Summary of California Ocean Salmon Seasons

• Salmon 2012 Preseason Process: Calendar of Events and Contact Information
• Recreational Ocean Salmon Regulations
• Commercial Ocean Salmon Regulations
• Additional Information

Recreational Ocean Salmon Regulations

• 2011-2012 Freshwater and Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Supplement (includes ocean salmon regulations)
• 2011 Ocean Salmon Season Flyer

Humbug Mountain, Oregon to Horse Mountain, California

• Open May 14 - September 5, 2011
  • seven days per week
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • minimum size limit: 24 inches total length
  • Klamath Management Zone closed in August (12 mile square centered on Klamath River mouth)

Horse Mountain to Point Arena (Fort Bragg)

• Open April 2 - October 30, 2011
  • seven days per week
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length

Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)

• Open April 2 - October 30, 2011
  • seven days per week
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length

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

• Open April 2 - September 18, 2011
  • seven days per week
  • 2 salmon per day of any species except coho
  • Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length

General Sport Regulations

• Retention of coho salmon or steelhead trout is prohibited in any ocean fishery.
  • Coho Salmon Identification Flyer
• No more than one daily bag limit of salmon may be taken or possessed by any one person.
• 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 Salmon Regulations

OR/CA Border to Humboldt S. Jetty (KMZ)

August 2, 2011 Klamath Management Zone Commercial Salmon Season CLOSURE

• July 2-6, 9-13, 16-20 or 1,400 Chinook quota (quota met - closed July 18)
• August 1-5 or 880 Chinook quota* (quota met - closed August 2)
  • possession and landing limit of 30 Chinook per vessel per day
  • all salmon caught must be landed within the area and within 24 hours of any closure
* August quota was modified on impact-neutral basis to account for excess fish taken in July quota fishery.

Horse Mountain to Point Arena

• July 23-27
• July 29 - August 29
  • all salmon must be landed within 24 hours of the August 29 closure
• September 1-30

Point Arena to Point Sur

• May 1-31
• June 25 - July 5
• July 9-13, 16-20, 23-27
• July 29 - August 29
  • all salmon must be landed within 24 hours of the August 29 closure
• September 1-30
• October 3-7, 10-14 - Point Reyes to Point San Pedro only
  • all salmon caught must be landed between Point Arena and Pigeon Point

Point Sur to U.S./Mexico Border

• May 1 - May 31
• June 1 - June 24
  • all salmon caught in the area June 1 - June 24 must be landed south of Pt. San Pedro
• June 25 - July 5
• July 9-13, 16-20, 23-27
• July 29 - August 29
  • all salmon must be landed within 24 hours of the August 29 closure

General Commercial Regulations

• Minimum size limit: 27 inches total length
• All salmon must be landed in California and south of Horse Mountain when KMZ quota fisheries are open, unless another area's specific landing requirements are in effect.
• All salmon except coho; no retention of steelhead trout.
• 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 or other special requirements for the area being fished and the area in which they are landed if that area is open. Salmon may be landed in an area that is closed 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

• Approval of Emergency Regulatory Action
  California Office of Administrative Law Approval to Open the Recreational Salmon Fishery April 2, 2011
• Salmon Fishery Information (news, articles and photos)
• OCEAN SALMON REGULATIONS HOTLINE (707) 576-3429
  CDFG - Ocean Salmon Project
  5355 Skylane Blvd., Suite B, Santa Rosa CA 95403-1045