Department of Fish and Game

Summary of 2009 California Ocean Salmon Seasons

 

Recreational Salmon Regulations

In April 2009, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the California Fish and Game Commission adopted a limited recreational ocean salmon season in the Klamath Management Zone (Humbug Mountain, Oregon to Horse Mountain, California). The fishery will open August 29 for all salmon except coho, and continue through September 7. The minimum size limit is 24 inches total length, with a two fish per day bag limit. Ocean salmon fishing south of Horse Mountain is closed to protect Sacramento River fall Chinook. In 2010, the area south of Horse Mountain is scheduled to open for recreational salmon fishing on Saturday, April 3. There is a possibility the season will be closed by emergency action from Pacific Fishery Management Council and California Fish and Game Commission in March 2010. For additional salmon management information, please visit the PFMC Web site at www.pcouncil.org.

2009 Ocean Salmon Season Flyer

 Acrobat Reader Required, File Size 26 KB

General Sport Regulations

  • NO RETENTION OF COHO SALMON OR STEELHEAD TROUT IN ANY OCEAN RECREATIONAL FISHERY
    Coho Salmon Identification Flyer

     Acrobat Reader Required, File Size 160 KB

  • Salmon may only be taken by angling as defined in Section 1.05. No sinkers or weights exceeding 4 lbs may be used, except that a fishing line may be attached to a sinker or weight of any size if such sinker or weight is suspended by a separate line & the fishing line is released automatically by a mechanical device from the sinker or weight when any fish is hooked.
  • Ocean Boat Limits: Each angler aboard a vessel may continue to fish until the boat limit (combined daily bag limits of all anglers) has been attained. Once the vessel reaches shore, individual daily bag limits will apply. Charter boat operator(s) and crew members may not take fish that apply towards the boat limit of their passengers, but they may take fish for their individual bag limits provided their fish are kept separate from the passenger's fish.
  • North of Pt. Conception: No more than 2 single-point, single-shank barbless hooks shall be used & no more than 1 rod/angler when fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat with salmon on board.
  • Horse Mt. to Pt. Conception: If fishing with bait and angling by any other means than TROLLING1, no more than two (2) single-point, single-shank barbless CIRCLE HOOKS 2 shall be used. The distance between the two hooks must not exceed five (5) inches when measured from the top of the eye of the top hook to the inner base of the curve of the lower hook and both hooks must be permanently tied in place (hard tied).
    NOTE: These special gear restrictions apply to each angler fishing for salmon or fishing from any boat or floating device with salmon on board.
    1. TROLLING is defined as angling from a boat or floating device that is making way by means of a source of power, other than drifting by means of the prevailing water current or weather conditions.
    2. A CIRCLE HOOK is defined as a hook with a generally circular shape and a point which turns inwards, pointing directly to the shank at a 90-degree angle.

 

Commercial Salmon Regulations

In April 2009, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and the National Marine Fisheries Service adopted a closure of all commercial ocean salmon fishing through April 30, 2010. For additional salmon management information, please visit the PFMC web-site at www.pcouncil.org.

 

Additional Information

  • OCEAN SALMON REGULATIONS HOTLINE (707) 576-3429
    CDFG - Ocean Salmon Project
    475 Aviation Blvd, Suite 130, Santa Rosa, CA 95403