CDFW News

Ocean Salmon Fishing Comeback Continues

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:23:08 GMT

Commercial Fishing Returns After 3-Year Closure; Recreational Anglers to See More Open Days in 2026

Significant improvements in key California salmon populations -- specifically Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and Klamath River fall-run Chinook -- will allow for more ocean salmon fishing opportunities this year. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that commercial ocean salmon fishing is back after being closed three straight years and that recreational ocean salmon anglers will have more opportunities in 2026.

“Seeing our salmon populations recover is incredibly heartening and demonstrates what’s possible when we all work together -- state and federal partners, tribes, sport anglers and commercial fishing interests, NGOs and others – to do what’s best for salmon,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “Salmon are part of the cultural fabric of California, and I’m delighted more Californians will have the opportunity to enjoy these magnificent fish whether that’s in the water, on the end of their fishing lines or on their dinner plates.”

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) finalized its recommendations for California’s recreational and commercial ocean salmon seasons and harvest limits at its April 7-12 meeting in Portland, Ore. The PFMC will forward its recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which will implement them into federal regulations. A summary of the recreational season dates, locations and harvest guidelines are available at CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information web page.

“The health of our salmon populations fluctuates with environmental conditions, and we’ve seen just how vulnerable these fish are to recent droughts, changing river conditions and a warming climate,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “This year’s return of ocean salmon fishing is an encouraging sign as we advance California’s long-term, science-based Salmon Strategy. Together with a range of partners, we’re restoring habitat, removing barriers, improving flow and reconnecting rivers to give salmon a better chance to survive in all conditions. This work is about balance -- making improvements and modernizing water management to help nature thrive and our communities prosper.”

California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, put into action beginning in 2024, is laying the groundwork for California to restore and rebuild salmon populations. State agencies, tribes and other partners are making significant progress in achieving goals that include restoring and expanding habitat for salmon spawning and rearing, removing barriers and updating infrastructure for salmon migration. California has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years to support salmon throughout their various life stages.

More open fishing days come as welcome news following complete closure of recreational ocean salmon fisheries in 2023 and 2024, and only six open days in 2025.

In 2026, CDFW will implement in-season management in both commercial and recreational fisheries to ensure catch of rebounding salmon stocks does not exceed seasonal harvest guidelines. This is the first year of vessel-based trip limits and seasonal harvest guidelines for California’s commercial salmon fishery following the first use of an in-season management framework during California’s limited recreational ocean season in 2025. In-season management allows fishery managers to close salmon seasons early should harvest guidelines be reached.

In-season monitoring to actively manage commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries to align with harvest guidelines is identified as a priority action item in the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future.

Sport anglers are advised to check for updated information when planning a salmon fishing trip. Season dates, harvest guidelines/catch limits, bag/possession, vessel limit information and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information 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 NMFS ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.

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Media Contacts:
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714   
Chester Lindley, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 951-4083  

White Sturgeon Opener Kicks Off with a No-Fee Report Card for This Season

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:10:11 GMT

The white sturgeon sport fishing season opens October 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, for catch-and-release fishing in the ocean, San Francisco Bay, Delta and lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers (consult the current regulations to verify open areas and times). Catch-and-release fishing for white sturgeon will continue to be available for anglers under new regulations enacted by the California Fish and Game Commission in August 2025. Previously, catch-and-release fishing was permitted by emergency regulations that were set to expire in September 2025.

Though recent results from white sturgeon monitoring surveys by CDFW suggest the white sturgeon population has continued to decline, science indicates that non-lethal take via a catch-and-release fishery will not harm the long-term viability of the white sturgeon population. Factors such as harmful algal blooms, poaching, poor river and Delta conditions and historical overharvest have been shown to have significant negative impacts on the population.

“With responsible catch-and-release angling and other conservation efforts, we can have world-class white sturgeon sport fisheries in California,” said Jay Rowan, Chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Branch.

The enacted regulations also include changes to the sturgeon fishing report card. Changes include shifting from a calendar-year approach to aligning with the sturgeon fishing season. Other changes to the card include the kinds of data anglers are asked to record. Anglers will be able to get a sturgeon report card at no fee this new season to help accommodate this change. Starting with the 2026-27 season, sturgeon report cards will be $8.13, reduced from the previous fee of $11.06.

“Since there is no fee for this year’s report card, this is a great opportunity for new and returning anglers to experience the thrill of catch-and-release fishing for this prehistoric giant,” said John Kelly, Statewide Sturgeon Coordinator for CDFW.

Report cards for the 2025 calendar year that have already been purchased will remain valid until December 31, 2025, or anglers may choose to switch to the new card immediately. The old report cards may either be returned by mail to the address printed on the card prior to January 31, 2026, or reported online between January 1 and January 31, 2026. Anglers may get the new 2025-26 card from a fishing license vendor or online at any time starting September 27. (Note that cards ordered online may take two weeks to arrive by mail.)

While there is no fee for this season’s report card, card holders are still responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable regulations when fishing under the authority of the report card. For the complete regulations, including the summarized items above, and open and closed areas, see the 2025-26 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations and the 2025 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations available at CDFW's Fishing and Hunting Regulations page.

The data gathered from Sturgeon Fishing Report Cards supports fisheries management efforts that benefit sturgeon and sturgeon anglers in California. Anglers are required by regulation to return the new report cards or submit a report online by July 31, 2026, (CCR - Title 14, Section 1.74).

Helpful Resources on White Sturgeon

To find helpful resources on white sturgeon fishing, visit CDFW's white sturgeon page. To learn how to fish for white sturgeon, you can view the How To Fish For White Sturgeon (video). To find Information on white sturgeon conservation efforts, visit Conserve The Sturg.

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Media Contacts:
Jay Rowan, CDFW Fisheries Branch, (916) 212-3164
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Pacific Fishery Management Council Recommends Limited Recreational Ocean Salmon Season, Continued Closure for Commercial Salmon Fishing off California

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:40:23 GMT

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.

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Media Contacts:
Katie Talbot, CDFW Communications, (916) 204-1381
Kandice Morgenstern, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 494-4621

Fish and Game Commission Approves Catch-and-Release Sport Fishing for White Sturgeon; Currently Closed Season Expected to Reopen Oct. 1

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 09:41:53 GMT

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) has adopted regulations to reopen sport fishing for white sturgeon on a catch-and-release basis while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) conducts a status review to determine if listing the species as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) is warranted.

The white sturgeon sport fishing season is expected to reopen Oct. 1, pending approval of the new regulations by the state Office of Administrative Law. All fishing for white sturgeon was closed in June when the Commission approved the species as a candidate for listing. Candidate species are afforded full protection under CESA while the candidacy review process plays out.

California Fish and Game Code Section 2084 allows the Commission to authorize take by hook and line for any sport fish that is listed as endangered, threatened or a candidate species under CESA. At its Aug. 14-15 meeting, the Commission adopted regulations proposed by CDFW to reopen the fishery on a catch-and-release basis.

“We’re pleased the Commission has agreed to return a sport fishing opportunity for this amazing fish,” said Jay Rowan, Chief of CDFW’s Fisheries Branch. “Sturgeon were swimming in the waters of what is now California 100 million years before Tyrannosaurus rex roamed the planet. They’re living dinosaurs. Catching a sturgeon, being able to see one up close, and watching it swim away to contribute to future generations is a really unique and humbling experience.”

In submitting the proposed new regulations to the Commission, CDFW stated that a complete fishing closure represented a “financial crisis to Californians who rely on this fishery as part of their business. This includes boat captains, fishing guides and businesses that rely on anglers such as bait and tackle store and suppliers, marinas and other boat services.”

CDFW also stated: “The best available science suggests that non-lethal take via a catch-and-release fishery would not harm the long-term viability of white sturgeon in California.” Catch-and-release fishing for white sturgeon has proven popular and lucrative elsewhere, including in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia, Canada, where catch and release fisheries were implemented decades ago to protect declining populations.

The new white sturgeon sport fishing regulations specify two seasons to protect spawning and migrating fish and to reduce stress during warmer times of the year.

(1) From Oct. 1 through June 30: For ocean waters and San Francisco Bay east to downstream of the confluence of the Feather River on the Sacramento River and downstream of the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River.

(2) From Oct. 1 through Dec. 31: upstream of the confluence of the Feather River to the Highway 162 Bridge on the Sacramento River and upstream of the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River.

Anglers are still required to have a valid Sturgeon Fishing Report Card in their possession.

The new regulations also specify expanded handling requirements: Any sturgeon greater than 60 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately. Previously this requirement was set at any sturgeon greater than 68 inches. Additionally, sturgeon of any size shall not be held out of the water suspended by the gills, gill plates, mouth or solely by the tail, and shall not be dragged across the ground, boat decks or piers.

The regulations approved by the Commission are available online as part of a staff summary at the staff summary (PDF).

As part of the candidacy process, CDFW is tasked with developing a comprehensive status report of the species and is collecting scientific data and public comments on the listing proposal to help inform the Commission’s ultimate decision. Public comments and outside scientific data are due to CDFW by Oct. 31, 2024, and should be submitted to sturgeon@willidfe.ca.gov and include “White Sturgeon CESA” in the subject line.

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Media Contacts: 
Jay Rowan, CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief, (916) 212-3164 
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-385

Fish and Game Commission Approves White Sturgeon as a Candidate Species for Listing as Threatened

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:14:20 GMT

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) approved white sturgeon as a candidate species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) on June 19. The Commission found sufficient scientific evidence in a petition to determine that listing may be warranted.

Notice of the Commission decision is expected to be published by the Office of Administrative Law on July 12. At that point, fishing for white sturgeon will close as candidate species for listing under CESA are granted full protections while the candidate review process takes place.

However, recreational fishing for white sturgeon remains open until July 11 under emergency regulations adopted last year.

Also, the Commission recognized the significant recreational and economic impact a fishing closure will have and requested the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to explore options to allow recreational fishing for white sturgeon to continue during the status review process, which may be permitted under California Fish and Game Code Section 2084.

CDFW will bring potential white sturgeon fishing regulations under Fish and Game Code Section 2084 to the Commission at its Aug. 14-15 meeting in Fortuna, Humboldt County. Fish and Game Code Section 2084 allows the Commission to authorize take by hook and line for any sport fish that is listed as an endangered, threatened or candidate species under provisions that ensure protection of the species under CESA.

The Commission’s action initiated CDFW’s comprehensive status review of the species to determine if listing under CESA is warranted. A final decision could be made by the Commission as early as late 2025.

CDFW recommends anglers with 2024 Sturgeon Fishing Report Cards hold onto their cards and anglers considering purchasing a nonrefundable 2024 Sturgeon Fishing Report Card wait until the Commission decides on any Section 2084 regulations that could allow white sturgeon fishing to resume.

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Media Contacts:
Jay Rowan, CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief, (916) 212-3164
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858