes the Tongue Point and South Channel Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above.
(B) The maximum mesh size is 9.75-inches.
(C) Open fishery periods are nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following morning on June 17, June 21, June 24, June 28, and July 1.
(d) Fall Season
(A) Open area includes the Tongue Point and South Channel Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above.
(B) The maximum mesh size is 6-inches.
(3) Additional gear restrictions include:
(a) The maximum net length is 1,500 feet (250 fathoms).
(b) In the Tongue Point Select Area and the Tongue Point Winter-Spring Subarea, the lead line weight may not exceed two pounds per any one fathom; however, unstored gillnets legal for use in South Channel may be onboard.
(c) In the South Channel Select Area, there is no lead line weight limit and attachment of additional weight and anchors directly to the lead line is permitted.
(d) Nets not specifically authorized for use may be onboard a vessel if properly stored. A properly stored net is defined as a net on a drum that is fully covered by a tarp (canvas or plastic) and bound with a minimum of ten revolutions of rope with a diameter of 38 (0.375) inches or greater.
(4) A maximum of three white sturgeon with a fork length of 44-50 inches may be possessed or sold by each participating vessel during each calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). The white sturgeon possession and sales limit includes all Select Area fisheries.

Source: Rule 635-042-0170 — Tongue Point and South Channel Select Area Commercial Fishery, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=635-042-0170.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 635-042-0170’s source at or​.us