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Last Friday and Saturday produced some of the best ocean sport salmon fishing we’ve seen in years — or maybe ever. It was nearly impossible not to get limits if you were anywhere near the right spot. And then the winds blew in and the seas turned rough, keeping the fleet tied up Sunday and Monday. Ocean conditions were much improved Tuesday, the last day of salmon season until Aug. 1., and the small fleet made the run to the last known location of a large school of kings, hoping for the magic to strike again. And it did. The fish weren’t in that exact location but they didn’t go far. After a little scouting and the schools located, it was whack and stack. What a way to end the first half. So now with salmon closed for a couple months, the focus will be squarely on the white meat variety: Pacific halibut and rockfish. 

Weekend marine forecast
Ocean conditions look excellent through the work week before the wind picks Saturday. Friday’s forecast calls for winds out of the southwest up to 5 knots and waves west 4 feet at 11 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 18 seconds. Saturday is looking a little rougher, with south winds 10 to 20 knots and waves south 5 feet at five seconds and southwest 2 feet at 17 seconds. Sunday looks a little better, with southwest winds 5 to 10 knots and west waves 5 feet at eight seconds and southwest 2 feet at 16 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.

Ruth Lake Bass tournament this Saturday
Fortuna Fire Department CO-2’s will be holding the annual “Paul Jadro Memorial Bass Tournament” on Saturday, June 4. Blast off will be at 5:45 a.m. or at first safe light, by draw. The one-day tournament event offers a first prize award of up to $1,000 with payout to 1 in 3 in addition to door prizes and sponsor products. The entry fee is $140 per team with a big fish buy in option of $10. The tournament is catch and release and all competitors must fish from boats that are required to have operational live wells on board. Life jackets are required. Check in at the Marina on Friday June 3 at 4:30-6 p.m. or Saturday 4-5 a.m. For more information, contact Cody Waddell at 707-496-1717.

Fish for free this weekend in Oregon
Oregon will be having a Free Fishing Weekend June 4 and 5. On those two days, no license, tag or endorsement is required to fish, crab or clam anywhere in Oregon. This applies only to waters already open to fishing, crabbing or clamming. All other regulations, such as bag limits, still apply. Visit www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2022/05_May/052622b.asp

Trinidad Big Fish and Photo Contest
Trinidad Harbor and the Seascape Pier are hosting a big fish (salmon and halibut) and photo contest starting June 1. Sign-ups are at the bait shop and are free. Fish must be caught by boats launched or moored at Trinidad Harbor. Halibut and/or salmon must be weighed and photographed by Harbor crew members. The contest ends when the 2022 quota is met. The Best Fish Photo can include lingcod, rockfish, salmon, halibut, and albacore. Send your photos to fishtrinidad22@gmail.com. Prizes include items from Redwood Coast Spreader Bars and Migration Clothing.

The Oceans:
Eureka
Boats looking for salmon got back on the water Tuesday after a couple days off due to rough seas and wind. The salmon were in roughly the same spot as when they left them biting Saturday. It was limit-style fishing for the fleet  that wanted another shot prior to the salmon season closing until Aug. 1. There were some Pacific halibut caught last Friday while conditions were ideal. Not many have ventured to the Cape but, with salmon closed, that will likely change. Ocean conditions look good through at least Friday.

Trinidad
The salmon bite was good over the holiday weekend out of Trinidad. According to Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters, there was a good bite on the 00 line in 240 feet of water on Friday. He said, “Some halibut were also caught, with most coming straight out in 250 to 275 feet of water. The rockfish bite remains excellent and the ling cod have showed up in good numbers. The crabbing is good, with limits or close to it for the boats fishing rings/nets.” Salmon season will close after May 31 and open again Aug. 1.

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport fishing, the salmon fishing has slowed down a little bit with boats getting about a fish and a half per rod. “There hasn’t been any concentration of fish,” said Mitchell. “Boats are getting them from the whistle to the Hat. You don’t have to go far for rockfish, it has been pretty good just south of the whistle to the Old Man.” Salmon season will run through July 4, reopening on July 22 and running through Sept. 5.

Crescent City
According to reports, the salmon bite went belly up on Tuesday after having consistent bite for the entire month of May. The water temperatures could have slowed it down, it was a chilly 48 degrees Tuesday. The rockfish bite remains excellent and there were some big lings to 30 pounds caught prior to the wind picking up. There have only been a few Pacific halibut caught but there should be much more effort now that salmon season has closed until Aug. 1.

Brookings
Lingcod and rockfish action has been good out of Brookings, while just a few Pacific halibut are being caught, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He said, “Catch rates for halibut improve in June and peak in July and August. Anchovies have arrived in the Port of Brookings and are thick outside the harbor, a good sign for the June 18 coho salmon and June 25 king salmon openers out of Brookings. The later-than-normal ocean salmon openers in Brookings coincide with what is typically the peak season. May and early June are closed on the Oregon side to reduce harvest of salmon bound for the Klamath River.”

Lower Rogue
Wild salmon can be kept on the Rogue River beginning June 1 according to Martin. “Although this year’s springer run has been much better than recent seasons, most of the spring kings have already moved through. High flows and cool water will allow late-arriving fish to blast through, keeping the summer bay fishery from heating up for several more weeks. Springers are now being caught in the upper river near Shady Cove.”

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 sitting on the sidelines for four days, the weather finally cooperated Monday and the Eureka boats were back on the water looking for kings. Salmon have been easy to come by this brief season and Monday proved no different. Quick limits were reported by the handful of boats. “The best bite was straight out front in 280 feet of water,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, who had full limits by 9:30 a.m. “The water was clear and the fish were coming shallow, right around 60 feet. There’s still some krill in the area as well as sardines. The fish are a decent size, with most around 24 inches and up with the occasional bigger one in the high teens.”

Offshore conditions are looking decent through Saturday for the holiday weekend but be aware of the minus tides that will begin Saturday. Sunday and Monday are the most dangerous as nearly 8 feet of water will be leaving the bay down to a minus 1-foot low when boats will be heading through the jaws.

Weekend marine forecast
After Wednesday, the north winds will begin to subside and the first part of the weekend is looking fishable. Friday, winds will be out of the west 5 to 10 knots and west waves 4 feet at nine seconds. Saturday is looking a little rougher with west winds 5 to 10 knots and west waves 7 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday, the wind will pick up and come out of the north 10 to 15 knots with west waves 9 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 office at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Ruth Lake Bass tournament coming June 4
Fortuna Fire Department CO-2’s will be holding the annual “Paul Jadro Memorial Bass Tournament” on Saturday, June 4. Blast off will be at 5:45 a.m. or at first safe light, by draw. The one-day tournament event offers a first prize award of up to $1,000 with payout to 1 in 3 in addition to door prizes and sponsor products. The entry fee is $140 per team with a big fish buy in option of $10. The tournament is catch and release and all competitors must fish from boats that are required to have operational live wells on board. Life jackets are required. Check in at the Marina on Friday June 3 at 4:30-6 p.m. or Saturday 4-5 a.m. For more information, contact Cody Waddell at 707-496-1717.

The beaches
The wind this weekend will make the beaches tough for anglers looking for redtail perch. The mouth of Elk River or King Salmon are two of the better options at the moment to get out of the wind. Fishing along the ocean beaches remains slow. The California halibut have yet to show in big numbers. A few have been caught near Fairhaven. That fishery should start to pick up soon.

The Oceans:
Eureka
It’s kind of been the same story on the salmon, 200 to 300 feet of water straight out front of Eureka, reports Tony Sepulveda of Shellback Sport Fishing. “Sardines and krill are holding the salmon in the area,” said Sepulveda. “Most mornings they start out shallow, 40 feet on the wire and biting deep sixes. As the day goes on, they head to the bottom. If you still need fish at noon, 200 feet on the wire is the ticket. We’ve had limits every day we fished them. Some days they come fast, others we’ve had to work at it a little. But they always seem to come.” The Pacific halibut bite has been a little challenging due to the hordes of small trash fish, reports Sepulveda. “There’s definitely still some nice fish to be caught though for those willing to put in the time.”

Trinidad
The rockfish bite in Trinidad continues to be excellent and you don’t need to travel far. Capt. Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters reports a red-hot bite right out front of Trinidad. “We’ve been staying close, right in front of Flat Iron and finding all the black rockfish we need,” said Wilson. “The crabbing is really good and they’re in great shape.” Ocean conditions look fishable for the week out of Trinidad, especially if you’re looking to fish half days.

Crescent City
The salmon bite continues to sizzle out of Crescent City, reports Britt Carson of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. He said, “Just about all the boats that went out Tuesday came back with limits. Most are starting around the red can towards South Reef and the Sisters. The fish are still shallow and watermelon Apexes and Cut Plugs are two of the top baits. The rockfish is still excellent, too, with both reefs and the Sisters producing limits of rockfish and lings. There hasn’t been much effort on Pacific halibut but that will likely change once salmon closes after next Tuesday.

Brookings
Lingcod and rockfish action was good last week and over the weekend out of Brookings, despite windy weather, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Big schools of fish are just outside the harbor, feeding on anchovies and herring near Chetco Point and the entrance buoys,” said Martin. “Wind chop has limited the opportunity to venture offshore for halibut, but calmer conditions are expected later this week. Salmon season opens June 18 for hatchery coho and June 25 for kings.”

River openings
Sections of the main Eel (South Fork to Cape Horn Dam), South Fork Eel (South Fork Eel River from mouth to Rattlesnake Creek) Van Duzen, Mad, Little River, Mattole and Smith will re-open on Saturday, May 28. On most rivers, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. For a complete list of river openings and regulations visit http://www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=190456&inline

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, spring salmon continue to make their way up the Rogue River, and are being caught all the way up to Shady Cove. “Fishing has been fair on the lower river, as the run begins to taper off, but overall fishing has been above average this season. The Chetco opened to trout fishing on Sunday, with decent success for sea-run cutthroat in the upper tidewater on small spinners.”

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

If you love to salmon fish and have yet to hit the ocean, you are seriously missing out. The number of fish swimming offshore of Eureka, and the entire North Coast for that matter, is impressive. It’s been at least 10 years since we’ve seen fishing this good so you’ll want to take advantage while the fish are here and the season is open. As of now, it’s looking like the only thing that will slow the action is the weather. Rough water kept the fleet tied up Tuesday and Thursday and Friday aren’t looking good either. And just a reminder, the first leg of the ocean salmon season in the KMZ will close after May 31. It will reopen on Aug. 1. So, if you haven’t gotten in on the action, you’ll want too soon. For more information on the ocean sport salmon season, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon#recreational.

Marine Forecast
Winds will diminish Wednesday before strengthening Thursday and Friday as high pressure builds in. Gale force gusts will be likely across the outer waters Thursday evening through Friday. As of Tuesday, Friday’s forecast is calling for north winds 15 to 25 knots with waves north 11 feet at ten seconds. Saturday, the winds will be out of the north 10 to 20 knots and waves will be out of the northwest 8 feet at eight seconds. Sunday, winds will be out of the north 10 to 15 knots with waves out of the north 6 feet at seven seconds and westerly 2 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.

Kids free fishing derby this weekend
On Saturday, May 21 all kids age 4 to 15 are invited to the Carrville Dredger Pond for the 48th annual Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby. The pond is located five miles north of the Trinity Center. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and the fishing derby will last until 11:00 a.m. Free fishing tackle will be provided to the first 100 kids registered. Kids must bring their own fishing poles and only bait will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded in many categories along with a grand prize.  Free hot dogs, chips, and drinks for everyone. For more information, call Pete at 530-598-2877.

The Oceans:
Eureka
Salmon fishing was wide-open over the weekend. According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, there’s a very large area of fish. “From the 46 to 50 lines in 240 to 300 feet of water, the area is full of salmon,” said Klassen. “It didn’t really seem to matter where you tried, there were fish all over. There were a bunch of sardines out there Monday, so if you found those schools the salmon came pretty easily. This is some of the best salmon fishing I’ve seen in quite a few years. The rockfish bite at Cape Mendocino is excellent, but we’ve only been able to get down there once. There have been some Pacific halibut caught, but the abundance of black cod is making it tough. You’re having to go through lots of bait to get to where the halibut are. The good news is the halibut are there.”

Trinidad
“We’re off to a good start to our ocean season,” said Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters. “The rockfish bite has been good right out front near Flat Iron. We’re catching mostly black rockfish, but we’ve got a few lings too. There hasn’t been much salmon effort yet, but a few have been caught to the north in 40 fathoms off of Patrick’s Point. The crabbing has been decent, we’re catching a few each trip.”

Shelter Cove
The weather has kept most of the boats off the water the last few days, reports Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “Over the weekend, the salmon fishing was pretty good with most boats getting limits,” said Mitchell. “Most of the effort has been right at the whistle buoy. The rockfish bite has been excellent as well. We’ve had good success in the Roger’s Break area boating quick limits of rockfish and lingcod to 30-pounds.”

Crescent City
Prior to the wind coming up, salmon limits continued to be the norm out of Crescent City. Straight out in 180 feet seemed to be a good starting point, but there’s a pretty big area of fish all the way to the Sisters. Most of the fish are coming shallow at 50 feet or less. There were some nice ones caught over the weekend, including one that weighed 27.5 pounds. The rockfish bite continues to be excellent. The Sisters and the South Reef are a couple popular locations along with the Point St. George Lighthouse.

Brookings
A few halibut are being caught out of Brookings but rough weather has limited the days when boats can get offshore, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod and rockfish action has been good,” said Martin. “With hot salmon fishing out of Crescent City, Brookings anglers are optimistic about the June 18 opener on the Oregon side of the border.”

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, spring salmon fishing remains good on the lower Rogue as the best run in years continues. “Guides are still getting two to four fish a day anchoring near the old mill and at Elephant Rock. Wild fish may be kept beginning June 1. With high flows on the river, bay trolling won’t begin anytime soon. The Chetco opens to fishing May 22, with tossing spinners the best bet for sea-run cutthroat trout.” 

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 sitting on the sidelines for nearly a week due to terrible ocean conditions, the Eureka fleet was finally back on the water Tuesday. And the salmon were waiting. Early reports indicate there’s a large area full of fish right out front of Eureka and most of the boats that ventured out scored limits. And it sounds like there are salmon up and down the coast. When the Shelter Cove boats have been able to launch, the salmon fishing has been lights out. The big surprise so far has been Crescent City. Limit-style fishing has been the norm since the opener, which hasn’t been the case in quite a few years. Though we’re only 10 days into the season, it’s already looking like we’re in for a good one.

Weekend marine forecast
Southerly winds will increase on Thursday ahead of an approach low pressure t rough, but the ocean should remain fishable. Friday, south winds will be 5 to 10 knots with west waves 6 feet at nine seconds. Saturday’s forecast is calling for southwest winds to 5 knots with westerly waves 5 feet at nine seconds. Sunday’s prediction is looking similar, with northwest winds 5 to 10 knots with westerly swells 6 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. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Kids free fishing derby coming May 21
On Saturday, May 21 2022 all kids age 4 to 15 are invited to the Carrville Dredger Pond for the 48th annual Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby. The pond is located five miles north of the Trinity Center. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and the fishing derby will last until 11:00 a.m. Free fishing tackle will be provided to the first 100 kids registered. Kids must bring their own fishing poles and only bait will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded in many categories along with a grand prize.  Free hot dogs, chips, and drinks for everyone. For more information, call Pete at 530-598-2877.

The beach/jetties
The wind has made the beaches tough for anglers looking for redtail perch. When the ocean is rough, the mouth of the Elk River or King Salmon are two of the better options to get out of the wind. Both can produce quality perch action. The north jetty has been closed due to construction, and the wind has slowed the action at the south. A few black rockfish are being caught along with the occasional keeper lingcod. Half-ounce jig heads with four to five inch swimbaits have been a solid producer.

The Oceans:
Eureka
After a week of rough weather, the seas finally calmed down and the boats were back on the water Tuesday. And the salmon were there and in a biting mood. According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, there was a pretty large area of fish. “Most of the boats did well between the 44 and 49-lines from 200 to 250 feet of water,” said Klassen. “There were some birds and bait, but not a ton. There were some whales in the area however. The fish were averaging about 8 pounds but some bigger fish were caught.”

Trinidad
Not much in the way of effort or fish reports out of Trinidad due to the ocean conditions. Just a reminder, the launch will be in service and launching boats at 6 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. They will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Cost to launch is $45. Call 677-3625 for more information.

Shelter Cove
Ocean conditions have improved this week, which should put some more boats on the water. Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing ventured out in rough conditions last week and reports a pretty good salmon bite. “We were the only boat out on Friday in very sloppy conditions but managed to get boat limits of salmon to 15-pounds,” said Mitchell. “The rock fishing has been really good so far, with the lings being a little tougher to come by. Most of our effort has been around the Old Man.”

Crescent City
Abundant salmon limits were reported by the fleet Tuesday and Wednesday. Boats fishing near buoy 2 had the most action but there’s a wide area of fish all the way to the Sisters. Most of the fish are coming shallow, under 50-feet on the wire. Anchovies, SpinFish and Cut Plugs are all catching fish. The rockfish bite has been excellent as well with the South Reef and Sisters being a couple of the top spots.

Brookings
Rough weather sidelined the Brookings fleet most of last week, but conditions look good this week, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He said, “With high water in the Chetco, the best fishing will be north of Chetco Point. No halibut have been reported yet but smaller swells the middle of this week will allow boats to get to the more productive areas. Ocean salmon season opens June 18 out of Brookings.”

Lower Rogue
“Spring salmon fishing continues to be good on the lower Rogue River, even with the high, muddy water over the weekend,” said Martin. “Lots of hatchery springers are being caught by anglers fishing anchovies and spinner blades from anchored boats or Brad’s plug cut lures of 3.5 MagLips from shore. Conditions should be prime this week as the river drops.”

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 no advance scouting, the dozen or so Eureka boats struggled to find schools of salmon during Sunday’s opener. In a typical year, we’ll see rockfish and Pacific halibut open a few weeks prior to salmon, giving anglers some clues on where the bait is stockpiled and where the birds are spending their time. But this year, there was no time on the water prior to the opener, and the boats were at somewhat of a disadvantage. The weather also played a role. Swells were too large for boats to travel far and look for fish. Despite all that, anglers caught some salmon. The few charters who ventured out all caught a few. This is really encouraging to see fish here this early in the season. Once the weather cooperates, it should be game on.

Weekend marine forecast
Ocean conditions don’t look great for the rest of the week and weekend. As of Wednesday afternoon, Friday’s forecast is calling for south winds 15 to 20 knots and waves southwest 7 feet at seven seconds and west 8 feet at 15 seconds. Saturday’s forecast is calling for northwest winds at 5 to 10 knots and west waves 11 feet at 12 seconds. Sunday looks slightly worse, with 10 to 15 knot winds coming out of the west and west waves 11 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. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Sport-Harvested Mussels quarantined
In a press release issued on April 26, The California Department of Public Health announced the annual quarantine of sport-harvested mussels gathered along the California coast. The quarantine began May 1 and applies to all species of mussels that are recreationally harvested along the California coast, including all bays and estuaries. The quarantine is in place to protect the public against poisoning that can lead to serious illness, including coma and death. The quarantine is designed to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning, also known as amnesic shellfish poisoning, in people who might otherwise consume sport-harvested mussels. Both of these syndromes are from naturally occurring toxins produced by certain phytoplankton consumed by shellfish, including mussels and clams. Cooking does not destroy the toxins. Commercially harvested shellfish are not included in the annual quarantine because all commercial harvesters in California are certified by CDPH and subject to strict testing requirements to ensure that all oysters, clams, and mussels entering the marketplace are safe. Visit www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/SN22-002.aspx for more information.

The Oceans:
Eureka
The weather did not do any favors for the boats that fished Sunday’s opener. The 9-foot swells kept the fleet close and didn’t allow for much looking around. “Most of the fish were straight out in 150 to 220 feet of water roughly a mile north and south of the entrance,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “But they were definitely spread out, no real schools. We didn’t see any edges, rips or color changes, which is what we’re looking for. The fish that were caught were full of crab larvae and krill. Ocean conditions don’t look great this week for halibut or rockfish, but we may be able to troll for salmon.”

Trinidad
Salmon, rockfish and Pacific halibut all opened Sunday. Reportedly, seven boats launched but caught no salmon. There were a few Pacific halibut landed, however. The Trinidad launch will be in service and launching boats at 6 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. It will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Cost to launch is $45.

Shelter Cove
The saltwater opener was good, according to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “The rockfish bit really well at the Hat on Sunday and around the whistle on Monday,” said Mitchell. “There were some salmon caught on Sunday around the bell buoy, with boats averaging a little less than a fish per rod. It was pretty rough on Monday and only four boats launched. I heard of four salmon caught.”

Crescent City
Crescent City was definitely the hot spot for salmon on the opener. Sport and charter boats reported quite a few limits, with most of the action straight out front just south of the second buoy. The fish were shallow, with most coming at 50 feet. Reportedly, more than 40 salmon were counted by Fish and Wildlife staff. Only a couple boats braved the conditions on Monday and again boated limits. The rockfish opener was also successful, with limits coming fairly easily. The ling bite was reportedly a little tougher.

Brookings
Pacific halibut season opened Sunday out of Brookings with fairly large swell and a strong wind drift, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Fishing was slow,” said Martin. “Lingcod fishing remains good along the near-shore reefs from Chetco Point to House Rock. Lings to 30 pounds were caught last week. Salmon won’t open until June 28 out of Brookings. Bottom fish anglers continue to encounter large numbers of kings in close, a promising sign for next month.”

The Rivers
Main Stem Eel
The main stem is in perfect shape, running at 3,200 cfs as of Wednesday at Scotia. There are some steelhead around, mostly downers. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Lower Rogue
The lower Rogue River continues to experience its best spring chinook run in at least 15 years reports Martin. “Hatchery and wild springers are being caught by boaters on anchor as well as plunkers fishing Spin-N-Glos from the gravel bars at Huntley Park and Lobster Creek. Only hatchery springers may be kept. Wild salmon can be kept beginning June 1.”

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 Super Bowl of saltwater sport fishing will take place this Sunday on the North Coast as salmon, rockfish and Pacific halibut are all set to open. It’s pretty rare for the big three to all open on the same day, and there’s a ton of excitement around the docks. And it’s looking like the key marine factors are lining up. The water temperatures off Eureka are right around 51 to 52 degrees, perfect for salmon. The recent north winds have spurred the ocean upwelling, kicking the food chain into high gear. The tide will bottom out when most boats are heading out, making for an easier bar crossing. And as of Wednesday, for 10 miles offshore, winds will be out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots with waves 7 feet at 11 seconds (will likely change). All that’s left to do now is find the fish.

May 1 openers:

Salmon: Our 2022 ocean sport salmon season will open this Sunday and run through May 31. The season will open back up Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 5. It will be open from the Oregon-California border south to the 40°10’ line (near Cape Mendocino), (Klamath Management Zone). Fishing is allowed seven days per week for all salmon except coho, two fish per day and a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length. The possession limit is no more than two daily bag limits in possession while on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit. No salmon punch card is required for ocean salmon fishing. The sport season from the 40°10’ line to Point Arena, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, will also open May 1 and run through July 4. It will reopen July 22 and run through Sept. 5. For complete ocean salmon regulations, please visit the Ocean Salmon webpage at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at 576-3429.

Pacific Halibut: The 2022 Pacific halibut season will run from May 1 to Nov. 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2022 quota for the California sport fishery is 38,740 pounds — approximately the same as the 2021 quota. CDFW will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on the CDFW Pacific halibut webpage, www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/pacific-halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking. The limit remains at one, with no size restrictions. No more than one line with two hooks attached can be used.

Rockfish: The boat-based rockfish season in the Northern Management Area, which runs from the California-Oregon border to the 40°10′ North latitude (near Cape Mendocino), will run through Oct. 31 within 180 feet. From Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, rockfish may be taken at any depth.

New sport rockfish regulations for 2022
In December of 2021, CDFW announced multiple changes to the sport rockfish regulations starting in 2022. Changes to the sub-bag limits within the 10-fish daily Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling (RCG) complex bag and possession limit include:

• A decrease to the statewide sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish from five to four fish
• A new statewide sub-bag limit for quillback rockfish of one fish
• A new statewide sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish

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

Important reminder:
When fishing for halibut, rockfish and salmon, or any combination of the three, the more restrictive gear and depth restrictions apply. When targeting salmon, or once salmon are aboard and in possession, anglers are limited to using barbless hooks (barbless circle hooks if fishing south of Horse Mountain) when fishing for other species.

When targeting rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod, or once any of these species are aboard and in possession, anglers are limited to fishing in waters shallower than 180 feet when fishing for other species.

Humboldt Bay tide
Sunday May 1: High: 12:22 a.m. (6.9 feet), Low: 7:04 a.m. (-0.7 feet) and High 1:36 p.m. (5.4 feet), Low 6:47 p.m. (2.2 feet)

Trinidad launch ready to go
The Trinidad launch will be in service and launching boats beginning Sunday, May 1 at 6 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Cost to launch is $45. Call 677-3625 for more information.

Brookings ocean update
“Calmer ocean conditions allowed anglers to get out of Brookings over the weekend,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Rock fishing has been good, while lingcod action has been fair because of bigger swells. Calmer weather is expected later this week. Sunday’s halibut opener out of Brookings should be good, with light winds and a smaller swell expected. Most halibut are caught in 180 to 220 feet straight out from the harbor. Salmon season won’t open until June 18 out of Brookings.”

The Rivers
Main Stem Eel
The main stem is dropping back into shape, flowing at 5,800 cubic feet per second as of Wednesday at Scotia. It should be fishable by the weekend. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Smith
The Smith River from its mouth to the confluence of the Middle and South Forks; Middle Fork Smith River from mouth to Patrick Creek; South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craigs Creek to Jones Creek, will close after Saturday, April 30.

Lower Rogue
Spring salmon fishing has kicked into high gear on the lower Rogue River, with guides getting two to four kings a day reports Martin. “About half of the springers being caught are hatchery fish,” said Martin. “It’s been the best springer fishing in several years. Good flows this week should continue to pull in new salmon from the ocean. Anchovies and spinner blades have been the best bait.”

Kenny Priest (he/him) 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 falling throughout our region from January to March, most of us were already preparing for summer. However, the April showers hitting the coast are providing a second winter. These rains will definitely impact the health of future salmon and steelhead runs, which will likely be stronger a few years down the road because of it.

First off, the late winter and spring rains will benefit the next run of adult fish moving upriver, mainly spring salmon and summer steelhead. It may also increase the survival rates for recently spawned adult steelhead, or kelts, as well as salmon and steelhead fry and smolts that are all making their way downstream to the estuaries and ocean. The high, muddy water allows the fish to make their way downriver with less risk of predation. The lack of fishing pressure will also help the kelts make their way back downriver successfully. Heavy spring rains should, in many cases, also result in higher flows and improved water quality later in the summer.

In most cases, the high flows also contribute to the health and complexity of the river’s estuary. A nutrient-rich estuary offers the young fish ample sources of food, allowing them to grow to an optimal size before entering the ocean. This greatly increases their chances of survival. A healthy estuary is also beneficial for the kelts, weak from their spawning journey, offering a safe haven for them prior to making their way back to the ocean.

With nature, it seems for every plus there’s also a minus. In the event of extremely high late-winter and spring flows, problems can also occur for fish. Without adequate freshwater and estuarine slack water habitat, the young fish can get washed downstream before they’re ready, putting them in harm’s way. Extremely high late-winter and early spring flows can also have a negative impact on late-spawning fish. Spawning areas known as “redds” can be scoured or the gravels within redds can be buried in fine sediment, preventing the young from emerging. After a few months of unseasonably dry weather, it’s a blessing to see the rivers running high and dirty. Hopefully our “second winter” will pay dividends in the future.

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions are looking good for the weekend, but starting out a little rough on Friday. Friday is calling for north winds 5 to 10 knots and west waves 12 feet at 15 seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the north 5 to 15 knots with 7-foot west swells at 13 seconds. Sunday is looking a little better with winds out of the north 5 to 10 knots with 3-foot swells at 5 seconds out of the northwest and west 8 feet at 18 seconds. These conditions can and will change. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com.

Pacific halibut season set
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced recently that the 2022 Pacific halibut season will run from May 1 to November 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2022 quota for the California sport fishery is 38,740 pounds – approximately the same as the 2021 quota. CDFW will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on the CDFW Pacific halibut webpage, www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/pacific-halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking. The limit remains at one, with no size restrictions. No more than one line with two hooks attached can be used.

Shelter Cove crab feed coming April 22
Gyppo Ale Mill on Friday April 22 is hosting a crab feed and silent auction for the Shelter Cove Fishing Preservation nonprofit organization. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and live music will be provided by the Breakers. Cost is $75 per person. For more information contact Jake Mitchell at 707-223-1600.

Brookings ocean update
“The ocean out of Brookings was wide open for lingcod and rockfish over the weekend,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Limits of lingcod for most charter boats from Twin rocks to Mack Arch. Stormy weather sidelined boats again on Monday, with rough conditions expected all week. Ocean coho season opens June 18, with kings allowed beginning June 25. Pacific halibut opens May 1.

Ruth Lake Bass tourney coming April 30
The Southern Trinity Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its 14th annual Ruth Lake Bass Tournament on Saturday, April 30. Blast off begins at 6:00 a.m. Entry fees are due April 29. Entries are $150 per team (includes Big Fish). First Place is $1,500 and second place is $1,000. Big Fish will win $100. One in five payback based on full slate of 40 boats. This is a catch and release tournament; live wells and life jackets are required. Check in is Friday at the marina at 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. or Saturday at 4:45 a.m. at the Marina parking lot. Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District is requiring that all boats be inspected for Quagga and Zebra mussels before launching. For more information, call RLCSD at 707-574-6332. For more info on the tournament, contact Doug Dinsmore at 707-499-8485.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco rivers are all closed to fishing.

Eel (main stem)
After peaking at nearly 20,000 cubic feet per second Sunday, the main is big and brown. With more rain on the way, it’s forecast for another big rise to 23,000 on the Scotia gauge by Friday morning. Needless to say, it will be blown out for some time. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through Sept. 30.

Smith River
With more rain in the forecast this week, another big rise is predicted for Thursday morning that could top 13 feet at Jed Smith. Flows will then drop and conditions are shaping up nicely for the weekend. This will likely flush the last of the spawned-out steelhead downriver and could bring in a few fresh ones. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
The best spring salmon fishing so far this season took place at the end of last week and over the weekend on the lower Rogue, reports Andy Martin of Wild River Fishing. “Guides were getting two to four springers a day, about half wild and half hatchery,” said Martin. “The river was still fishable after Monday’s rain but was still rising. Last week’s rain brought in big schools of spring kings.”

Kenny Priest (he/him) 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 a strong ocean abundance of Sacramento salmon and the Klamath numbers trending upward, North Coast sport salmon anglers were rewarded with a generous ocean salmon season. The season within the CA KMZ (Klamath Management Zone), which was adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council Monday, will open May 1 and run through May 31. It will reopen Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 5. June and July will be closed within the CA KMZ to mitigate impacts on the fall Klamath River kings, which continue to struggle. Fishing will be allowed seven days per week for all salmon except coho, with a limit of two fish per day and a minimum size of 20 inches total length for Chinook.

In the Fort Bragg sector, which includes Shelter Cove, the season will be open May 1 through July 4. It will reopen July 22 and run through Sept. 5 with a 20-inch minimum and a limit of two kings a day.

To the north in the Brookings area (OR KMZ), the Chinook season will open June 25 and run through Aug. 21. Fishing will be allowed seven days per week, two fish per day and a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length for Chinook.

Klamath/Trinity river quota update
Along with ocean salmon seasons up for final approval, the PFMC allocated 2,119 adult Chinook for the Klamath Basin quota. Bag and possession limits will be determined at the California Fish and Game Commission meeting April 20-21. The tribal allocation is 9,434 adult Klamath River fall salmon, split between the Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes.

“Critically dry” year designation for Trinity River
According to a press release issued April 8 by the Bureau of Reclamation, the lack of precipitation and snowpack in the Trinity Mountains this winter means the flow schedule for 2022 is scaled to a “critically dry” water year. Critically dry is one of five water year types used by the Trinity River Restoration Program to determine how much reservoir water will be released in support of the program’s goals to improve habitat for anadromous fish—fish that migrate to fresh water from salt water to spawn—like salmon and steelhead. This year marks the third critically dry year in the last five years for the Trinity watershed. The planned release schedule attempts to maximize benefits to the physical and biological character of the Trinity River, given the constraints of the limited amount of water available. This year’s flow schedule will begin April 15. Key dates and flow releases are:

• April 15-20: Increase daily average flows from 300 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cfs
• April 23: Flows decrease to 2,800 cfs
• April 24-May 13: Maintain flows between 1,800 to 2,000 cfs
• May 17: Return to 450 cfs summer baseflow, which continues until Sept. 30

Visitors near or on the river can expect river levels to increase during the flow releases and should take appropriate safety precautions. Landowners are advised to clear personal items from the floodplain prior to the releases. A daily schedule of flow releases is available at the program’s website www.trrp.net/restoration/flows/current/

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions are looking good for the weekend. Friday is calling for north winds 5 to 10 knots and north waves 4 feet at 8 seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the north up to 10 knots with 3-foot north swells at 5 seconds. Sunday is looking favorable as well with winds out of the southwest 5 to 15 knots with 4-foot swells at 8 seconds out of the southwest. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or http://www.windy.com.

CDFW restricts the use of traps for sport crabbing
In an April 13 press release, CDFW states they will be restricting the use of crab traps for the remainder of the recreational Dungeness crab fishing season. Recreational take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is not affected by the trap restriction. The trap restriction becomes effective at 7 p.m. on April 24, 2022, at which point the use and deployment of recreational crab traps shall be prohibited. This restriction is being implemented because of the unusually large number of humpback whales that have migrated back to California waters earlier than in previous years and because of several recent humpback whale entanglements involving California commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear and gear of unknown origin. This statewide trap restriction will help minimize risk of entanglement as humpback whales continue to return to forage in California waters during the spring and summer months. The season ends on July 30, 2022 in Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties and on June 30, 2022 in all other counties. For more information ,visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/cdfw-restricts-the-use-of-crab-traps-for-the-recreational-crab-fishery-to-minimize-risk-of-whale-entanglements

Brookings ocean update
Fishing has been good for lingcod and rockfish out of Brookings when the ocean has been flat reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He said, “Stormy weather this week gives way to calmer conditions beginning Friday. Lingcod are still in shallow water spawning. Whole herring or large scampi’s fished near Bird Island and Twin Rocks have been producing lingcod to 15 pounds, with an occasional fish to 20 pounds. Sport halibut opens May 1. Salmon season won’t start until late June out of Brookings.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco rivers are all closed to fishing.

Eel (main stem)
The main stem Eel is forecast for a very winter-like rise starting Thursday morning. Steady rain from Wednesday through Saturday is predicted to push flows to above 16,000 cfs at Scotia by Sunday morning. This will do wonders for the river, including getting the newly-hatched fry safely downstream. It will also provide ample water for the spawners to make their way to the ocean and will likely bring in quite a few fresh steelhead. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through Sept. 30.

Smith River
With steady rain predicted for the week and into the weekend, the Smith is forecast to reach some of the highest flows since early January. It’s predicted to peak at just over 10.7 feet (7,580 cfs) at Jed Smith on Saturday afternoon. This will likely flush the last of the spawned-out steelhead downriver and could bring in a few fresh ones. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
Spring salmon fishing remains slow on the lower Rogue River, but this week’s rain should trigger fish to move in from the ocean reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “April is prime time for springers, and the first big rain of the month usually starts the peak season for hatchery springers,” said Martin. “Anchoring close to shore with anchovies and spinner blades is the go-to method for spring salmon.”

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

Back in mid-March when the recreational salmon season alternatives were released to the public, it was a pleasant surprise to see some fairly generous season options on the table. And one of these options will be selected at the Pacific Fishery Management Council Meetings being held this week in Seattle. Currently, the three alternatives within the California KMZ, which runs from the Oregon-California border to latitude 40°10’ N and includes Humboldt County, are:

Alternative 1: May 1-31; Aug. 1-Sept. 5

Alternative 2: May 1-31; July 1-4; Aug. 1–31

Alternative 3: July 1–24

The recreational allocations, or quotas for the Klamath/Trinity are also tied to the three alternatives. For Alternative 1, the quota is expected to be 2,152, Alt 2 will be 2,125, and Alt 3 will be 2,546. The PFMC meetings will run from April 7-13 and will be live streamed starting April 8. To access the meetings, visit www.pcouncil.org/council_meeting/april-6-13-2022-council-meeting/.

Fish and Game Commission meeting coming April 20-21
The California Fish and Game Commission meeting will be held at Monterey County Fair & Event Center, Seaside Room 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey. You can also view the meeting at the Trinidad Rancheria, Administrative Office Conference Room 1 Cher-Ae Lane. The meeting will also be live streamed for viewing and listening purposes only. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. to adopt and discuss changes to the upcoming sport fishing seasons.

On the agenda, the commission will consider whether to make the emergency low-flow regulations, which were adopted in December, permanent as part of the upcoming sportfishing rulemaking. This includes 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. During this time period, the section will be closed to hook and line fishing until flows reach 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia.

Proposed changes to the Klamath River Basin sport fishing will also be discussed. For a complete agenda and comment submission, and viewing information, visit https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=199047&inline

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions don’t look promising for the weekend if you plan on fishing off the beach or jetties. Friday is calling for north winds 15 to 25 knots and north waves 9 feet at nine seconds and west 5 feet at 12 seconds. Winds are forecast to increase on Saturday, coming from the north 20 to 25 knots. Waves will be north 12 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday’s forecast is calling for north winds 10 to 20 knots with north waves 9 feet at nine 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. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Brookings ocean update
Rough ocean conditions have kept the Brookings fleet at the docks for the most part this past week reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Limits of rockfish are common on calm weather days, and lingcod are biting best when swells are below four feet,” Martin said. “Sport crabbing has been slow out of Brookings. Ocean salmon seasons will be finalized next week, with a June coho opener likely out of Brookings, and the bulk of the king season taking place in July.”

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco rivers are all closed to fishing.

Eel River (main stem)
As of Thursday, flows were right around 800 cfs at Scotia. There are a few fish around, the majority of which are downers. Fishing pressure is light, but anglers are getting a couple chances per trip. The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork is open to fishing all year. From April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

Smith River
The Smith went well overflow predictions, hitting 5,400 cfs Tuesday. Fishing reports are hard to come by as the pressure has been light. This big rise should have flushed the majority of spawners down and brought in the last of the fresh steelhead. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, a few spring salmon are being caught on the Rogue River but overall fishing has been slow. “A slight bump in flows early this week could draw more springers in from the ocean, where bottom fish anglers are encountering salmon fairly frequently between Brookings and Gold Beach. Water temperatures are an ideal 52 degrees on the lower Rogue, so salmon moving through should bite well. Steelhead fishing is slow on the lower Rogue and fair to good on the middle Rogue below Grants Pass.”

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 anglers just can’t catch a break. Thursday, March 31, will mark the end of another abnormal steelhead season here on the coast. While the fishing was excellent, the real story was the lack of rain. But if you’ve been fishing the North Coast rivers the last few years, you know there’s very little normal to our steelhead seasons anymore. Going back a few years, the 2019 season ended on a very wet note, which could have spurned this year’s solid return. During the peak of the 2020 steelhead season, we were at the height of a pandemic and were told to keep our distance from other anglers. And last year the steelhead didn’t bother to show up. This year, the fish arrived in good numbers but the water spigot went dry after mid-January. Honestly, I’m a little scared to see what next year’s season brings.

Now, as the calendar nears April, it’s time to switch gears and look toward the next angling opportunities. The rockfish and Pacific halibut openers are a month away, and there’s a good possibility ocean salmon will begin on May 1 as well. It’s also time to start thinking about spring salmon on the Klamath and the lower Rogue rivers. There are redtails to be had from all the local beaches and the lagoons are full of trout.

The Beach/Jetties
When the ocean’s been calm, the redtail perch action has been decent along the beaches. There are some spots that are typically better than others but you can catch them just about anywhere this time of the year. Conditions don’t look fishable for the weekend, with big swells and heavy winds in the forecast. Anglers are catching black rockfish and the occasional lingcod on the North Jetty. Fishing has been slower on the south side. Five to 6-inch Gulp jerk shads are a popular bait as well as smaller swimbaits. Egg sinkers or banana weights rigged with a herring also work well.

HASA Picnic coming April 9
The public is invited to the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers’ Picnic and Gear Swap/Sell. The fundraising barbecue will be held April 9 at Pierson Park in McKinleyville from 2 to 6 p.m. The cost is $10 per person or $20 for a family up to four. HASA will provide burgers, hot dogs and non-alcoholic drinks, and it will be pot luck on side dishes. Lunch will start at 3:30 p.m. HASA will provide tables but please bring your own chairs. There will be a few silent auction items and a door prize, and attendees are welcome to bring a table of spare fishing gear to sell or swap. Please RSVP to clderidder@hotmail.com by April 2 so organizers can determine food quantity. Please include your contact information so you can be notified of any changes.

The Rivers:
As a reminder, the South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek, and the Chetco will all close to fishing after March 31.

Eel River (main stem)
The Eel at Scotia went up to 1,400 cubic feet per second last Friday but has been steadily dropping since. As of Wednesday, it was down to 1,110 cfs. There are a few fish around, the majority of which will likely be downers. Fishing pressure is light, but anglers are getting a couple chances per day. The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork is open to fishing all year. From April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

The Smith
The Smith was flowing just above 1,000 cfs at Jed Smith as of Wednesday. The water is extremely clear and low. Not much in the way of fishing pressure, but a few fish are being caught. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Chetco/Rogue
“Steelhead season has come to an end on the Chetco River,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Fishing closes March 31, and reopens in late May. Overall, steelhead fishing was above-average this year, with plenty of fish, despite low water for much of the season. The large number of downrunners in recent weeks is a good indication of how successful this season’s spawner escapement was. The Elk and Sixes also close March 31.” Spring salmon fishing is still slow on the Rogue according to Martin. “A major rain is needed to jumpstart the action. During low-flow years, which this is turning out to be, springer fishing often is best in June, with early trolling action in the bay.

Brookings ocean report
According to Martin, fishing for lingcod and rockfish has been good out of Brookings, with limits of rockfish and limits or near limits of lingcod. “Calm weather over the weekend resulted in some of the best catch rates so far this year. Nearly every reef has fish on it right now. After windy weather much of this week, calmer conditions are expected for the weekend. Sport crabbing has been slow to fair.”

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