Hanford kings set records for numbers, catch

Reel Time Fishing guide Toby Wyatt gets a workout filleting salmon after a successful day with clients on the Hanford Reach. (Rich Landers)

FISHING -- Every angler with a clue knows that 2014 was a fabulous fall chinook salmon fishing season on the Columbia River.

But Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist in the Tri-Cities, just tallied the following numbers to put the season into perspective -- and to give anglers a reason to be pumped about next year!

• An estimated 183,749 fall chinook spawned naturally in the Hanford Reach this year (152,464 adults, 31,285 jacks).
• New record for overall escapement but adult returns were slightly lower than last year.
• However, the adults are primarily Age 4 this year compared to Age 3 last year so much higher number of females on the spawning grounds this year.
• Record return to Priest Rapids Hatchery at 76,666.
• 14,254 chinook returned to Ringold Hatchery which was just slightly lower than last year.
• New record for harvest in the sport fishery at 32,427 fish.
• Huge jack return to the Reach and Priest Rapids Hatchery. Could be another big return year next year!

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