‘Offshore Only’ Rockfish Season Begins Dec. 1

Nearshore season ends Saturday

Following a month of mostly unfishable conditions, the month of December will once again force rockfish anglers back to deep water. With the opening of sport Dungeness crab season and rockfish within reach, hopes were high for a November full of combo trips. But Mother Nature had other plans and failed to provide many fishable days. The past few days have been the best we’ve seen all month.

But now, starting Sunday Dec. 1 within the Northern Management Area, which includes ocean waters between 42°00’ N. latitude (CA-OR Border) and 40°10′ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino), fishing for rockfish will only be allowed seaward of the 50-fathom boundary line, and only shelf rockfish, slope rockfish and lingcod may be retained. Take and possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenling are prohibited during the offshore fishery.

In the Mendocino Management Area, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, all the seasons are the same as the Northern Management Area. The only change is the daily bag limit is two vermilion rockfish per person.

Divers and shore-based anglers will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish, which allows for year-round diving and shore-based angling, in line with current regulations. Rockfish season for boat anglers will close statewide after Dec. 31.

Regulation change reminder for 2024
Changes to the sub-bag limits within the 10-fish daily Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling (RCG) complex bag and possession limit include a new statewide ban on possession of quillback rockfish. Also new in 2024 is the mandatory possession of descending devices . No person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a descending device in possession and available for immediate use to assist in releasing rockfish to the depth of capture.

Daily bag limit
In the Northern Management Area, the RCG complex includes all species of rockfishes, Cabezon and Greenlings. You are allowed 10 fish in combination per person EXCEPT:

• A sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish
• A sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish of four fish

Minimum size for Cabezon is 15 inches total length and for Kelp and/or rock greenlings it’s 12 inches.

The daily bag limit of lingcod remains at two per person and they must be 22 inches in length. The take and possession of cowcod, bronzespotted rockfish and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited statewide. Petrale sole and starry flounder can be retained year-round at all depths with no size limit.

Important reminder:
In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas, those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While anchored, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets, Dungeness crab traps, and dip nets.

For more information about recreational groundfish regulations within the northern management area, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/GroundfishSummary#north

Weekend weather and marine forecast
According to the Eureka’s National Weather Service, high pressure will continue to build over the area, bringing mostly clear skies and chilly overnight temperatures. By early next week some warmer valleys could see temperatures in the 70’s. There is no clear end in sight for this pattern yet. Ridging to will likely continue to dominate the west coast for the next seven days.

The weekend marine forecast is looking good for offshore crabbing and/or rockfish. As of Friday, Saturday’s forecast is calling for northeast winds up to 5 knots with northwest waves 3 feet at seven seconds and 2 feet at 12 seconds. Sunday looks similar, with northwest waves 2 feet at 11 seconds and 5 feet at 18 seconds. Conditions early next week also look favorable. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Eureka/Trinidad sport crabbing
After the storms, boats were finally able to get back on the water Tuesday. And the reports were excellent with boats reporting easy limits of big crab. Boats fishing either side of the entrance in roughly 100 feet of water were averaging 10 to 15 keepers on an overnight soak. Conditions look good through the weekend.

Sport crabbers are also doing well in Trinidad, averaging 10 to 12 per trap for an overnight soak.  The quality has been excellent. Expect the beach to be crowded over the holiday weekend and the last few days of the inshore rockfish season.

Shelter Cove update
“We finally got back on the water Tuesday, and the fishing was excellent,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “We had limits of rockfish, lingcod, and crab and back at the dock by noon. Rogers Break has been good for rockfish and lingcod, while we’re crabbing off Black Sands Beach. On an overnight soak, we’re getting 10 to 20 keepers per pot.”

The Rivers:
As of Friday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures were open to fishing. This includes the Mad, main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Redwood Creek, Van Duzen and Smith rivers. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public by a telephone recorded message updated, as necessary, no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as to whether any stream will be closed to fishing. The rivers can be opened at any time. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 707-822-3164. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2025. More information can be found here.

Mad
The Mad is dropping quickly and should be at a fishable height by mid-week. There should be some early steelhead making their way into the lower river this week. Current river conditions: cdec.water.ca.gov/river/madStages.html

Main stem Eel
Flows were down to 12,800 cfs Friday as it continues to drop. With a mostly dry week forecasted, it could be fishable by next weekend. Current river conditions: cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

South Fork Eel
The South Fork was just above 3,000 cfs Friday and should be fishable by the first of the week. It’s a little early for steelhead, but there could be some late-arriving salmon around. Current river conditions: cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Van Duzen
Like the Sf Eel, the Van Duzen should be fishable by the early next week. As of Friday, flows were right around 800 cfs. Current river conditions: cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Smith
The Smith was just above 9.5 feet at the Jed Smith Park Friday morning. The river is forecast to drop slowly through the week. The salmon run is mostly done for the season, and we should start to see a few early steelhead show up. Current river conditions: cdec.water.ca.gov/river/smithStages.html

Nov. 29 and 30 free fish days in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is waiving all fishing licensing requirements on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to experience fishing with friends and family during the long holiday weekend. All fishing, crabbing, and clamming in Oregon will be free for both Oregon residents and non-residents. No licenses, tags or endorsements are needed on those days, but all other fishing regulations apply. Visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2024/11_Nov/111324.asp for more info.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
The Elk River was back in shape on Tuesday, and fresh hatchery kings were spread throughout the river reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The Elk River could be low by the end of the week,” said Martin. “The Chetco remains blown out but should fish by the end of the week. Steelhead season opens Dec. 1 on the Chetco, Elk and Sixes. The Chetco also will open to fishing, steelhead only, for the first time this fall above Nook Bar.”

Brookings rockfish update
According to Martin, the ocean out of Brookings calmed down this week, with flat conditions expected this weekend. Lingcod fishing was good before the latest storms.

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.