Recent Columns

If your weekend plans involve the pursuit of winter steelhead, you’ll need to point your vehicle north. The quick-clearing Smith and Chetco rivers are currently the only real options for the green water steelheaders crave. All Humboldt rivers are currently high and muddy, and that will likely continue through the weekend. There is a chance the upper reaches of the Van Duzen and South Fork Eel could come around by late in the weekend, but that will depend on snowmelt. If those rivers do come in, it will be short-lived, as the next storm is forecast to arrive Sunday and will put the rivers back on the rise.

Weather ahead
The forecast for the remainder of the work week is looking dry. The next round of storms is predicted to arrive sometime late Sunday and looks to be a prolonged rainfall event. Over the course of three to four days, we could see 3-plus inches of rain at sea level and higher amounts in the mountains.

Perigean spring tides coming this weekend
Some of the highest tides of the year are expected this weekend due to the perigean spring tide. Perigean tides, the results of either a new or full moon, will be in effect beginning Dec. 30 through Jan 4. The north spit tide gauge prediction is for a high tide of 8.68 feet at 9:39 a.m. Saturday morning and 8.81 feet at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Significant coastal flooding is possible. For more information on the perigean spring tides visit: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/perigean-spring-tide.html

2022 fishing license
A reminder that it’s the time of the year to purchase your 2022 sport fishing license, which is required for residents 16 years of age or older to take fish, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, amphibians or reptiles in inland or ocean waters. The cost of a new resident sport fishing license is $54. A North Coast salmon report card, which will run you $7.56, is required for all anglers taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System. If you plan to fish for steelhead, you’ll need to purchase a steelhead report card, which will cost $8.38 this year. The Department of Fish and Wildlife does not accept cash for fishing licenses. For more info, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing.

Reduced-fee sport fishing licenses available
Reduced-cost fishing licenses are available in 2021 for $8.24 at CDFW offices (instead of $54) for disabled military veterans and recovering service members. For those 65 or older on reduced income, licenses are available for $8.24. For more information on all CA fishing licenses, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing#44521415-items–fees

New sport rockfish regulations coming in 2022
In a press release issued Dec. 17, the CDFW announced multiple changes to the sport rockfish regulations starting in Jan. 1. Changes that pertain to the Northern Management area, which runs from the California-Oregon border south to Cape Mendocino include:

• Reducing the vermillion rockfish bag limit within the daily 10-fish RCG bag and possession limit from five to four.
• Adding a new sub-bag limit for quillback rockfish of one fish within the daily 10-fish RCG bag and possession limit.
• Adding a new sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish within the daily 10-fish RCG bag and possession limit.

For the complete list of regulation changes, visit www.bit.ly/3z5tC5e.

Rockfish season to close Dec. 31
The 2021 rockfish season in the Northern Management area, which runs from 0°10′ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino) to the OR/CA border, will close for boat-based anglers on Friday, Dec. 31. Rockfish is open year-round for divers and shore-based anglers. For more information about recreational groundfish regulations, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary#north

The Rivers:
All North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen are open. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any river will be closed to fishing. The low-flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 822-3164. NOTE: Rivers will not automatically open to fishing once the minimum flows are reached. The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream will open Jan. 1, 2022.

Mad
The Mad is high and muddy as of Thursday. With more rain in the forecast next week, it won’t be green any time soon. Forecast to be 8.7 feet early Monday morning before going back on the rise.

Main stem Eel
The main Eel remains big and brown and won’t be fishable any time soon. Predicted to drop to 9,100 cubic feet per second on the Scotia gauge Monday morning, but next week’s rain will put it back on the rise.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork could be fishable on Sunday and into Monday morning as its forecast to drop to 2,100 cfs on the Miranda gauge. Snowmelt could slow the rivers decent.

Van Duzen
Like the South Fork, it could be fishable by Sunday or Monday depending on snowmelt. Forecast to be 640 cfs by Monday morning before going on a steep rise later in the evening.

Smith
The Smith dropped into fishable shape Sunday and conditions are now ideal. On Tuesday evening, it bumped up to 10 feet on the Jed Smith gauge but it’s back on the drop. The snowmelt should keep the color pristine all week. The fishing has been decent, with a handful of steelhead being caught daily. The fishing pressure has been light, but that will change after the weekend.

Chetco
The Chetco is expected to come into shape this week after being blown out for nearly a week, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. He said, “Plunkers did well over the weekend and on Monday, while drift boaters struggled to catch fish in high water. That will change as flows drop. The river crested at 11,000 cfs late last week but will be in the prime range of 2,500 cfs by the end of this week. Plunkers have been getting a nice mix of wild and hatchery steelhead.”

Elk/Sixes/Rogue
According to Martin, salmon fishing has slowed on the Elk and Sixes as the attention turns to steelhead. “The Elk is in good shape, while the Sixes is still high. Winter steelhead also are being caught on the lower Rogue River, primarily by plunkers using Spin-N-Glos at Lobster Creek and Huntley Park.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com

At its December meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. One of the items of interest was to extend the locations and expand low-flow closure periods for rivers along the north and central coast. The changes will prohibit fishing in specific rivers due to drought conditions, to protect native fish populations through April 30, when flows fall below a certain level. Currently low-flow inland sport fishing regulations require the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine whether flows at any of the designated gauging stations are lower than the minimum flows specified for particular stream reaches; if CDFW determines the flows are below the minimum specifications, the regulation closes the stream reach to fishing for a specified period. Items unanimously approved and slated to go into effect Jan. 31, 2022, are:

• Extending the low-flow closure period to eight months for a different stretch of the Eel River as well as the Mad, Mattole, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen (currently Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, four months) to Sept. 1 through April 30.

• Adding a low-flow gear restriction from the mouth of the Eel River to Fulmor Road at its paved junction with the south bank of the Eel River. When a low-flow closure occurs in this section of the Eel, it will be closed to hook-and-line fishing; other legal fishing methods are allowed during this timeframe.

• Implementing a low-flow angling restriction on the section of the Eel River from the mouth to Fulmor Road at its paved junction with the south bank of the Eel River, Sept. 1 through April 30. The stream flow will be monitored as follows: Minimum Flow is 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia.

• Extending the low-flow closure period to eight months (currently Oct. 1 through March 31, six months) for the Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties coastal streams to Sept. 1 through April 30.

The major benefit under the proposed emergency action is additional protection for fish species (particularly steelhead and salmon) if drought conditions persist. CDFW also determined that low river flows will concentrate adult wild salmon and steelhead into shrinking pools of cold water making them easy prey for poachers, illegal angling methods such as snagging, increased hooking mortality due to legal catch and release angling targeting hatchery steelhead, as well as other human-related disturbances within their spawning streams

The low-flow restrictions give the department an option during drought conditions to close waters to angling to reduce the loss of adult fish. For more information, visit www.bit.ly/3EvoEQx.

Weather ahead
Following Tuesday’s showers, the next round of storms is forecast for Wednesday afternoon through most of the day Thursday. According to Alex Dodd of Eureka’s National Weather Service office, rainfall totals in the Smith basin will be 1 to 2 inches. In the Eel basin, we could see ¾ to 1.25 inches. “The next system will arrive on Friday and stick around through the day,” he said. “Snow levels will be much lower, and we’re looking at another 1 to 1.5 inches of rain near the Smith and a ½ to ¾ locally. Saturday through Monday will bring periods of heavy rain. The Smith will likely see 2 to 4 inches over the three-day period and the Eel will see 1.5 to 2 inches.”

Razor Clam fishery closes in Del Norte
In a press release issued on Dec. 16, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County following a recommendation from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which, in consultation with the California Department of Public Health, determined that the consumption of razor clams taken from Del Norte County poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure. The fishery in this area reopened on April 29, 2021 following a five-year closure. Early December sampling of razor clams from Crescent Beach in Crescent City found clams exceeding the current federal action level for domoic acid of greater than or equal to 20 parts per million. Health agencies will continue to monitor domoic acid in razor clams in Del Norte County. The closure will remain in place until I am notified by the public health agencies named above, that a health hazard regarding razor clams no longer exists.

Mattole River opens to fishing Jan. 1
The Mattole River will open to fishing Saturday, Jan. 1 from 200 yards upstream of its mouth to the confluence with Stanberry Creek. Only artificial lures may be used and barbless hooks are required. The Mattole is also regulated by low-flow closures, with a minimum flow of 320 cfs at the Petrolia gauging station.

The Rivers:
All North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen are open. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any river will be closed to fishing. The low-flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 822-3164. NOTE: Rivers will not automatically open to fishing once the minimum flows are reached. The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are closed until Jan. 1, 2022.

Mad
Tuesday’s rain showers put the Mad back on the rise and off color. It was fishable prior and a few steelhead were caught. Predicted to reach 11.3 feet on Thursday morning. Will likely remain dirty through the weekend.

Main stem Eel
Prior to Wednesday, the main stem was still big but the color was starting to turn somewhat green. It’s now back on the rise and forecast to reach 35,000 cfs early Friday.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork was fishable through Tuesday but it didn’t sound like many, if any, fish were caught. It’s still early for steelhead in numbers to be that high in the system. Predicted to blowout again on Thursday and won’t be in fishable shape through the weekend if the rain predictions come through.

Van Duzen
Like the South Fork, was in fishable shape through Tuesday but reports were hard to come by. Will be back on the rise Wednesday evening and forecast to reach 9,000 cfs on Thursday. If the rain comes as predicted, will be high and dirty through the weekend.

Smith
There are a few adult steelhead around right now, reports guide Mike Coopman. “There were quite a few half-pounders around last week but now we’re seeing mostly adults,” he said. “The river is supposed see a pretty significant rise later this week, so hopefully that will bring in some more fish.”

Chetco
Steelhead anglers should finally have good flows for drift boat fishing on the Chetco a couple days after Christmas, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “With recent high water, plunkers have been catching adult steelhead from Social Security Bar to Loeb Park,” he said. “A few steelhead also have been caught by drift boaters anchoring and running plugs. Flows reached 10,000 cfs last week and will approach 16,000 cfs the middle of this week but could be down to 4,000 cfs by Monday.

Elk/Sixes/Rogue According to Martin, salmon were caught over the weekend on the Elk and Sixes rivers. “The Sixes is blown out again, but the Elk could be in play by the weekend. Expect fresh kings through the end of the month. Plunkers using large Spin-N-Glos also have been catching some early adult winter steelhead on the lower Rogue.

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com

After a very wet weekend that saw all our coastal rivers receive a good soaking, fishable rivers should begin to come into play this week — at least a few of them. Both the Smith and Chetco rivers were high and off-color Tuesday, but that will soon change. They should come down to high-but-fishable levels in the next few days. In the Humboldt area, the South Fork Eel is probably the best bet for green water. After a bump in flows behind Wednesday’s rain, it’s forecast to be at a fishable height by the weekend. Water color could be an issue, however. Same holds true for the Van Duzen. The Mad River is currently high and muddy, and will likely stay that way for the foreseeable future. A few steelhead have already been caught on the Mad, which is encouraging. The SF Eel and Van Duzen haven’t seen many boats or anglers yet, but you can bet there are steelhead around. If you’re looking to get out of the house this weekend, you should be able to find a fishable river.

Weather ahead
The next storm system is slated to begin Wednesday and will stick around through the day Thursday. “Light showers are predicted for early Wednesday, with the bulk of the rain falling overnight,” said Josh Wood of Eureka’s National Weather Service office. “The rain will be widespread, with 1 to 2 inches possible from the Smith to the Eel basins. The next storm will arrive on Friday, with showers arriving in the Smith basin in the afternoon. Locally, most of the rain from this system will fall Saturday. The Smith basin could see ¾ to an inch in the higher elevations. In Humboldt, we’re likely to see a quarter to a half. More rain, with the potential for another inch, is forecast for Sunday into Monday.

Mad River Steelhead Derby Starts Dec. 18
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) is hosting its third annual Mad River Steelhead Derby from Dec. 18 through Feb. 28, 2022. Anglers must be signed up prior to Dec. 18 to be eligible to win cash and prizes. Only hatchery steelhead can be entered. The largest steelhead wins $500, second place $300 and third place $150. First place in the youth division (16 and under) will win a $175 RMI Outdoors gift card; second and third place finishers will win prizes to be announced. Anglers can sign up online at www.ncgasa.org or in person at RMI Outdoors. Part of the proceeds benefit the Mad River Steelhead Stewards volunteer angler’s broodstock collection program that works in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit www.madriversteelheadderby.com.

The Rivers:
As of Wednesday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen are open. The Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream is closed until Jan. 1 2022. The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2022. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any river will be closed to fishing. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is (707) 822-3164. NOTE: Rivers will not automatically open to fishing once the minimum flows are reached. The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are closed until Jan. 1, 2022.

Mad
The Mad is big and brown and sitting at eight feet and rising as of Wednesday. Predicted to hit 10.5 feet Thursday morning. With a couple more storm systems predicted for this week, it will be off color for the near future. It will need at least five to seven days of dry weather for it to turn green.

Main stem Eel
The main stem was sitting at 12,500 cubic feet per second Wednesday and beginning to rise. Predicted to peak at just over 25,000 cfs Thursday but will be on the drop through the weekend. Will need a solid week of dry weather to drop into fishable shape.

South Fork Eel
Was back on the rise Wednesday afternoon and predicted to reach 9,500 cfs on the Miranda gauge Thursday. It’s predicted to be down to a fishable height by Saturday, but the East Branch at Benbow could keep it off color. Conditions look to be much improved by Sunday.

Van Duzen
Flows were down to 850 cfs on Wednesday, but steady rain had it back on the rise. Forecast to reach 1,800 cfs on Thursday morning and then drop through mid-day Sunday. Will be at fishable flows by the weekend, but the water could off color.

Smith River
The Smith was under 10 feet on the Jed Smith gauge by mid-day Wednesday, A few boats were on the water battling windy conditions. The next rise is predicted for Thursday with the river on the drop Friday and Saturday. There should be some steelhead around as well as some late kings who will quickly make their way upriver.

Chetco
The Chetco River rose 8 feet between Saturday night and Sunday morning, giving a boost in flows that steelhead anglers have been waiting for. Flows jumped from 600 cfs to just under 10,000 cfs. As they drop this week, the river should be in prime shape for steelhead fishing. “Anything under 5,000 cfs is fishable for side-drifting, and 3,500 to 2,500 cfs are ideal,” said guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “If the early forecast is correct, we should have good fishing sometime this week. Steelhead were already in the river before the storm but low, clear water made fishing tough. It was difficult to get a good drift without spooking the steelhead holding in the shallow tailouts,” Martin said.

Elk/Sixes
The Elk River is expected to drop into fishable shape the middle of this week, while the Sixes is still high and muddy reports Martin. “After being too low to drift for more than three weeks, the Elk hit 5.7 feet on Sunday and was 5.2 feet Monday morning. Strong winds kept most anglers away on Monday, but the Elk will fish at 5 feet and is prime at 4 feet. Expect late fall kings on both river from now through Christmas.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com

Winter steelhead season hasn’t yet taken off on the North Coast but that will soon change. Numerous storm systems headed our way beginning this weekend should put all of the coastal rivers on the rise. According to the National Weather Service, more rain is in store for us most of next week, which will likely open up the rivers that had been closed to fishing due to low flows. Steady rain and pulse flows are just what we need to entice some steelhead from the salt. If the rains come as predicted, the Smith and Chetco should be in prime shape sometime next week.

The Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen and Mad will all see flows begin to rise either late in the weekend or early next week. The Mad opened back up on Wednesday and the southern rivers should open by early next week. Once all the rivers crest and begin to recede to fishable levels, we should see the first wave of winter steelhead. After a tough late-fall salmon season, seeing the rivers loaded with bright steelhead sure would be a welcome sight.

Weather ahead
Not much rain is in the forecast through Friday, with up to a couple tenths hitting the ground. But starting this weekend, we’ll begin to see a significant pattern change that should put a smile on steelhead angler faces. “It’s finally shaping up to what December should look like,” said Doug Boushey of Eureka’s National Weather Service office. “Saturday and into Sunday we could see up to an inch of rain. The forecast looks similar for Monday, with another inch possible. More systems are in the queue beginning Tuesday, but timing is a little more difficult. Through next Friday, we’re looking at possibly 5 to 6 inches of rain.”

Brookings update
Calm ocean conditions over the weekend and start of this week allowed boaters to get out of the Port of Brookings and get limits of rockfish with plenty of lingcod mixed in reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He said, “Fishing has been wide-open at the Point St. George Reef, with limits of lingcod and a nice grade of rockfish. The stormy weather that will give steelhead fishing a boost in the rivers next week will also sideline ocean anglers.”

Mad River Steelhead Derby Starts Dec. 18
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) is hosting its third annual Mad River Steelhead Derby from Dec. 18 through Feb. 28. Anglers must be signed up prior to Dec. 18 to be eligible to win cash and prizes. Only hatchery steelhead can be entered. The largest steelhead wins $500, second place $300 and third place $150. First place in the youth division (16 and under) will win a $175 RMI Outdoors gift card, second and third place finishers will win prizes to be announced. Anglers can sign up online at www.ncgasa.org or in person at RMI Outdoors. Part of the proceeds benefit the Mad River Steelhead Stewards volunteer angler’s broodstock collection program that works in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit www.madriversteelheaderby.com.

The Rivers:
Other than the Mad, Smith and main stem Eel, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the South Fork Eel, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen, were closed to fishing as of Wednesday. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone-recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. NOTE: Rivers will not automatically open to fishing once the minimum flows are reached. The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are closed until Jan. 1, 2022.

Mad
Opened back up on Wednesday, but flows are still low. Forecast to reach 9.4 feet following the rain this weekend. Will likely be off color next week.

Main stem Eel
Flows were under 900 cfs Thursday and it’s getting clear. Conditions will change Sunday with rain on the way. There have been a few adult steelhead already caught and we should see a few late kings arrive.

South Fork Eel
Closed to fishing as of Thursday but should open back up early next week, possibly Monday. Don’t expect green water until it comes down under 2,000 cfs

Van Duzen
Closed to fishing as of Thursday but will likely open back up on Monday following the weekend storms. Will be off color next week.

Smith
The Smith is low and clear, but remains open to fishing. Big changes are coming this weekend as the river is forecast to rise starting Saturday night. The Smith will likely be the hot spot next week, as it will be the first river to fish. Expect to see some late kings as well as the first wave of winter steelhead. As of Wednesday, flows were right around 860 cfs on the Jed Smith gauge.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
Rain is needed to kickstart steelhead season on the Chetco River, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “A few adult steelhead were caught last week by anglers side-drifting the lower river, but low flows are making fishing difficult,” he said. “Flows are below 700 cfs. Generally, anything below 1,500 cfs results in tough fishing, while ideal flows are 2,000 to 3,000 cfs. Rain this weekend could lead to perfect conditions next week. Expect a few late salmon, but the best bet will be early steelhead.”

According to Martin, the Elk and Sixes rivers are the best option for late-fall king salmon. “Fishing has been slow the past three weeks because of low flows. If this weekend’s rain materializes, expect decent salmon fishing early next week on both rivers. The Elk and Sixes are known to have the latest fall salmon runs on the Oregon Coast,” added Martin.

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.

With very little rain over the past couple weeks and the rivers on the drop, the end is in sight for the late, fall-run salmon season on the North Coast. The season has been somewhat of a disappointment to fishermen, as only a couple storms hit the coast and dropped enough rain to keep the Smith and Chetco up to ideal fishing levels. While the fishing window was short, that doesn’t necessarily mean the number of returning salmon was small. Even during the low-water conditions, salmon were seen making their way upriver on all our coastal streams.

On the other hand — as we flip the calendar one last time in 2021 to December — it’s transition time here on the coast. The majority of the salmon have reached their end destination and we now wait for the winter steelhead to make their way into the coastal rivers. All the rivers have seen a few adults push in, hopefully with plenty more right behind ’em. But don’t give up entirely on salmon just yet. The Smith, Chetco and the Eel should each see another spurt or two of fresh kings move in on the next substantial river rise.

Weekend marine forecast
The weekend marine forecast is looking good for offshore crabbing and possibly rockfish. As of Thursday, Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 7 feet at 13 seconds. Sunday is looking similar, with winds coming out of the north 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 6 feet at 11 seconds. 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. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Perigean spring tides coming this weekend
Perigean spring tides, the results of either a new or full moon, will be in effect beginning Dec. 3 through Dec. 6. The north spit tide gauge prediction is for a high tide of 8.5 feet at 10:05 a.m. Saturday morning and 8.7 feet at 10:48 a.m. Sunday. Minor coastal flooding is possible.

Weather ahead
According to Matthew Kidwell of Eureka’s National Weather Service office, this rest of this week is looking dry. “The next chance of rain is for Monday and Tuesday,” said Kidwell. “The Smith basin could see up to an inch of rain while Humboldt could see a half to three-quarters. Beginning Dec. 5, the forecast models are trending toward above normal precipitation.”

Humboldt Bay crabbing
Sport Crabbing inside Humboldt Bay is still really good according to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors in Eureka. He said, “The best spots have been the south bay towards the jetty as well as King Salmon. Guys running rings are doing well and getting easy limits. Squid and chicken seem to be the bait of choice,” Kelly added.

Mad River Steelhead Derby Starts Dec. 18
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) is hosting its third annual Mad River Steelhead Derby from Dec. 18 through Feb. 28. Anglers must be signed up prior to Dec. 18 to be eligible to win cash and prizes. Only hatchery steelhead can be entered. The largest steelhead wins $500, second place $300 and third place $150. First place in the youth division (16 and under) will win a $175 RMI Outdoors gift card, second and third place finishers will win prizes to be announced. Anglers can sign up online at www.ncgasa.org or in person at RMI Outdoors. Part of the proceeds benefit the Mad River Steelhead Stewards volunteer angler’s broodstock collection program that works in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit www.madriversteelheaderby.com.

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, the Mad, Van Duzen, Redwood Creek and the South Fork Eel were closed to fishing. All other North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith and main stem Eel, were open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone-recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are closed until Jan. 1, 2022.

Mad
Closed to fishing as of Thursday, Dec. 2.

Main stem Eel
Flows were down to 1,015 cubic feet per second Thursday and it’s getting clear. There are some coho around, but not many kings. The last push of kings should arrive after the next significant rainfall, as well as the first of the steelhead

South Fork Eel
Closed to fishing

Van Duzen
Closed to fishing as of Thursday, Dec. 2.

Redwood Creek
Closed to fishing

Lower Trinity
River conditions are excellent on the lower Trinity, and the river is loaded with half-pounders. The winter adult steelhead should start to show with the next rise in flows. The Lower Trinity closed to adult salmon retention as of Nov. 1. Downstream of the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road Bridge in Hawkins Bar is closed to fishing September 1 through December 31. As of Thursday, flows were nearing 1,125 cfs on the Hoopa gauge.

Smith
With no rain for a couple weeks, the Smith is low and clear, but remains open to fishing. Boat pressure has been light, as most guides have canceled their salmon trips due to the conditions and lack of fish. Winter steelhead should start to trickle in even during the low-water conditions. As of Wednesday, flows were right around 1,075 cubic feet per second on the Jed Smith gauge.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
Low water has slowed salmon fishing on the Chetco, Elk and Sixes rivers, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. He said, “The Chetco is still driftable but very few fresh salmon are still in the system. Expect a few new kings and some early steelhead after next week’s expected rain. An early December rain typically produces good fishing on the Elk and Sixes, especially after a few weeks of low water.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.

North Coast recreational Dungeness crabbers from Shelter Cove to Crescent City are enjoying one of the best seasons in recent memory. Since opening day, the crabs have been abundant and the meat content has been excellent. So good, in fact, that the commercial season has a solid chance of opening on time Dec. 1, barring any last-minute price disputes. Sport boats fishing out of Eureka are dropping pots anywhere between 80 to 130 feet on either side of the entrance, and are pulling easy limits, according to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “Both sides have been fishing well but the north might be slightly better,” he said. “We’ve been averaging about 13 keepers per pot and that’s with a lot of gear nearby. Bait jars stuffed with squid along with rockfish carcasses in the chew bags has been working well.” Not only is the offshore crabbing going strong, plenty of limits are coming out of Humboldt Bay. The best bite has been south near King Salmon away from the heavy currents coming from north bay. If you haven’t gotten your fill of the tasty crustaceans yet, you’ll want to do so before the commercial fleet hits the water next week.

Weekend Weather and Marine Forecast
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, we are looking dry through the weekend and into early next week. The next chance of rain is Dec. 1 but rainfall amounts are uncertain.

The weekend marine forecast is looking good for offshore crabbing and possibly rockfish. As of Wednesday, Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds up to 5 knots with west waves 7 feet at 13 seconds. Sunday is looking similar, with winds coming out of the north up to 5 knots with northwest waves 6 feet at 12 seconds. 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. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

CDFW releasing juvenile salmon saved from drought conditions
In a press release issued on Nov. 19, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has begun releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon into the Klamath River now that river conditions have improved with cooler temperatures and increased flows that give the young salmon their best chance at survival and reaching the Pacific Ocean.

More than 2 million baby Chinook salmon that were hatched in early 2021 at CDFW’s Iron Gate Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County were held over the summer at three different CDFW facilities, including 1 million fish trucked to the Trinity River Hatchery through Redding in triple-digit heat. All three groups of fish did exceptionally well over the summer and thrived despite challenging circumstances.

Drought conditions impacting the Klamath River – including a disease outbreak – would have killed about 90 percent of the young fish according to scientific projections, had those fish been released this past spring as is the standard practice. CDFW so far has released into the Klamath River the 1.1 million juvenile Chinook salmon held over the summer at the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery and at a nearby satellite facility at Fall Creek. Those releases provide room and sufficient water quality for the 1 million fish relocated to the Trinity River Hatchery to return to Iron Gate. This group has spent several weeks at Iron Gate to reacclimate to the Klamath River and will be released later this month. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/News/cdfw-saves-more-than-2-million-chinook-salmon-from-drought-begins-releasing-fish-into-klamath-river-as-conditions-improve

Eel River salmon returns
As of Nov. 14, a total of 364 Chinook salmon have entered the Van Arsdale fish count station, according to Andrew Anderson, an Aquatic Biologist with PG&E. Making up that total are 132 males, 146 females and 69 jacks. A total of 65 Chinook ascended the fish ladder in 2020. No steelhead yet but this is typical for Van Arsdale, located high in the Eel River Watershed. For more information, visit www.eelriver.org/the-eel-river/fish-count.

Nov. 26 and 27 free fish days in Oregon
ODFW 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 www.myodfw.com/articles/2021-free-fishing-days-and-events for more info.

The Oceans
Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, rock fishing is still going strong, with limits coming fairly easily. “Ling cod is a little tougher but if you can find them, they’re usually piled up together,” said Mitchell. “We’ve been bouncing around from the Old Man to Rogers; it’s pretty much the same everywhere. The crabbing is still good; we’re getting limits daily of quality crab.” The launch will be closed Tuesday through Thursday this week.

Crescent City
Ocean conditions were good on Monday, and there was quite a bit of effort on the rockfish according to Chis Hegnes of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “South Reef produced some really good ling fishing,” he said. “The crabbing is still really good. Boats have been doing well south in 40 feet of water and also above Battery Point Lighthouse in 120 to 140 feet of water.”

Brookings
Ocean fishing turned on over the weekend out of Brookings, and lingcod are now in shallow water, preparing to spawn reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Limits of rockfish have been quick, and anglers targeting lingcod with while herring or large jigs are doing well near Bird Island and House Rock,” he said. “The best fishing is in 40 to 60 feet of water. After unusually calm conditions for late November on Sunday and Monday, a bigger swell is expected the rest of the week. Conditions look decent for the weekend.”

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith, Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen are open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mattole River and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are closed until Jan. 1, 2022

Mad
The Mad is green and fishable, but still a little early for steelhead in big numbers. A few have reportedly been caught. There are some older salmon around. Expect the steelhead numbers to improve on the next significant rise.

Main stem Eel
Flows were down to 1,650 cubic feet per second on Wednesday and it’s getting clear. The king run is pretty much over for the year but there are some coho making their way through the lower river. More salmon should arrive after the next significant rainfall, as well as the first of the steelhead.

Van Duzen
Was down to 230 cubic feet per second on Wednesday. Will be low and clear until the next rain.

South Fork Eel
Low and clear conditions will persist until the next big rain. There are some coho making their way upstream and the steelhead should begin to trickle in mid-December.

Smith
The late-fall run of salmon is just about over on the Smith. Rain is needed to bring in the last of the salmon and to kickstart the steelhead run. Flows were down to 1,560 cfs on Wednesday and the river is low and clear. Roe under a float or back-bouncing the deeper holes are your best bet until we get some significant rainfall.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“Anglers on the Chetco are experiencing the in-between time for salmon and steelhead, as the fall salmon run is nearly over, and winter steelhead are still a few weeks away from catchable numbers,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “A few salmon are still being caught, but the overall action is slow. More fish could arrive after the next big rain, but steelhead catches will soon out-number salmon, and the best steelhead fishing won’t arrive until January.”

The Elk and Sixes are low, clear and slow according to Martin. “Don’t expect much action until a major rain,” he said. “Salmon fishing usually continues well through mid-December, but anglers need a boost in flows for a decent chance from the drift boats.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com

The surge in flows brought by the atmospheric river in late October was a blessing in so many ways. It put an end to another horrible fire season, began to fill our parched reservoirs, and created perfect river conditions for the late-run fall king salmon to make their way from the Pacific to their spawning grounds. On the flipside, it washed away hopes of a prolonged salmon season for us anglers. The Smith, Chetco, and Eel are all on the tail end of the runs that would typically still be going strong. Me personally, I’ll take an atmospheric river event any day if it means three to four years down the road our rivers will once again see healthy returns of salmon. So, as the salmon are taking care of business in their home tributaries, we’ll sit back and wait for signs of the impending winter steelhead run and know our salmon future looks a little brighter.

Weekend weather and marine forecast
According to Alex Dodd of Eureka’s National Weather Service office, we do have some rain in the forecast, but nothing significant. “We should see a small system move in Thursday evening, with showers lingering into Friday,” said Dodd. “Rainfall totals will be from a quarter to a half inch. After that, we’re looking dry through the weekend and into early next week. There’s a chance we’ll see a weak system arrive next Wednesday or Thursday.”

The weekend marine forecast is looking decent for offshore crabbing and possibly rockfish. As of Wednesday, Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 5 to 15 knots with northwest waves 8 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday is looking similar, with winds coming out of the northeast up to 5 knots with northwest waves 5 feet at 10 seconds. 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. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

The Oceans
Eureka
The Pacific halibut season came to a close Monday, and the fishing was good right up to the end. Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing spent a few hours on the halibut grounds getting limits for his crew. “The fish were all in the 15 to 18- pound range,” said Klassen. “It was a good way to end the season. The all-depths rockfish season has offered some good fishing too. We’ve been out a few days and had limits of mostly canaries and yellowtail, but the lingcod have been hard to come by. The crabbing has been very good. The crabs are a nice size, and they’re pretty full. On an overnight soak, pots are averaging 13 to 15 keepers in 80 to 120 feet of water.”

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, limits of rockfish, lingcod and crabs were fairly easy to come by this week. “The crabs aren’t huge, but they’re nice and full,” he said. “We fished a couple days up at Rodgers break and the rest down off Bear Harbor. Both locations produced really easy rockfish limits, but we had to work a little harder to get our lingcod.”

Brookings
“Nice weather over the weekend allowed Brookings boaters to venture across the bar for the first time in nearly a month,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod fishing was fair, but rockfish action was wide open in the Twin Rocks and House Rock area. Rougher weather returned on Monday and is expected through the week. Sport crabbing opens in the ocean off of Oregon on Dec. 1. Surfperch fishing has been slow.”

Mad River Steelhead Derby Starts Dec. 18
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) is hosting its third annual Mad River Steelhead Derby from Dec. 18 through Feb. 28. Anglers must be signed up prior to Dec. 18 to be eligible to win cash and prizes. Only hatchery steelhead can be entered. The largest steelhead wins $500, second place $300 and third place $150. First place in the youth division (16 and under) will win a $175 RMI Outdoors gift card, second and third place finishers will win prizes TBA. Anglers can sign up online at www.ncgasa.org or in person at RMI Outdoors. Part of the proceeds benefit the Mad River Steelhead Stewards volunteer angler’s broodstock collection program that works in concert with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit www.madriversteelheaderby.com 

The Rivers:
As of Friday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith, Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen are open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Mad
The Mad saw a slight bump in flows following Monday’s rain. Will be dropping the rest of the week and should be at a fishable level by the weekend.

Main Eel
The river is in perfect shape, but there aren’t many fish around. The bulk of the run has made its way upriver, but a few kings should trickle in. Conditions look good through the weekend.

Van Duzen
Was down to 327 cubic feet per second on Friday. Will be low and clear until the next rain.

South Fork Eel
Was in perfect shape last weekend, but only a handful of kings were caught. Some coho have started to show. Will also be low and clear through the weekend.

Smith
The Smith has been running low and clear, but did receive a bump in flows following Monday’s rain. Another slight increase is forecast for Friday, but the river will likely remain clear. The fishing has been very tough, with not many fish moving into the system, but the fish that are being caught have been nice ones. Fishing pressure has been very light.

Chetco
Salmon season is already tapering off on the Chetco, as the prolonged high water allowed much of this year’s run to shoot upstream to spawn reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. He said, “Fishing has been fair at best since the river dropped back into shape the end of last week,” he said. “Salmon will continue to trickle in each day, but with higher flows, those fish may not spend much time in the lower river. Some nice kings have been caught, with a few topping 50 pounds reported last week.”

Elk/Sixes
According to Martin, the Elk and Sixes fished well early last week while the Chetco was blown out. “Decent numbers of hatchery fish moved into the Elk, where wild kings must be released,” he said. “The Sixes has been a good bet as well. Both rivers can be tough to fish during lower flows, as expected this week. Salmon season is finished on the Rogue, while steelhead have yet to arrive. Except for a few half-pounders in the Agness area, the Rogue is slow. Expect winter steelhead to arrive by mid-December.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.

An excellent start to sport crab season

In a typical year, the sport crab season can go one of two ways. If the crabs are plentiful, the meat content is usually on the lighter side. If there are fewer crabs around, they are typically fuller and in better shape. This is all due to their food source — more crabs means smaller shares of food, while fewer crabs usually means plenty of food to go around. Five days into the season, it’s looking like we may have both quality and abundance. Last Saturday’s opener produced limits of big, healthy crabs both offshore and inshore.

Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing fished the opener and reports the crabs are in good shape, and there seem to be quite a few of them. “After an overnight soak on Saturday, we averaged about 12 to 22 keepers per pot Sunday,” said Klassen. Though not official, the quality testing shows the crabs out of Eureka at 22.7 percent. A typical year will find the meat content at around 20 percent, with the theory being that crabs will add one percent of meat a week and reach the 25 percent mark for the commercial opener of Dec. 1.

According to Klassen, both the north and south sides outside of Humboldt Bay fished well. “Pots dropped in 80 to 130 feet did well,” he added.

Crabbing in Humboldt Bay was also excellent, with plenty of limits reported. Up in Trinidad, the kayaks and small boats reported quick limits of crabs on very short soaks.

Reminder: CDFW strongly encourages anglers to follow the Best Fishing Practices Guide developed by the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group. Voluntary actions anglers can employ include keeping the line between the pot and main buoy taught and vertical, reducing the amount of vertical line at the surface, avoiding setting gear in the vicinity of whales and turtles, and marking gear consistent with regulations. Best Fishing Practices Guide can be found here: www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195428&inline

Weekend weather and forecast
According to Scott Carroll of Eureka’s National Weather Service office, we’re looking at a fairly dry week. “Very light rain is in the forecast for Wednesday and it doesn’t look like it will affect any river levels,” he said. “After that, we’re looking mostly dry the rest of the week and through the weekend. The next chance of rain will be Monday.”

The weekend marine forecast is looking good for offshore crabbing, rockfish and halibut, with very little wind in the forecast. As of Tuesday, Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds up to 5 knots with west waves 6 feet at 11 seconds. Sunday is looking similar, with winds coming out of the northwest up to 5 knots with west waves 5 feet at 13 seconds. 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. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Pacific halibut closing Nov. 15
The Pacific halibut season is scheduled to close Nov, 15. As of Oct. 31, the quota stands at 30,602 pounds against the 39,260 quota. The season reopened Sept. 3 and was slated to close until the quota was reached or until Nov. 3, whichever is earlier. For more info, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/pacific-halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking

The Rivers:
As of Wednesday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith, Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen are open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Mad River
The Mad was off color all week after peaking at 2,900 cfs Tuesday and will remain that way through the weekend. Predicted to be on the drop through the weekend.

Main Eel
The river blew out on Tuesday, but is dropping quickly. Predicted to be around 4,900 cfs by Saturday and will probably be off color.

Van Duzen
Hit 3,850 cfs on Tuesday, but was already under 1,500 cfs by Wednesday afternoon. Should be at a fishable level by the weekend, but may be off color.

South Fork Eel
Reached 5,300 cfs on Tuesday evening, but predicted to drop quickly. Should be fishable by the weekend, especially the upper sections.

Smith River
The Smith blew out Tuesday but was back into fishable shape Wednesday. Scores over the weekend weren’t great, with just a handful of fish caught each day. Boats are spread from the forks to the outfitters. Hopefully the latest rise will bring in some new fish. A few coho have been caught, which typically means the king run is getting close to the end.

Chetco River
The Chetco River fished well last week before blowing out with the latest series of storms, according to Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. He said, “After being high and muddy all weekend, the river is expected to be back in shape the second half of this week. A nice mix of wild and hatchery kings have been spread throughout the river. Now that low-flow regulations have been lifted, anglers can back-bounce or run plugs with treble hooks.”

Elk/Sixes Rivers
With the high water over the weekend, the Elk and Sixes were in good shape for salmon, reports Martin. “Action has been fair, with good numbers of hatchery kings on both rivers. All wild adult kings must be released on the Elk. Flows reached 8.5 feet on the Elk Thursday, and were down to 5.7 feet Friday. Saturday and Sunday were prime. The Sixes has been fishing since Sunday. Both could be very low and clear by this weekend.”

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.

One of the most popular fisheries on the North Coast almost didn’t happen. It was a tense few days waiting to hear if the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife would delay the sport Dungeness crab opener due to presence of humpback whales and leatherback sea turtles, and the potential for entanglement from trap gear. Turns out, we’re whale and turtle free — for now. The CDFW sent word Monday that our season will open as scheduled Saturday. Other ports weren’t so lucky. Fishing Zones 3 and 4, (from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line south to Lopez Point) will be temporarily restricted when the season opens Nov. 6 due to the presence of humpback whales and turtles.

The season’s first traps can legally be deployed at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning. Anglers, weather permitting, will get their first peek into the health and weight of this season’s crop as the pre-season quality tests have not taken place or the results have yet to be made public. One thing we do know is the domoic acid levels shouldn’t be an issue. Tests conducted in Eureka, Trinidad and Crescent City all came back clean.

The season runs from Saturday, Nov. 6 through July 30, 2022. The minimum size is 5 ¾ inches measured by the shortest distance through the body from edge of shell to edge of shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines). The limit is 10 and a valid California sport fishing license is required along with the new annual crab trap validation ($2.42). 

Recreational crab regulation changes for 2021
The California Fish and Game Commission adopted new regulations for the recreational crab fishery in 2021. The revised regulations include the following new requirements when fishing with crab traps:

• All crab traps must be marked with specific sized buoys. The Main Buoy must be at least 5” diameter and 11” in length with an additional Red Marker Buoy that is 3” in diameter and 5” in length, attached to main buoy with 3’ of line or less.
• Crab traps must be raised, cleaned and emptied (serviced) at intervals not to exceed 9 days. Gear must be removed when you no longer intend to fish or you are unable to service at least every 9 days.
• Individuals who use a crab trap are required to purchase an annual $2.42 trap validation this season. This fee does not apply to other methods of take.
• Every individual may use up to 10 traps and service 10 additional traps with written permission from the operator of the trap.

For more information on the new regulations, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Whale-Safe-Fisheries

Recreational take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is not affected by the temporary trap restriction and is allowed statewide beginning Nov. 6.

Weekend Marine Forecast
Ocean conditions don’t look good for Saturday’s crab opener. As of Thursday, elevated seas are in the weekend forecast. Saturday’s forecast is calling for southwest winds 5 to 10 knots with west waves 10 feet at 13 seconds. Winds will ease slightly Sunday, coming out of the southeast 5 to 10 knots with west waves 11 feet at 12 seconds. 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. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Weekend Tides – Humboldt Bay

• Sat., Nov. 6: high: 1:53 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.; low: 7:09 a.m. and 8:05 p.m.

Standard time begins at 2:00 a.m. Sunday

• Sun., Nov. 7: high: 1:48 a.m. and 12:54 p.m.; low: 6:56 a.m. and 7:55 p.m.

Top crabbing locations
If you’re planning on heading offshore out of Eureka and leaving pots overnight, your best bet is to start setting gear in 100 to 150 feet of water. Historically, crabs tend to be in deeper water at the beginning of the season and move in toward the beach later in the year. If you’re soaking for just a few hours and don’t have the equipment to go deep, dropping pots just outside the entrance in 50 feet is a good option.

If you don’t have means to head offshore, you can still find plenty of crab. One of the top spots to soak a few rings is Crab Park, located at the end of Cannibal Island Road in Loleta. There’s access to launch a kayak or canoe in the estuary of the Eel River. You can also launch your boat at Pedrazzini Park at the end of Cock Robin Island Road and make your way up the estuary towards the mouth of the Eel.

Humboldt Bay also has a few good locations to catch some crab. Out in front of the PG&E plant is a good spot as well as the flat off of the South Jetty parking lot. Another top location is either side of the channel leading into the South Bay. Up north, inside Trinidad Harbor is another popular spot among the locals. You can launch your small boat, kayak or canoe right off the beach and head out to Prisoner Rock, where the bottom is sandy and 40 to 50-ft deep. Launching here requires a relatively calm ocean, which doesn’t look to be the case for the weekend.

The Oceans:
Eureka
Calm seas on Sunday allowed boats to head offshore in search of Halibut. Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing was one of the few boats out and reports the fishing was pretty good. “The Halibut were still in the same general area,” he said. “We caught our fish in roughly 250 feet of water around the 51-line.”

Shelter Cove
Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing was able to get on the water a few days last week in between storms. He said, “The few days we made it out we fished rockfish and salmon. We had limits of rockfish and lingcod each day around the Old Man and averaged a fish per rod on the salmon in about a half-day’s effort.” Salmon season is closed as of Nov. 1.

North Coast all-depth recreational fishery underway
The North Coast all-depth recreational fishery began Nov. 1. The all-depth fishery will take place only in November and December, and only north of Point Arena. The newly open areas will allow anglers to target groundfish species in the midwater column, such as widow and yellowtail rockfish, as well as species found on the bottom. There are no special gear requirements, though unless otherwise specified, regulations require anglers to use not more than two hooks and one line to target groundfish. All other season dates, bag limits, size limits and other special area closures still apply. For more information regarding groundfish regulations, management and fish identification tools, please visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary

The Rivers:
As of Wednesday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith, Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen are open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Mad River
The Mad was off color all week and will remain that way through the weekend. Predicted to rise on Thursday afternoon and again on Saturday. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/madStages.html

Main Eel
Predicted to peak at nearly 9,000 cfs Friday afternoon and will be on the drop through the weekend. Barring any rain next week, could be fishable by late next week. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Van Duzen
Forecast to reach 2,000 cfs on Thursday afternoon. A similar rise is predicted for Saturday, which will likely keep it off color until early next week. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

South Fork Eel
Predicted to hit 4,100 cfs on the Miranda gauge on Thursday evening. Forecast to be at a fishable level by the weekend. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Smith River
Over the weekend, we were seeing between four to eight hookups per day, reports guide Mike Coopman. “Fishing was tougher on Tuesday,” he said. “The rain Monday and the subsequent rise overnight may have pushed a lot of the fish upriver. We have another good rise coming later in the week and hopefully that will bring in some fresh fish. There’s currently a mix of darker and fresh salmon in the river. There isn’t a lot of bigger fish so far, we’re seeing quite a few in the 12-pound range with the occasional bigger one.”

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
The Chetco was full of salmon after it dropped back into shape last week, with good fishing Friday and Saturday, and fair fishing on Sunday and Monday, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “A lot of the salmon that contributed to the hot action late in the week had moved upriver above Nook Bar by Sunday,” he said. “Fresh fish arrived in the tidewater on Saturday and produced wide-open action for a couple of guides who discovered the schools downstream of the takeout. Rain blew the river out Monday afternoon and although it will be fishable Wednesday, more high water is expected by Thursday.”
According to Martin, action has been fair at best on the Elk and Sixes, which generally are their best fishing in mid-November. “This week’s rain should bring in plenty of fresh kings,” added Martin. “The Rogue Bay is finished for the year, while steelhead won’t arrive until December.”

Klamath River Steelhead Tournament this Saturday
The 10th annual Klamath River Steelhead Tournament is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 6th. This is a nonprofit event with all proceeds going to the Happy Camp Athletics Department. The boat with the largest steelhead measured in length will win the tournament. The captain of the winning boat will receive the trophy.

Drift boats only (motors allowed) and bank fishing is allowed during the competition. You can fish any stretch of the river you like as long as you’re checked in by 7 a.m. and at the weigh in by 5 p.m.

Check in and weigh in will be at the River Park in Happy Camp, CA. Check in will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and weigh in will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. To check in, you need to report to the River Park to sign up before 8 a.m. You will need to register, get your playing card, take a team photo, and get a copy of the rules.

Each boat will need a tape measure, a camera to take pictures of fish, and the issued playing card received at check in. The issued card and tape measure must be clearly visible in the photograph of the winning fish to be considered and you must be physically present at the weigh before 5 p.m.  to qualify.

Shuttles will be available from Seattle Creek to Ferry Point and can be scheduled at check in and will cost $20.00 per vehicle. If you have any questions call 530-598-0530. For more information, visit 2021 Klamath River Steelhead Tournament

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com

Trying to decipher last week’s rain and river level predictions was not for the faint of heart. But when it was all said and done, all of the North Coast rivers got the flushing they desperately needed. Some rivers, especially to our south, went far beyond what was forecast and eventually hit flood stage. Coastal rivers from the Smith to the South Fork Eel mostly fell short of predictions, but are plum-full of water, nonetheless. Considering it’s still October, the future is looking bright.

As for fishing, the Smith was the only green river on the coast. The river opened to fishing Thursday but was on a steep rise for most of the day and night. Boats were on the water Friday but conditions weren’t great. By Saturday, the river had dropped and the fishing was much improved, with just about all the boats landing fish.

Looking toward the weekend, the Smith peaked Tuesday afternoon at 11.25 feet on the Jed Smith gauge. It’s predicted to be on a slow drop through the weekend and should have some fresh kings moving through. The Chetco will likely draw a crowd this weekend as the flows settle into the range of 3,000 cubic feet per second. For current Smith River conditions, visit www.cdec.water.ca.gov/river/smithStages.html. For the Chetco, visit www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=CHTO3.

Weather ahead
According to Jonathan Garner of Eureka’s National Weather Service office, after the storms clear out Wednesday, the next chance at rain will be Friday. “There is a chance of rain Friday and Saturday, but the amounts are uncertain,” he said. “It will be more hit and miss and we probably won’t see widespread rainfall.”

Ocean update
As of Oct. 19, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has projected 30,494 net pounds of Pacific halibut has been harvested. The Pacific halibut allocation for California is 39,260 pounds. The 2021 recreational Pacific halibut fishery reopened on Friday September 3 at 12:00 a.m. and will remain open until November 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. To view the latest catch projection information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Pacific-Halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking

The 2021 recreational Dungeness crab season is scheduled to open on Saturday November 6, 2021. To read about new crab trap regulations that go into effect on November 1, 2021, visit, www.cdfwmarine.wordpress.com/2021/09/24/new-trap-regulations-for-recreational-crabbing-in-california/

The North Coast all-depth recreational fishery will begin Nov. 1. The all-depth fishery will take place only in November and December, and only north of Point Arena. The newly open areas will allow anglers to target groundfish species in the midwater column, such as widow and yellowtail rockfish, as well as species found on the bottom. There are no special gear requirements, though unless otherwise specified, regulations require anglers to use not more than two hooks and one line to target groundfish. All other season dates, bag limits, size limits and other special area closures still apply. For more information regarding groundfish regulations, management and fish identification tools, please visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary

The Rivers:
As of Wednesday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures, including the Smith, Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek and Van Duzen are open to angling. Be sure and call the low-flow closure hotline at 822-3164 to determine if the river is open prior to fishing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will announce whether rivers will be open by a telephone recorded message each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Mad River
On the drop as of Thursday and flowing at 1,350 cfs. Should be at a fishable level by early next week. Current river conditions: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/madStages.html

Main Eel
Dropping quickly and forecasted to reach 4,100 cfs by Saturday. Should be turning green by the weekend or early next week. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Van Duzen
RiDropping slowly as of Thursday and forecast to hit 740 cfs by Saturday. Will be on a slow drop through the weekend and could be fishable. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

South Fork Eel
Probably the best opportunity for green water this weekend. Flowing at 1,400 cfs at Sylvandale Thursday, could be in good shape by the weekend. Water color will depend on the East Branch. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/eelStages.html

Smith River
The Smith fished well Saturday, with most boats getting limits of bright kings. Fishing was a little tougher Sunday, as the river was on the rise for most of the day. There are bright as well as dark salmon spread from the forks to the outfitters, but not in big numbers. Most of the fish are being caught on plugs but back-bouncing the deeper slots with roe has also produced. Conditions look good through the weekend. https://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/smithStages.html

Chetco River
High water has made salmon fishing tough on the Chetco, but flows will be close to ideal as the weekend approaches, reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. He said, “Salmon are spread throughout the system. Bobbers must still be used until Nov. 5, as ODFW said it is sticking with the published low-flow regulations. Last week’s brood stock seining for the Chetco hatchery program produced nearly 75 kings over two days. Some of the salmon were close to 40 pounds. Flows reached 8,000 cfs. Less than 4,000 is considered good, and anything between 1,500 and 2,500 cfs is prime. Catches during high water have been nearly a 50-50 split between hatchery and wild fish.”

Upper Trinity closed to the take of adult kings
In a press issued Oct. 20, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife projected the Upper Trinity River quota will have been met as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24. This triggers the closure of the adult fall-run Chinook salmon fishery on the Trinity River from the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West Bridge at Cedar Flat.

The Lower Trinity River quota will be met as of 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. This triggers the closure of the adult fall-run Chinook salmon fishery on the Trinity River from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River. Both sectors will remain open for fishing and the harvest of jack Chinook salmon less than or equal to 23 inches. For more information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/News/trinity-river-adult-chinook-salmon-quota-met.

Willow Creek weir counts
The week ending Oct. 21, a total of 224 adult kings were counted at the Willow Creek weir. The jack count for the week was 46. For the season to date, 3,367 (adults and jacks) have been counted, including both hatchery and wild. The totals are the highest dating back to 2004.

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 www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com