So, there's a salmon season this year. Not much of one, but a season. Two days can be whole season, and it may be this year. CDFW actually explains it pretty well, so here's their press release about it: "On April 15, 2025, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted to recommend limited fishing opportunities for California’s recreational ocean salmon fisheries through the end of 2025. This decision will allow for the first recreational salmon fishing in California since 2022. The PFMC also recommended a repeat year of closure for California’s commercial salmon fisheries, the third year in a row.

Salmon stocks in California continue to be impacted from ongoing issues associated with multi-year drought and climate disruption, including poor in-river spawning and migration conditions, severe wildfires, harmful algal blooms, ocean forage shifts, impacts to habitat and thiamine deficiency. The low ocean abundance forecasts and low 2024 returns led the PFMC to recommend very limited fishing for California’s recreational ocean salmon fisheries and continued closure for commercial fishing to help salmon populations rebound from these difficulties.

“After years of full closure for salmon fishing, the opportunity for limited recreational salmon fishing brings hope. We know, however, that this news brings little relief for California’s commercial salmon fisheries,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Salmon populations are still recovering from severe drought and other climate challenges and have not yet benefitted from our consecutive years of wet winters and other actions taken to boost populations. I’m deeply appreciative for the partnership of the fishing community in rebuilding these impacted populations and in fighting together for the future of salmon in California.”

“A third year without fishing is a serious blow to California’s commercial salmon fleet,” said George Bradshaw, President of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Association. “We were optimistic about a return to salmon fishing for California’s fleet, but the reality is, the low abundance and return estimates will not provide the economic impact we need. The risk of fishing this depleted population is simply not worth the reward.”

It is anticipated that the National Marine Fisheries Service will take regulatory action to enact the fishing alternative, effective in mid-May. In addition, the California Fish and Game Commission will discuss inland salmon fisheries at its April 16-17 meeting in Sacramento and is expected to take final action at its May 14 teleconference meeting.

The 2025 recreational ocean salmon season dates for the California coast are as follows:

For ocean waters between the Oregon/California state line and the U.S/Mexico border, the season will open June 7-8, with a 7,000 Chinook summer harvest guideline. If the limit is not attained in those two days, the fishery will open again July 5-6. Additional dates are available in late July and August for use until the summer harvest guideline is attained.

For ocean waters between Point Reyes and Point Sur (portions of the San Francisco and Monterey subareas), the fall fishing season will open September 4-7, with a 7,500 Chinook fall harvest guideline. If this guideline is not attained, the fishery will reopen September 29-30. Additional days are available in October between Point Reyes to Pigeon Point if any of the fall harvest guideline remains.

The short windows of open fishing followed by a period of closure are designed to allow for careful tracking and estimation of catch by CDFW to ensure the fishery does not exceed the harvest guidelines.

The minimum size limit is 20 inches total length. The daily bag limit is two Chinook salmon per day. No more than two daily bag limits may be possessed when on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit. Retention of coho (silver) salmon is prohibited in all ocean fisheries off California.

“California's recreational anglers welcome the opportunity to get back on the water,” said PFMC member Marc Gorelnik. “The number of open days is exceedingly limited in order to achieve negligible impacts on Klamath River Chinook salmon.”

Salmon are significantly important to California. They provide important commercial, recreational, economic, intrinsic and cultural benefits to fishing communities, California Native American tribes, and the state. California is taking significant and meaningful steps to rebuild salmon stocks across California. In March 2025, CDFW released the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Progress Report, an update to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future released in January 2024. In the Progress Report, CDFW announced that of the 71 action items outlined in the Salmon Strategy, nearly 70 percent are already underway, with another 26 percent of action items already completed. These actions provide tangible benefits for California’s salmon populations and habitats now and into the future.

More information is available on the PFMC website.

Anglers are advised to check for updated information when planning a salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag/possession limit information and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon web page or by calling the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Public notification of any in-season change to conform state regulations to federal regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825."

    So there will be salmon season from June 7 to 8 for sure. But if 3500 or more salmon are caught during those two days, well, that's it until September. There's a 7000 fish limit for the season before September and if we hit it or approach it the season will conclude. Half the fish or better in the first two days will nip the rest of the season in the bud. If the weather sucks, and this is early June, so it might suck hard, then catch numbers may be low although death counts of fishermen may be high. Time will tell. But bad weather and bad fishing in June could buy us two days in July, the 5 and 6. It feel that it is unlikely that the season progresses beyond these dates. The wording in the press release seems like CDFW agrees. There could be bad weather for both two day seasons and then the season at the end of July would be in play, but I wouldn't hold your breath. The first two openings got trimmed from four days to two because people were worried that too many fish would get caught. They didn't trim the July 31 start because nobody thinks it will come into play. Probably less than 3500 salmon need to caught in the first four days to make the late season open. I think the party boats alone should accomplish this, easily (maybe not easily; if it is rough there may be a lot of vomiting, but fish, so accomplish yes, easily, no). So if you gotta go, go to the Monterey Bay area or Half Moon for the early one. If the July season comes, they'll be here, too, but right now our water is cold and devoid of life and the southern waters are awash with anchovies and things that eat them. The launch ramps will be abysmal. Good luck! There will be stories, and some will be good.

     Crabbing is still pretty very slow now. The crab should be exiting the molt and clutch and as soon as their shells firm up enough we should see some of them in our traps. The few that have been getting caught are the dark, barnacled ones that aren't healthy enough to molt. A healthy crab molts and sheds his shell before barnacles have a chance to grow. But the way crabbing is right now, if you catch a Barnacle Bill of the legal variety you should boil him. Keepers are better than vague promises.

    No halibut yet that I heard of from Tomales but a boat yesterday found murky, 64º water back by the Inverness Yacht Club. That sounds like game on to me. Gage and I will give it a look on Thursday, as offshore looks bad. Report to follow.

 

      Gage went out to the beach today and after his first cast he sent this picture and comment to me: "Hand pictures are so back." First cast, nice fish. And then an hour and a half of no bites went by. Such is fishing. Wide open to closed tight in 60 seconds. You gotta love it. The ospreys were slaying them all day, but ospreys aren't tied to the beach like we are. Gage caught this right at high tide, when (theoretically) the fish are concentrated against the waterline as the rising tide pushes the sand crabs up the beach and the slow ones get eaten.  From his photo, it looks like Gage was closer to Sand Point than mid-beach, in case you are looking to catch a fish. There may be more farther north, but I have had no reports, so...? 

    Crabbing, as usual, is bad, but there's always a few around, just not as many as anyone crabbing would like. There's been a few caught from shore by snarers and a few more from boats but there's nobody bragging. Actually, it's kind of nice. But the crab should be coming in by the middle of next month, sometime after traps are shut down. Maybe we'll get some bragging in here then.

    It's been a while, but I think that the things these guys have are fish. The weather has decided to give us a break and Harvest Time jumped on it today. In his words, "We plowed out for ling limits and 2/3 rockfish limits before getting blown off, took a beating but overall a great kick off. " Very nice. Excellent lings and I'm super jealous of your chilipeppers. Those are the best but you usually can't find them in less than 400 feet of water. That depth and 30+ miles of lumpy water makes 'em taste even better if you can stay awake long enough. The weather looks good for offshore fishing for a good part of this week, at least until the forecast changes again. Perhaps more of these so-called fish things may be pictured here soon.

      The wind has blown in some sand and structure (bars, basically) on the oceanfront beach and the surfperch are starting to show. I heard of at least a few caught from Sand Point all the way up to the rocks. The best bars close to shore look to be on the northern part of the beach but a good surf fisherman should always be prepared to do a bit of walking.

       Crabbing was the usual today, mostly bad. There were a few caught from shore, mostly reds but a couple of Dungeness as well. Dungeness should start to slowly improve as the clutch and molting finishes up. It probably won't be good, as there just aren't that many keeper-sized crab out there, but the little ones are growing and fortunes will change. 

      

 

      Rejoice! The CDFW has spoken and traps are still legal here! For a little bit. Figure that by May it is rings again, but until then, traps are in! For more info, here's the announcement from CDFW:

"Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program Update - Apr. 3, 2025

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced the continuation of the 25% Gear Reduction in Fishing Zones 1-2 and implementation of a 30-fathom Depth Constraint. The Director also announced the continuation of the 50% Gear Reduction and the implementation of a 30-fathom Depth Constraint in Fishing Zone 3 and a Season Closure for the commercial fishery in Fishing Zones 4-6. The 30-fathom Depth Constraint and Season Closure will be effective April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

A crab trap restriction for the recreational fishery in Fishing Zone 4 was also announced, effective April 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm. A Fleet Advisory will be maintained for all Fishing Zones for both the commercial and recreational fisheries."

The next scheduled risk assessment is expected to occur on or around April 21, 2025. The full news release can be found at the CDFW News Room and for more information, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries webpage.

    So nothing changes here for us sporties. The commercials need to move their gear inside of the 180 foot line if they don't already have their gear there. They still only get to use half of their "permitted" gear. In Monterey (Area 4) they must quit traps and commercial fishing by April 15. So, if you crab around here with traps, rejoice! Next year's rules will be different and choices about seasons and gear will change, so don't get used to the current mess of rules as the rules will change by next Dungeness season. What are those rules? They haven't decided yet, so when they do I'll pass on the info.

   Good news? Only that a very confused Greater Tern flew around here for a bit today. I had been thinking this, and then it was mentioned in a thread on Coastside, so it must be true, but when the terns really show up there's anchovies or other small bait about for them to eat. Good for them, good for halibut, good for us. Here's to hoping that misguided fool of a bird was right. 

  Poor optimists. 

   

      Much like March 1st, the Northwest wind is blowing like mad today. Happy spring, everybody! And it's not just the wind that is making it spring; the pelicans are back. Or they were for a bit this afternoon, but the sight of pelicans diving on bait in the middle of the bay for a half an hour was enough to lift me out of my fishing funk. For a little bit, at least. Just seeing somebody catch fish elevates the spirit, even if the guy you're watching is way better than you'll ever be. At least it is the confirmation of possibility, and in the pelican's case, they don't live here when there's nothing to eat. Let's hope they stick around, because that should mean there's baitfish, and baitfish mean there's other things that eat baitfish. Like Alec Bennett, but also halibut and salmon that we probably won't be able to keep. They're coming. Soon. Not soon enough, but soon. 

    Crab reports have been sad. My cousin the commercial crabber had a 650 pound pull after better than a week's soak. That's a little better than a crab per pot per week. No bueno. He has a pretty good idea idea on where to put his traps, too. Better than me, for sure, but I don't make my living on the water, just my reason to live. Inside the bay the numbers have been similarly poor. A few are being caught by boaters and snarers but the reds are mostly what you see in the buckets. A very few are getting some decent numbers, but it's mostly grim. The clutch and molt should be ending soon and the crab should start showing up again. A sure way to tell that the crab are coming is the word from on high that traps around Monterey and commercial trap fishing to Point Arena will be ending probably around April 15, not because whales are present in Area 3 (us) but because they should be present by then. Should be is good science, right? Hey, I should be a millionaire. Some guys I went to school with are. Same science. Whatever. Summary: Crabbing sucks, it will get better but soon you'll have to use rings again. Not yet, but figure May.

   Deep rockfish are open this month. The weather doesn't look to good for the next few days but who knows? It could happen before the month's out. Maybe.