An unexpectedly early and torrid coho bite off the mouth of the Columbia River this week will cause federal and state biologists in Oregon and Washington to close salmon fishing Sunday evening between Leadbetter Point north of Long Beach and Cape Falcon, near Manzanita.

The

said a quota of 21,000 coho will likely be exceeded, but commercial catches will be tapped for the overage, in exchange for uncaught chinook salmon.

Fishing outside the Columbia River entrance has been excellent for several days and in just the past week accounted for 36 percent of the quota, or 7,639 hatchery fish.

The closure includes recreational chinook.

Salmon fishing remains open in the ocean out of Westport and along the central Oregon coast south of Cape Falcon.

It also is open in the Columbia River, starting at Buoy 10 at the river's entrance.