09-12-2009, 11:10 AM
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is closing the recreational fishery on the lower section of the Puyallup River two days a week through the end of September due to safety concerns.
Recreational salmon fishing on the river will be closed from noon Sundays to noon Tuesdays, Sept. 13-15, Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29 in the portion of the river extending from the 11th Street Bridge in Tacoma to the City of Puyallup Outfall Structure across the river from the junction of Freeman Road and North Levee Road. This section of the river flows through the Puyallup Tribe's reservation.<br />
Recreational fishing will remain open seven days a week upstream of the closed section. The lower section will reopen seven days a week beginning at noon Sept. 29.<br />
With a strong return of pink salmon this year, hundreds of recreational anglers are fishing the river, which is also open to tribal fishing two days a week, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.<br />
"Unfortunately, we've received reports about gear conflicts and other incidents between the two groups, raising public safety concerns," Pattillo said. "To reduce the safety risk and ensure that the tribe and the state can conduct an orderly fishery, the department is closing this section of the river."<br />
Pattillo said WDFW enforcement officers will patrol the river to ensure the sport fishery closure is being observed.<br />
Regulations remain unchanged for other sections of the Puyallup River as described in the 2009-10 Fishing in Washington pamphlet available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .
Recreational salmon fishing on the river will be closed from noon Sundays to noon Tuesdays, Sept. 13-15, Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29 in the portion of the river extending from the 11th Street Bridge in Tacoma to the City of Puyallup Outfall Structure across the river from the junction of Freeman Road and North Levee Road. This section of the river flows through the Puyallup Tribe's reservation.<br />
Recreational fishing will remain open seven days a week upstream of the closed section. The lower section will reopen seven days a week beginning at noon Sept. 29.<br />
With a strong return of pink salmon this year, hundreds of recreational anglers are fishing the river, which is also open to tribal fishing two days a week, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.<br />
"Unfortunately, we've received reports about gear conflicts and other incidents between the two groups, raising public safety concerns," Pattillo said. "To reduce the safety risk and ensure that the tribe and the state can conduct an orderly fishery, the department is closing this section of the river."<br />
Pattillo said WDFW enforcement officers will patrol the river to ensure the sport fishery closure is being observed.<br />
Regulations remain unchanged for other sections of the Puyallup River as described in the 2009-10 Fishing in Washington pamphlet available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm .