News Archive

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 2026 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Wednesday, April 1 and remain open until the season ends November 15 north of Point Arena (38°57.5 N. Latitude) and December 31 south of Point Arena, or until the quota is reached, whichever occurs first.

The hybrid meeting will feature the outlook for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries, in addition to a review of last year’s salmon fisheries and inland spawner returns.

The last area of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery in Humboldt County opened today after being delayed due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

CDFW will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Central Management Area (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception beginning January 5, 2026.