California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Home Marine Region Laws and Regulations Summary of California Ocean Salmon Seasons

Summary of California Ocean Salmon Seasons

Recreational Ocean Salmon Regulations

NOTE: 2013 salmon regulations are pending Office of Administrative Law review and approval.

Map of California including key landmarks for the recreational ocean salmon fishery

Humbug Mountain (OR) to Horse Mountain

May 1 - September 8, 2013

  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 20 inches (total length)
  • Klamath Control Zone (KCZ) closed in August (12 mile square centered on Klamath River mouth)
  • See CDFW regulations for additional river mouth closures

Horse Mountain to Point Arena (Fort Bragg)

April 6 - November 10, 2013

  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 20 inches total length

Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)

April 6 - November 10, 2013

  • Seven days per week except June 1 – July 9 when closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length through July 31; 20 inches total length thereafter

Pigeon Point to U.S.-Mexico Border (Monterey Bay south)

April 6 - October 6, 2013

  • Seven days per week except June 1 – July 9 when closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length

General Sport Regulations

  • No retention of coho salmon or steelhead trout in any ocean recreational fishery.
  • 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 and the fishing line is released automatically by a mechanical device from the sinker or weight when any fish is hooked.
  • North of Pt. Conception: No more than two (2) single-point, single-shank barbless hooks shall be used, and no more than one rod per angler when fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat or floating device 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 Ocean Salmon Regulations

Map of California including key landmarks for the commercial ocean salmon fishery

OR/CA Border to Humboldt South Jetty (KMZ)

May 1-31 or 3,000 Chinook quota (quota met – fishery closed May 10th at noon, 12:00pm)
June 1-30 or 3,000 Chinook quota
July 15-31 or 2,000 Chinook quota
August 1-29 or 1,500 Chinook quota
September 16-30 or 6,000 Chinook quota

  • Minimum size limit: 27 inches total length
  • Landing and possession limit of 20 Chinook per day
  • Salmon remaining from May, June and/or July quotas may be transferred to the next quota period on impact-neutral basis
  • All salmon caught must be landed within the area and within 24 hours of any closure of the fishery
  • Klamath Control Zone closed (12 mile square centered on Klamath River mouth)

Horse Mountain to Point Arena

May 22-31; June 1-8 and 21-30; July 15-31; August 1-29*, September 1-30

  • Minimum size limit: 27 inches total length
  • When the KMZ quota is open, all fish caught in the area must be landed south of Horse Mountain
  • During September, all fish caught in the area must be landed north of Point Arena

Point Arena to U.S./Mexico Border

May 1-31; June 1-8 and 21-30; July 15-31; August 1-29*

  • Minimum size limit: 27 inches total length

September 1-30

  • Minimum size limit: 26 inches total length
  • During September, all fish caught in the area must be landed south of Point Arena

Point Reyes to Point San Pedro

October 1-4, 7-11, and 14-15

  • Minimum size limit: 26 inches total length
  • All salmon caught must be landed between Point Arena and Pigeon Point

* All salmon must be offloaded within 24 hours of the August 29th closure

General Commercial Regulations

  • All salmon except coho; all commercial salmon must be landed in California
  • Single point, single shank barbless hooks are required
  • No more than 6 lines are allowed per vessel
  • Compliance with minimum size or other special restrictions: All salmon on board a vessel must meet the minimum size and other special requirements for the area being fished and the area in which they are landed if that area is open or has been closed less than 96 hours. Salmon may be landed in an area that is closed more than 96 hours only if they meet the minimum size and other special requirements for the area in which they were caught AND it is not otherwise prohibited in the regulations.
  • Transit through closed area with salmon on board: It is unlawful for a vessel to have troll gear in the water while transiting any area closed to salmon fishing while possessing salmon.
  • Barbless circle hooks1 required when fishing with bait and fishing by any means other than trolling2

    • 1. 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.
    2. 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.

Additional Information