News Archive

Recent results from white sturgeon monitoring surveys by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) suggest the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) population has continued to decline. CDFW fisheries biologists now estimate there are approximately 6,500 white sturgeon between 40-60 inches long in California – down sharply from the previous estimate of approximately 30,000 fish in that size range, based on the 2016-2021 survey average.

While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem Sacramento River, Chinook fishing opportunities will be allowed in three inland Central Valley rivers for the first time in two years.

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) adopted emergency regulations for the commercial coonstripe shrimp fishery and approved an experimental fishing permit (EFP) to test longlining gear in the Dungeness fishery, among other action affecting California’s natural resources at its Feb. 12-13 meeting in Sacramento.

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) acted on a variety of issues affecting California’s natural resources at its Dec.11-12 meeting in Sacramento, including emergency action to list the invasive golden mussel as a restricted species. The Commission also acted to extend emergency regulations 90 days for the recreational catch-and-release white sturgeon season and added language for permitted catch handling. The public was able to participate in the meeting in person, via webinar and by phone.

The white sturgeon sport fishing season opens Oct. 1, 2024, for catch-and-release fishing ONLY.