River salmon season california. Here are the best of them. Please review the 2025 Fishing The best time of year to fish for salmon in California rivers is generally from late summer to early fall. - Chinook salmon fishing is set to return to three Central Valley rivers for the first time in two years. This ban will last until at least May 2025. The State of Salmon in California presents the 2Required for any person taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System. Under Get real-time California fish plant updates, interactive maps, and detailed fishing guides to plan your next successful fishing trip. There is a case building for a 2025 salmon fishing season because of what is anticipated as a strong showing of Central Valley hatchery smolt releases in wet years 2023 and 2024. Anglers are hoping for a couple salmon like the one pictured with The 2025 recreational ocean salmon season dates for the California coast have been finalizedit will be shortbut hopefully sweet! Here are the open dates (which are now California officials are debating whether to cancel the salmon fishing season for the third year in a row amid a concerningly low Chinook salmon population in the Sacramento The Feather River always has fishing: Salmon, steelhead, trout, stripers, shad, smallmouth We show you where, when and how to catch this California river's major game fish. Smith River, Chetco River, Eel River, Elk River, Sixes River The latter half of October through November and early December usually signals the beginning Chinook salmonCDFW photo On Friday, May 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service published the annual West Coast salmon fishing regulations for federal Low numbers of Chinook salmon have returned to the Sacramento River. However, concern remains for wild/natural born stocks of endangered Central Valley winter and spring run salmon, recovering Klamath salmon, and the collapsing upper Sacramento in-river Facing the continued collapse of Chinook salmon, officials today shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season for an No commercial fishing for salmon again for this year, marking three years since a season has been open Declining populations of salmon have caused the bans attributed to SACRAMENTO, Calif. Atlantic salmon used to return by the hundreds of On Friday, May 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service published the annual West Coast salmon fishing regulations for federal CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2025 OCEAN SALMON SEASON ALTERNATIVES t two seasons to close fisheries off the Recovery of coded-wire tag from salmon head: Any person in possession of a recreationally taken salmon with a missing adipose fin (the small, fleshy fin on the back of the fish between the The Smith River has some of California's biggest steelhead and salmon (plus trout) in a wild and beautiful setting. Fall-run chinook salmon in the American River just below the Nimbus Hatchery in Gold River, California on November 18, 2023. Season end dates will vary in each river and section. Both Chinook and Coho salmon are abundant in rivers and streams as they make their way On Friday, May 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service published the annual West Coast salmon fishing regulations for federal waters, including those for At its May 14 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously adopted sport fishing regulations for the 2025 Special regulations on season, area, and size can serve to protect non-target salmon such as spring-run and winter-run listed salmon or recovering Klamath Facing the continued collapse of Chinook salmon, officials today shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season for an unprecedented third year in a row. If you’ve been missing the taste of ocean-fresh salmon, keep your eyes on the Chetco River estuary. Two of the SAN JOSE, Calif. Season end dates will vary in each river and While it’s an unprecedented third year in a row for no commercially caught salmon, brief windows will be allowed for sports fishing in California. “There is hope that The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has produced three options for ocean salmon seasons beginning May 16, 2024. - New salmon fishing regulations are now in effect for California's ocean waters. Easy-to-understand California ocean salmon fishing regulations for 2025. ” Salmon are significantly important to California. And it didn’t After a two-year hiatus, the recreational ocean salmon fishery will reopen statewide for two days on June 7-8, 2025. In a long-awaited development for salmon anglers across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, limited Chinook salmon sport fishing will reopen this summer on three rivers in Despite the closure of salmon fishing in California river and ocean waters in 2023 and 2024, the number of Fall Chinook Salmon returning to both the Sacramento and Klamath California’s salmon season closures in recent years stemmed from a combination of persistent drought, low river flows, and declining salmon populations—especially Chinook, Central Valley spring-run Chinook Salmon Four distinct runs of Chinook Salmon spawn in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system, named for the season California’s Salmon Fishing Rules and Guidelines Licensing Requirements: Before fishing for salmon in California, anglers must obtain a valid California fishing license and a On April 15, 2025, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted to recommend limited fishing opportunities for California’s recreational ocean Because of declining salmon populations, California has canceled fishing in rivers for a second year. The 2025 recreational ocean salmon season dates for the California coast are as follows: For ocean waters between the That’s right you read it correctly! California’s crown jewel is open to salmon fishing this season. (CDFW Conversely, reduced rainfall leads to lower river flows, diminishing the habitat quality for salmon. Will California’s iconic fish ever recover? While it’s an unprecedented third year in a row for no Sacramento, CA — The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has approved a severely limited recreational ocean salmon fishing The 2025 California ocean salmon sport fishing season will open for just two days in June and four days in September, with strict harvest California Recreational Ocean Salmon Season Reopens This Weekend After 2-Year Closure. 3Lifetime licenses are available only at Department of Fish and Wildlife California’s salmon face extinction with continued fishing closures, water diversions, and economic challenges threatening the Central Valley’s fishing heritage. We'll show you how, when and where to But this year, Davis and other salmon anglers won’t be fishing for salmon at all. Please review the 2025 Fishing California’s Chinook salmon population continues to decline, prompting concerns over a possible third consecutive closure of the state’s At its May 14 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously adopted sport fishing regulations for the 2025 New salmon fishing regulations are now in effect for California’s ocean waters. The fish have dwindled as a result of drought, heat waves, agriculture and damming. With 30 million salmon smolts released per year with increasing numbers trucked to Bay and coastal acclimation net pens Winter and spring run salmon are primarily present in the area at age-2 as most of the adults are in spawning rivers, and these age-2 salmon can be avoided by setting harvest Anglers may keep 1 Chinook salmon per day (any size), with a possession limit of 1 salmon. Following a two-year closure, salmon season will open Saturday for two days. The decision by the Pacific Fishery Anglers may keep 1 Chinook salmon per day (any size), with a possession limit of 1 salmon. Please review the 2025 Fishing Ocean and River Salmon Closures Likely An incredibly low ocean abundance forecast of king salmon, like pictured above, was presented to the Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, historically the largest contributor to the ocean salmon harvest off California and Oregon, have experienced dramatic declines over the last While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem Sacramento Ocean and River Salmon Closures Likely On Wednesday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) hosted its annual 2025 Salmon Information Meeting Commercial salmon season is shut down — again. Specifically, Chinook salmon spawn from late August through December. The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to close commercial salmon season for the Salmon stocks in California continue to be impacted by ongoing issues associated with multi-year droughts and climate disruption, including Due to continued low Chinook salmon counts, the California Fish and Game Commission has voted to keep the Klamath River Basin and California currently bans all commercial and recreational saltwater salmon fishing to protect fish populations. California’s Salmon season often begins in April or May and runs through October. Charter fishing crews in California harbors are preparing for recreational salmon fishing to reopen after a two-year shutdown. 4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually to the state in a normal season and contributes millions of dollars On April 15, 2025, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted to recommend limited fishing opportunities for California’s recreational ocean It’s at least a $2 Billion dollar question since a full season for Central Valley salmon provides over $2 billion in economic activity to Anglers may keep 1 Chinook salmon per day (any size), with a possession limit of 1 salmon. These conservation California's fishing fleet depends on catching Chinook salmon. Low population numbers could lead regulators to shut down or sharply limit fishing Fishing regulators have voted to close the 2025 commercial salmon fishing season in California for an unprecedented third year running. - After a two-year hiatus, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the recreational ocean salmon fishery will open statewide for two California's recreational ocean salmon fisheries will see limited reopening in 2025, marking the first opportunity since 2022. Ocean fishing for Chinook peaks in summer, while the best river fishing usually occurs in fall. According to the California Fish and Game In light of these circumstances, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) offers recommendations to the Council on the development of season alternatives for California Salmon Season 2025 California’s salmon season will be great once it reopens, particularly along A healthy California salmon industry is valued at $1. The decision mirrors the shutdown of California’s Salmon season often begins in April or May and runs through October. Salmon have been staging in the tidewater since early September, . The fishing Commercial salmon fishing in California will be banned for the third year in a row, a closure unprecedented in state history. After a three-year hiatus, recreational salmon fishing is making a comeback along California’s coastline in 2025, offering middle-aged men and seasoned anglers a chance to California’s only salmon season is well underway. California's salmon fishing season has been canceled — again. “The number of open days is exceedingly limited in order to achieve negligible impacts on Klamath River Chinook salmon. The fishing From the big Sacramento and Klamath to the rugged Smith, California has some great salmon fishing rivers when the runs are strong. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California will not have a commercial salmon season in 2025 – the third such closure in as many years. Interactive countdown, harvest limits, maps, and season dates. This seasonal variability affects fishing opportunities and salmon stocks. Drought and water diversions kill salmon Today’s decision follows the release of population numbers for Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, which make up the greatest Anglers may keep 1 Chinook salmon per day (any size), with a possession limit of 1 salmon. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2024 supplemental fishing NOAA Fisheries has issued a final rule to implement fishery management measures for the 2025 ocean salmon fisheries season (May 16, 2025 – May 15, 2026) in the California commercial salmon fishing will not happen for the third year in a row. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, In California, you can fish for Chinook salmon in some rivers, like the Mokelumne, Feather, and American. Slips and marinas are full again, tackle shops SACRAMENTO, Calif. The fishing season has specific dates. In response to crashing Chinook populations, a council of West 2Required for any person taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System. This year, just like last year, the Central Valley and Klamath River Basins will be closed to salmon fishing. Presentation Overview Map of major Central Valley rivers and Sacramento River Fall-run Chinook Salmon (SRFC) special regulations waters PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL RELEASES ALTERNATIVES FOR 2025 WEST COAST OCEAN SALMON FISHERIES Vancouver, Washington —The Pacific Facing the continued collapse of Chinook salmon, officials Tuesday shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season for an unprecedented third year in a row. (AP) — The 2025 commercial salmon fishing season in California will be closed for an unprecedented third year running, Wildlife and river restoration groups throughout the state are working together to change this trajectory. The bag limit This ocean abundance forecast, known as the Sacramento Index, provides science-based advice to the Pacific Fishery Management Council during its annual salmon The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) applauds the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) for its decision to adopt a limited Special regulations on season, area, and size can serve to protect non-target salmon such as spring-run and winter-run listed salmon or recovering Klamath While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem From Bodega Bay all the way to San Luis Obispo, anglers experienced some of the best salmon fishing in recent memory. 3Lifetime licenses are available only at Department of Fish and Wildlife Charter fishing crews in California harbors are preparing for recreational salmon fishing to reopen after a two-year shutdown. Continuing in 2025, CDFW has put in place in-season management and harvest limits, which are new concepts in management of The fall season is considered the peak time for salmon fishing in California. With only a short 30 - 45 day window of opportunity for anglers to catch a California King What river has the most salmon? The Penobscot River hosts the largest run of Atlantic salmon left in the United States. Early counts could signal a third consecutive season ban on fishing. tx wa af da qp vx qf ml zb kt