Rockfish season to open. Is the salmon season really in jeopardy?

For the second consecutive year, a low number of salmon is jeopardizing the California salmon season.

Estimates are for 33,622 salmon this year, making it the second lowest number since the 2008-2009 recreational and commercial seasons.

Of major concern is the limited run on the upper Sacramento River with only 4,534 adult Chinooks and 314 jacks returning to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) met recently in Fresno to develop three potential alternatives for the recreational and commercial seasons .

For the recreational season:

Alternative 1: A 26-day potential season, open seven days per week from June 6-9, July 3-7, Aug. 1-6, 29-31, and Sept. 1-3, 27-29, and Oct.18-20 with a 20-inch minimum and two-fish per day limit.

In season action may be taken to close open dates when the total harvest is approaching 10,000 Chinook June through August and 5,000 September through October.

Alternative 2: A 10-day season open seven days per week from July 4-7 and Aug. 1-4, 29-31 with a 20-inch minimum and 2-fish per day limit.

In season action may be taken to close open dates when the total harvest is approaching 6,500 Chinook.

Alternative 3 – Closed.

The commercial ocean season follows a similar pattern with

Alternative 1: An 11-day season from June 1-10 with a 27-inch minimum, 5,000-fish quota, and 40 fish per vessel limit.

Alternative 2: A nine-day season from June 1-8 with a 27-inch minimum, 4,000-fish quota, and 30 fish per vessel limit.

Alternative 3: Closed.

A public hearing on the issue will be held 7-9 p.m. March 25.

Information: https://www.pcouncil.org/events/public-hearing-on-salmon-management-alternatives-in-santa-rosa-ca-on-monday-march-25-2024/.

After this hearing, the PFMC will meet April 6-11 in Seattle to adopt final regulatory measures before the California Fish and Game Commission meets on April 17-18 for an update on fishery regulations. Information: https://fgc.ca.gov/.

Although recreational anglers tend to hold out hope for any type of salmon season, commercial and charter boat operators are clearly in favor of another year of closure with the intent of rebuilding the Sacramento River salmon runs with increased hatchery production and improved water conditions. Without the distribution of funds for Salmon Relief, any of the proposed alternatives will have devastating consequences for coastal communities and individual boat operators.

Rockfish season

Rockfish season opens April 1, and the new regulations lead to more opportunity for shallow water fishing which was closed in September because of limited numbers of quillback rockfish.

North of the 36-degree parallel at Point Lopez (Ports of Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, and San Francisco Bay to the Oregon border), rockfish season will start on April 1 deeper than 50 fathoms during the following months: April, October, and December.

During May, June, July, August, September, and November, rockfishing will be allowed only shallower than 20 fathoms. In the Southern Zone and Central Zone south of 36 degrees, (Ports of Morro Bay and Port San Luis south to the Mexico border), rockfishing is open at any depths in April, May, and June transitioning to less than 50 fathoms for July, August, and September before heading back out to more than 50 fathoms for October, November, and December.

Kayakers will have access to the shallow waters during certain months after being shut out from access for several months last year.

Quillback and cowcod rockfish remain closed while the sub-limit for vermilion rockfish south of the 40/10 line is two fish. A descending device is highly recommended on all vessels. Coordinates for the 20-Fathom line can be downloaded here.

A couple of upcoming events on April 6:

*Striperz Gone Wild Spring Memorial Striped Bass Tournament at the California Aqueduct at Volta Road near Los Banos with registration starting at 5 a.m.

The entry fee is 10 cans of unexpired food to be donated to the Merced County community, one of the most food-insecure counties in the nation. Target-length striped bass divisions for adult and youth. Boats and kayaks are allowed in San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay. Food, raffle, and photo booth will be present.

*Roosevelt High School Bass Fishing Club Spring Fishing Tackle Faire will at The Boat Shoppe, 2125 Ventura Ave Fresno from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All local area tackle makers and stores are welcome to host a table and sell at the event with a $50 donation to the students of the RHS BFC. Product donation instead of cash possible. Buyers and sellers are welcome to contact us for details through our Face Book page at https://www.facebook.com/RooseveltHighSchoolBassFishingClub. This is a great opportunity to come out, meet the students, and find some bargain gear.

Dave Hurley is a longtime educator, fishing writer and member of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.