CDFW Releases Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the launch of new digital tools to track the recreational and commercial in-season harvests of ocean salmon.
The new tools, available at CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information webpage, will allow recreational anglers to easily track the number of salmon caught and number of salmon remaining under each regional harvest guideline. In-season management allows fishery managers to close salmon seasons early should harvest guidelines be reached.
With recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons underway, anglers may be interested in knowing how much catch has accrued, and when fisheries in each area will close.
“We’re excited to give salmon anglers the data they need to better plan their fishing seasons while at the same time leveraging technology to support in-season management and sustainable fisheries,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel.
Sport anglers can expect to see updates to the recreational catch tracker twice a month throughout the duration of the salmon season. Recreational catch estimates are calculated based on half-month sample periods, broken out into the first half and second half of each month. The recreational catch tracker will be updated following the conclusion of each sample period. Updates may become more frequent when total catch is approaching a harvest guideline. Any notices of fishery closures will be posted on this webpage when they are determined.
The 2026 recreational ocean salmon fishery opened in the Monterey area south of Pigeon Point (37°11’ N. Latitude) to the U.S.-Mexico border on April 11. Opening day for the California Klamath Management Zone and Fort Bragg area (from the California/Oregon Border south to Point Arena, 38° 57.5’ N. Latitude) is June 13, and the San Francisco (Point Arena to Pigeon Point) area will open June 27. Each fishing area is managed under a regional specific harvest guideline. Fishing will continue through scheduled open periods between June and August or until the harvest guideline is reached, whichever occurs first. Fishing will reopen in September for a portion of the San Francisco area and in the Monterey area under a separate fall harvest guideline.
Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning an ocean salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag limits, possession rules and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page. Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (800) 662-9825 or the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.
Annual state regulations for ocean salmon automatically conform to federal regulations set by NMFS using the process described in Section 1.95(b)(2), Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Federal regulations for ocean salmon fisheries off California were published in the Federal Register (91 FR 29092) on May 19, 2026, and took effect on May 16, 2026.
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Media Contacts:
Kandice Morgenstern, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 494-4621
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714