OAR 635-042-0160. Blind Slough and Knappa Slough Select Area Commercial Fishery

(1) Salmon (except Chum) may be taken with gillnets for commercial purposes during open fishing periods in Blind Slough and Knappa Slough as described below: (a) The Blind Slough Select Area is defined as waters of Blind Slough and Gnat Creek from a north-south line represented by regulatory markers at the mouth of Blind Slough upstream to a regulatory marker in Gnat Creek located approximately 0.5 miles southeasterly (upstream) of the Barendse Road Bridge. (b) Upper Blind Slough is defined as Oregon state waters of the Blind Slough Select Area upstream of the railroad bridge, located approximately 1.25 miles east (upstream) of the mouth of Blind Slough. (c) The Knappa Slough Select Area is defined as waters of Knappa Slough, Calendar Slough, and Big Creek Slough bounded to the north (upstream) by a line projecting from a regulatory marker on the eastern shore of Karlson Island to the northernmost regulatory marker at the mouth of Blind Slough and bounded to the west (downstream) by a line projecting southerly from a regulatory marker on the southwestern tip of Karlson Island through regulatory markers on the western tips of Minaker Island to a marker on the Oregon shore. The waters of Knappa Slough within a 100-foot radius of the railroad bridge crossing Big Creek are closed. (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 Blind Slough and Knappa Slough Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above, except the downstream (western) boundary in Knappa Slough is a north-south line projecting through the easternmost tip of Minaker Island and regulatory markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon shore. (B) The minimum mesh size is 7-inches. (b) Spring Season: (A) Open area includes the Blind Slough and Knappa Slough Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above, except through the first Friday in May the downstream (western) boundary in Knappa Slough is a north-south line projecting through the easternmost tip of Minaker Island and regulatory markers on Karlson Island and the Oregon shore. (B) The maximum mesh size is 9.75-inches. (c) Summer Season: (A) Open area includes the Blind Slough and Knappa Slough Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above. (B) The maximum mesh size is 9.75-inches. (d) Fall Season: (A) Open area includes the Blind Slough and Knappa Slough Select Areas defined in (1)(a) and (1)(c) above. (B) The maximum mesh size is 6-inches. (C) The fishery is open as follows: (i) 7:00 p.m. August 24 through 7:00 a.m. August 25; (ii) 7:00 p.m. August 27 through 7:00 a.m. August 28; and (iii) 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from August 31 to October 30. (3) Additional gear restrictions include: (a) Gill nets may not exceed 600 feet (100 fathoms) in length. (b) There is no lead line weight limit and attachment of additional weight or anchors directly to the lead line is permitted. (c) 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 3/8 (0.375) inches or greater. (4) Oregon licenses are required in the open waters upstream from the railroad bridge in Blind Slough.