It appears that the salmon season has been set. The CDFW/CFGC has to make it official, but it appears that in the San Francisco/Half Moon Bay/Bodega area the current open salmon season with a 24" minimum size limit will end on May 15th at midnight. It will reopen at 12:-01 am on May 16 with a 20" minimum size limit, then close on May 31 at midnight. It reopens on June 23 with a 20" minimum and runs through October 31. That's a pretty good season. There may even be weather window this week to try catch a few on Wednesday /Thursday, but we'll see. The South wind kind of sucks to fish in, as does rain. But, a bit of catching could make it all better. 

   So, enough with the good news: "

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program Update

April 11, 2022

The CDFW Director will conduct an assessment of marine life entanglement risk for the recreational Dungeness crab fishery using the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP) and regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission. The regulations provide the Director authority to apply management actions to the recreational crab fishery to minimize entanglement risk informed by RAMP. The CDFW Director will make a determination on or around April 13, 2022, following consultation with the Fish and Game Commission President.

"   I'm going to guess that we will see recreational traps shut down by or before the 21st of April. We shall finish the Dungeness season as we began it. 

    And then some news: "

Pacific Halibut Fishery Set to Open May 1

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the 2022 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Sunday, May 1 and remain open until Nov. 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2022 Pacific halibut quota for the California sport fishery is 38,740 pounds – approximately the same as the 2021 quota.   The season dates are expected to meet the goal of providing as much fishing opportunity as possible throughout the season and ensuring the quota is attained. The open dates are not guaranteed, and the season could be closed early if it is determined that projected catches will exceed the California quota.   Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning a Pacific halibut fishing trip. Season dates, bag/possession limits and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Pacific halibut webpage. Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific halibut hotline at (800) 662-9825 or CDFW’s Groundfish and Pacific halibut Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801.

"  Normally I wouldn't be that interested in Pacific halibut season, but last year there were a lot of them caught around here. "A lot" in this case means a few, but a few is a lot more than none, which is the norm. Fingers crossed that the count is done better this year with no incorrect shutdown in the middle. Somehow the projected catch and the actual catch were off by most of a season's worth of fish. Oops!

   And now the painful story. This striper was found on the beach, dead, last Saturday morning. Apparently, I can't catch them, yet there's so many out there that they're dying of old age. I guess I need to fish for fish without stripes. Maybe fish with polka dots? Is there a fish wearing houndstooth? I'll look into it.