Ocean Salmon Fishery Information

2026 Recreational Ocean Salmon Regulations

• 2026 April Ocean Salmon Sport Regulations (PDF)

OR/CA Border to the 40º10' Line (KMZ)

• Closed* 

40º10' Line to Point Arena (Fort Bragg)

• Closed* 

Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)

• Closed* 

Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico Border (Monterey and South)

• Opens April 11
• No fishing gear may be deployed with salmon aboard north of Pigeon Pt. (37°11’ N. lat)
• Regional harvest guideline of 21,000 Chinook. Inseason action may be taken to close the fishery or the remaining open days when total harvest is approaching the harvest guideline.
• Minimum size limit: 24 inches total length

*The remainder of the 2026 season will be decided at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting April 7^th-12^th.

General Sport Regulations

• Daily bag limit (CCR T-14, §27.80): 2 salmon of any species except coho (silver) salmon.
• Possession limit: 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 (CCR T-14, §27.80(e)).
• Retention of coho (silver) salmon or steelhead trout is prohibited in any ocean fishery (CCR T-14, §27.70(b) and §27.80(b)).
  • Coho (Silver) Salmon Identification Flyer (PDF)
• Salmon may not be filleted on any boat or prior to being brought ashore (CCR T-14, §27.65(c)).
• Salmon may only be taken by angling as defined in CCR T-14, §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 (CCR T-14, §27.80(a)).
• Special Salmon Closures (CCR T-14, §27.75):

  

  

  

  • Smith River mouth - closed year-round
  • Klamath River mouth - closed year-round; in August, this closure expands("Klamath Control Zone")
  • Eel River mouth - closed in August and September Only
• North of Point Conception: No more than two 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 with salmon on board (CCR T-14, §27.80(a)).
• 40º10' line near Cape Mendocino to Point Conception (CCR T-14, §27.80(a)): When fishing with bait and angling by any means other than TROLLING¹, no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless CIRCLE HOOKS ² shall be used. The distance between the two hooks must not exceed 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.

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 back fin and tail) shall immediately relinquish the head of the salmon, upon request by an authorized agent or employee of the Department, to facilitate the recovery of any coded-wire tag (CCR T-14, §1.73).

* Klamath Control Zone: The ocean area at the Klamath River mouth bounded on the north by 41°38'48" N. lat. (approximately 6 nautical miles north of the Klamath River mouth); on the west, by 124°23'00" W. long. (approximately 12 nautical miles off shore); and on the south, by 41°26'48" N. lat. (approximately 6 nautical miles south of the Klamath River mouth).

2026 Commercial Ocean Salmon Regulations

• Commercial ocean salmon fisheries scheduled to open in May or later in 2026 have not yet been determined. Final ocean salmon seasons will be decided during the April 7-12 Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting.

OR/CA Border to the 40º10' Line (KMZ)

• Closed, seasons will be determined at the April 7-12 PFMC meeting

40º10' Line to Point Arena (Fort Bragg)

• Closed, seasons will be determined at the April 7-12 PFMC meeting 

Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco)

• Closed, seasons will be determined at the April 7-12 PFMC meeting

Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico Border (Monterey and South)

• Closed, seasons will be determined at the April 7-12 PFMC meeting

Related Information

• Federal Commercial and Recreational Ocean Salmon Regulations
• National Marine Fisheries Service Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline (800) 662-9825
• CDFW - Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline (707) 576-3429
  CDFW - Ocean Salmon Project
  3637 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa CA 95403-1067
• Tips for Coho Salmon Identification (PDF)
• Annual Coded-Wire Tag Recovery Reports