News Archive

Fishing enthusiasts across the region are gearing up for one of California’s most anticipated outdoor traditions of the year, the opening of the 2026 statewide general trout season.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 1, 2 and 3 (California/Oregon border to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude).

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 Director has declared that the last closed area of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Humboldt County will open at 12:01 a.m., January 30.