Heading to the coast for fishing and fresh seafood When the first heat waves in Oregon besiege the cities, it’s time to exit the Willamette Valley and head to the coast, where the ocean breeze is sure to satisfy, and not just in soothing temperatures. Coming off of summer solstice (June 21), the theme of […]
Author Archives: Bob Rees
North to Neah Bay
Photo: Bob Rees with a Neah Bay halibut, caught on May 21st, 2017 I have often written about how fortunate I am to have the job that I do. I get to go into communities all across the region and talk to people about fish conservation issues. In the last few years, I’ve gone to […]
Working Waterfronts ‘Spring’ to Life
Photo: Harbor in Newport, Oregon. Photo via Wikipedia. After a long and harsh winter, coastal businesses and ports are finally getting their well-welcomed rush of visitors. I was one of those visitors this week, as I went down to talk to my colleagues about the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Despite being a weekday, much to my surprise, […]
Fishing Destination: Silver Point
Photo: Tyler Betnar with a basket of fish Just a fable to me, I’ve heard the stories that have intrigued me to fish this spot. Charter boats from Garibaldi, coming from the south, and a few sport boats coming from Illwaco and Hammond, out of the mouth of the Columbia River. Rumors of throwing back […]
Strong Laws for a Sustainable Fishing Future
I remain a bit perplexed as to why our Pacific Coast groundfish remain so less controversial than those on the east coast. Having just come from another trip to Washington, DC, where both sport and commercial fishers were “working the hill” on Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization, it was good to see the common goal of preserving such […]
It’s Been a Seven-Suit Session So Far, as Fishermen Engage in Politics
Guide Chris Vertopoulos (left) and client Jim Lorenz with a wild-released Sandy River steelhead from April 10, 2017 No 26-year fishing guide should be expected to don a three-piece suit more than a few times over his or her career. When said 26-year fishing guide does don a three-piece suit seven times in just two […]
Magnuson-Stevens Act: Don’t You Go Changin’
Photo: two thumbs up from Ron Chamness and fishing buddy with a mid-Columbia River fall Chinook. Parked in a parking lot at the mouth of the Chetco River on the southern Oregon coast, the ocean was alive with migrating grey whales. They were spyhopping, finning, breaching and spouting for as long as we wanted to […]
The Value of Eco-region Diversity on Land & in the Ocean
Photo: Migratory salmon need many healthy habitats for survival I just completed a 420 mile round trip to Southern Oregon. Having been born and raised in Northwest Oregon, as well as spending the vast majority of my professional life in this region, it’s easy to forget how diversified the greatest state in the union is. […]