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This Saturday marks day one of our ocean sport fishing season on the North Coast as both rockfish and Pacific halibut will finally open, bringing with it tons of excitement, optimism and relief. Following a year we’d all like to forget, a little saltwater therapy sounds pretty relaxing. As anglers take to the ocean Saturday — weather and conditions permitting — the hope is all the negativity will slowly fade into the horizon, leaving only happy thoughts of big lings and barn door-sized halibut.

May 1 openers:

Pacific Halibut: The 2021 Pacific halibut fishery will open May 1 and run through Nov. 15, or until the quota is reached. There won’t be any in-season closures as was the case in 2019. The quota in 2021 will once again be 39,000 pounds. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will again 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 2021
In December of 2020, CDFW announced multiple changes to the sport rockfish regulations starting in 2021. Changes that pertain to the Northern Management area include:

• Elimination of sub-bag limits for black rockfish, canary rockfish and cabezon within the 10-fish rockfish, cabezon, and greenling (RCG) complex daily bag limit.
• A new sub-bag limit of five vermilion rockfish within the 10-fish RCG complex daily bag limit.

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 mgt. area, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary#north.

Important reminder:
When fishing for halibut and rockfish, the more restrictive gear and depth restrictions apply. 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 halibut.

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions for the weekend aren’t looking very favorable for boats heading offshore, especially out of Eureka. Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 10 to 20 knots with waves out of the north 8 feet at 7 seconds and northwest 3 feet at 18 seconds. Sunday is looking similiar, with winds out of the north 10 to 20 knots. Waves will be north 7 feet at 7 seconds and west 4 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.

Weekend tides – Humboldt Bay
For anglers who aren’t aware, extreme caution should always be used when crossing the bar. The combination of large swells and outgoing morning tides could make for a dangerous bar crossing. Saturday, 7 feet of water will be flowing out down to an -1.1. This could make for a dangerous bar crossing if the swells are large. If you’re planning on hitting the bar at daylight, always check the conditions first. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan.

Saturday May 1: High: 3:03 a.m. (7.6 feet), Low: 10:22 a.m. (-1.12 feet) and High 5:26 p.m. (5.4 feet), Low 10:05 p.m. (3.41 feet)

Sunday May 2: High: 3:58 a.m. (7.1 feet), Low: 11:23 a.m. (-.66 feet) and High 6:37 p.m. (5.4 feet), Low 11:19 p.m. (3.5 feet)

Trinidad launch ready to go
The Trinidad launch will be in service and launching boats beginning Saturday, May 1. Call 677-3625 for more information.

Brookings ocean update
Halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings. “With calm weather in the forecast, expectations are high,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod and rockfish action has been good out of Brookings, especially on calm weather days. Lings have started to move into deeper water. An abundance of anchovies close to shore has already drawn salmon into the shallows to feed. Charters released a handful of feeder kings the past week. Salmon season opens June 12 for coho and June 19 for Chinook out of Brookings.”

The Rivers
Main Stem Eel
The main stem Eel is still in fishable shape, but it’s clear. It was flowing at 1,300 cfs on the Scotia gauge as of Wednesday. Fishing reports have been hard to come by.

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 Friday, April 30.

Lower Rogue
Southern Oregon coastal rivers remain closed to fishing until May 22, except for the Rogue River, where spring salmon fishing remains dismal, reports Martin. “This year’s springer run has been disappointing so far, with only a handful of hatchery salmon caught,” Martin added.

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

Limited by a low-abundance forecast of Klamath River fall Chinook, North Coast recreational salmon anglers will have a little more than a month on the water this season. Management measures were designed to provide fishing opportunity for the more abundant Sacramento fall Chinook while reducing Klamath River impacts. Due to our proximity to the Klamath, this scenario never plays out well for our local fleet. Based on the 181,500 Klamath River kings forecasted to be swimming in the ocean, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) came up with a short 34-day season for the CA KMZ (Oregon-California border south to the 40°10’00” N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino). The CA KMZ recreational salmon season will open June 29 and continue through August 1.

Fishing will be allowed seven days per week for all salmon except coho, two fish per day and a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length for Chinook.

Note: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife would like to inform anglers of a change to the boundary line between the northern management areas effective this season. The line between the Fort Bragg and Klamath Management Zones has been moved five nautical miles north from Horse Mountain (40° 05’ 00” N. latitude) to 40° 10’ 00” N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino). This change was made in an effort to simplify fishing regulations by aligning the salmon management boundary line with the existing groundfish management boundary line.

With only 271,000 Sacramento fall Chinook said to be swimming in the ocean, the seasons for areas to our south will also face restrictions. The area from Horse Mountain south to Point Arena, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, will open June 29 as well, but will run through Oct. 31. The San Francisco area will open June 26 and also run through October. Typically these areas open to fishing in April but were pushed back this year to mitigate impacts on the fall Klamath River kings. Fishing will be allowed seven days per week for all salmon except coho, two fish per day and a minimum size limit of 20 inches total length for Chinook.

To the north in the Brookings area (OR KMZ), the Chinook season will open June 19 and run through Aug. 15. Fishing will be allowed seven days per week, two fish per day and a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length for Chinook. The hatchery coho season will begin June 12 and run through Aug. 28 or earlier if the 120,000 Cape Falcon to OR/CA border quota of coho is met. Fishing is allowed seven days per week. All coho must be fin clipped and a minimum of 16 inches.

Season dates, bag/possession limit information and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s ocean salmon web page or by calling the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Public notification of any in-season change to conform state regulations to federal regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.

Klamath/Trinity river quota update
Along with ocean salmon seasons up for final approval, the PFMC allocated 1,221 adult Chinook for the Klamath Basin quota. Bag and possession limits will be determined at the California Fish and Game Commission meeting on May 11. The tribal allocation is 8,135 adult Klamath River fall salmon, split between the Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes.

Increased flows coming down the Trinity
The Trinity River flows will begin to increase Thursday, April 22, as releases from Lewiston Dam will increase to 1,450 cubic feet per second and then reach 1,500 cfs Friday. Flows will be reduced until next Wednesday, when they’ll hit a spring-high of 3,550 cfs. Residents near or recreating on the river can expect levels to increase and should take appropriate safety precautions. A daily schedule of flow releases is available at www.trrp.net/restoration/flows/current.

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions are looking decent for the weekend, although south winds are in the forecast. Friday is calling for northwest winds 5 to 10 knots and northwest waves 5 feet at eight seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the south 10 to 15 knots with 3-foot swells at five seconds out of the southwest and west 2 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday is looking favorable, as well, with winds out of the south 5 to 10 knots with 5-foot swells at nine seconds out of the west. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka or www.windy.com.

The Beach/Jetties
The redtail perch bite wasn’t wide open over the weekend, but there were fish caught. Fishing was reportedly better from the beaches south of Trinidad. Both jetties are providing a good mix of rockfish and a few lingcod. Tossing swimbaits has been one of the better options. Fishing is typically best two hours prior to high tide to an hour after the slack for the beach as well as jetty.

Brookings ocean update
“Lingcod and rockfish action was good over the weekend and again Monday, but windy weather is expected mid-week,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “A gale warning has been posted. Calmer seas are expected for the weekend. The best fishing has been from Bird Island north. Anchovies have arrived at the Port of Brookings, a good sign for the June salmon opener. Salmon season opens June 12 out of Brookings.”

Eel River steelhead returns
As of April 11, a total of 199 steelhead have entered the Van Arsdale fish count station, according to Andrew Anderson, an Aquatic Biologist with PG&E. Making up that total are 74 males, 84 females, nine subadults and 32 unknowns. The Chinook count stands at 65 and is done for the season. For more information, visit www.eelriver.org/the-eel-river/fish-count/.

Eel (main stem)
As of Thursday, the main was flowing at 1,320 cfs on the Scotia gauge. Reportedly, there are some steelhead around but fishing is tough due to the clear water. 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
According to Martin, the Rogue continues to be slow for springers, but reports of ocean anglers catching and releasing a few hatchery kings near Gold Beach has anglers hopeful some salmon may finally be arriving. “The water is low but rain expected this week will give flows a boost. Catch rates have been poor all season on the Rogue,” Martin added.

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

While we wait for the rockfish season to open in the Northern Management area, which includes Eureka, Trinidad and Crescent City, there’s a pretty good alternative right across our northern border. Rockfish and lingcod season is open year-round out of Brookings Harbor, and the last couple months have produced some excellent fishing opportunities. When the weather has permitted, the lingcod bite has been better than average, with limits common for private and charter boats. The rockfish bite has been equally good. “The lingcod bite, when the ocean has been flat, has been wide-open,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “The Bird Island and House Rock areas have been best.” When conditions keep the boats closer to the harbor, there’s still good fishing available. “Close-in fishing also has been good, with easy limits of rockfish just past Chetco Point,” added Martin. Brookings Harbor features an excellent launching facility with self-payment, courtesy dock, freshwater boat rinse and a large fish-cleaning station. The general marine daily bag limit is six fish per angler per day, along with two lingcod 22 inches or larger. Visit www.myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons for a complete list of bottom fish regulations.

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions are shaping up nicely for the weekend. Friday is calling for north winds to 5 knots and northwest waves 2 feet at six seconds and west 3 feet at 13 seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the north up to 5 knots with 3-foot swells at 11 seconds. Sunday is looking favorable as well with winds out of the north 5 to 10 knots with 3-foot swells at five seconds out of the northwest and 3 feet at 11 seconds  For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or http://www.windy.com.

The Beach/Jetties
Howling winds over the weekend made for some tough fishing conditions off the beach and jetties. The best option was the mouth of Elk River inside Humboldt Bay for redtail perch. It’s one of the few locations not affected by heavy winds. The fishing was good this weekend, with some limits reported. Conditions look excellent through the weekend.

Pacific halibut season set
The PFMC announced recently that the 2021 Pacific halibut season will run from May 1 to November 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. There won’t be any in-season closures as was the case in 2019. The quota in 2021 will again be 39,000 pounds. 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.

“Critically Dry” year designation for Trinity River
According to a press release issued by the Bureau of Reclamation April 9, the lack of precipitation and snowpack in the Trinity Mountains this winter means the flow schedule for 2021 is scaled to a “critically dry” water year for the Trinity River. Critically dry is one of five water year types used by the Trinity River Restoration Program to decide 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 for the Trinity watershed. This year’s flow schedule will begin April 16. Key dates and flow releases are:

• April 16-17: Increase daily average flows from 300 cubic feet per second to 1,300 cfs
• April 21: Decrease flows to 500 cfs
• April 23: Increase flows to 1,500 cfs
• April 28: Increase flows to peak release of 3,550 cfs

Two additional flow increases to 1,950 cfs on May 6 and 1,600 cfs on May 28 are scheduled before flow decreases to summer baseflow (450 cfs) on June 18, 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 schedule of daily flow releases is available at: www.trrp.net/restoration/flows/current/.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and Chetco rivers all closed to fishing March 31.

Lower Rogue
The slow spring salmon fishing on the Rogue continued over the weekend, prompting some guides to start canceling trips, according to Martin. “Very few hatchery springers are being caught. The other Southern Oregon Coast rivers are closed until late May,” added Martin.

Eel (main stem)
As of Wednesday, the main Eel dipped under 1,800 cfs on the Scotia gauge. The river is clear and the fish will be holding in the deeper slots. There should be quite a few steelhead making their way downriver, though the fishing pressure has been light. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from Apr. 1 through Sept. 30.

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 boat-based rockfish season on the North Coast is still three weeks away but that certainly doesn’t mean rockfish can’t be on the dinner menu. The jetties, the breakwater constructed to protect Humboldt Bay, are currently providing some excellent rockfish action. Over the weekend, the north jetty was the place to be for black rockfish, along with the occasional lingcod. A few anglers were lucky enough to land their limit of 10 rockfish, while most caught enough to make plenty of fish tacos. The south jetty hasn’t been as good but that will likely change as water conditions improve. There are a few different techniques anglers use on the jetties. One of the most popular is fishing with small swimbaits or scampi jigs. You can use a half-ounce or three-quarter ounce, depending on the tide and depth of water. Another popular method is a two-hook setup rigged with bait. For bait, squid or shrimp work well. You can also cast and retrieve egg sinkers or banana weights rigged with a herring. This works well for lingcod. While we wait for the May 1 boat-based rockfish opener, the jetties are always an excellent year-round option to put fresh fish on the table. For a complete list of rockfish regulations, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary#north.

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions don’t look promising for the weekend. Friday is calling for north winds to 15 knots and north waves 6 feet at six seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the north 15 to 25 knots with 12-foot swells at 10 seconds. Sunday looks a little better. Winds will be from the north 10 to 20 knots with waves 9 feet at 11 seconds. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com.

Brookings ocean update
Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has been very good out of Brookings, especially on calm weather days, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He says, “Boat limits of lingcod have been common when swells and winds allow anglers to get to House Rock or Mack Arch. Close-in fishing also has been good, with easy limits of rockfish just past Chetco Point. Crabbing is slow. Halibut season opens May 1 out of Brookings.”

Bucksport Sporting Goods fishing contests
Bucksport Sporting Goods will be holding its third annual California Halibut Contest beginning April 1. Entry is free, and can be completed before or during a weigh in. The top three halibut will win various prizes from the store contest will run until Sept. 31. Bucksport will also be holding its third annual Redtail Perch Contest beginning on April 1. The contest will run through September and you can enter up to 10 fish per month. A point will be given for each ounce and each quarter inch. The perch, redtails only, must be measured and weighed at Bucksport. The top three fish at the end of the contest will win a prize. Entry is free but limited to in-store registration only. Also starting April 1 is its 13th annual Lingcod Spearfishing Contest. Limit two fish per month. A point will be given for each pound and for each inch. Top three fish will win prizes. Bucksport is located at 3650 Broadway in Eureka.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Cree and Chetco rivers all closed to fishing March 31.

Lower Rogue
Spring salmon fishing continues to be slow on the lower Rogue River, according to Martin. “Very few hatchery springers are being caught,” says Martin. “Boaters are anchoring close to shore and running anchovies with spinner blades. Flows at Agness are 2,900 cubic feet per second, with a water temperature near 55 degrees. Steelhead fishing also is slow.”

Smith
The Smith was right around 1,750 cfs on the Jed Smith gauge on Wednesday. Fishing reports have been hard to come by as most anglers have moved on for the season. There should be some downers around a few fresh ones still making their way upriver.

Eel (main stem)
As of Tuesday, the main Eel was running at 2,350 cfs on the Scotia gauge. The river is in perfect shape and there should be quite a few steelhead making their way downriver. Fishing pressure has been light. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from Apr. 1 through Sept. 30.

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 toughest and most frustrating steelhead seasons in many years will close Wednesday, March 31. From the Chetco south to the South Fork Eel River, and all the rivers in between, the fish just never showed up in numbers we’re accustomed to. No one knows for certain what caused the decline but it’s safe to say  we’ll all be holding our collective breath when next season rolls around.

Now, as the calendar nears April, it’s time to change gears and look toward the next angling opportunity. The rockfish and Pacific halibut openers are right around the corner, and ocean salmon season will be coming in late June. It’s also time to start thinking about spring salmon on the Klamath (hopefully) and the lower Rogue rivers. There are redtails to be had from all the local beaches and the lagoons are full of trout. Steelhead season has been a real downer and I for one am ready to put this season in the rearview mirror.

Upcoming meetings
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and its advisory bodies will meet April 6 to April 9 and April 12 to April 15 by webinar only to address issues related to groundfish, salmon, Pacific halibut, coastal pelagic species and administrative matters. One of the key agenda items is to adopt final management measures for 2021 ocean salmon fisheries. Also on the agenda are the 2021 Klamath River Basin quotas of adult Klamath River fall Chinook. For more information, visit www.pcouncil.org/documents/2021/03/april-2021-meeting-notice-and-detailed-agenda.pdf/.

The California Fish and Game Commission meeting will be held via webinar and teleconference on April 14 starting at 9 a.m. to adopt and discuss changes to the upcoming sport fishing seasons. The meeting will be live streamed for viewing and listening purposes only. On the agenda is status review of Upper Klamath-Trinity rivers spring Chinook salmon and Northern California summer steelhead. Proposed changes to the Klamath River Basin sport fishing will also be discussed. For a complete agenda and comment submission, and viewing information, visit www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=190629&inline.

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. Reportedly, the beaches are full of sand crabs, which is the one of the top choices for bait. Conditions look fishable for the weekend, with waves in the 5 to 6-foot range and wind 5 to 10 knots. Black rockfish and the occasional lingcod are being caught 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.

Brookings ocean update
“Lingcod fishing busted wide open out of Brookings on Sunday, as calm weather allowed boats of all sizes to get out and find easy limits of lings and rockfish,” said Andy Martin with Brookings Fishing Charters. “The lingcod fishing has been better than normal, with charter boats getting limits of lings while targeting rockfish with light gear. Another round of nice weather is expected this weekend. The best fishing is Bird Island north, with limits coming from 30 to 60 feet.”

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek, and the Chetco all closed to fishing on March 31.

Chetco/Rogue
According to Martin, steelhead fishing remained good on the Chetco right up to the March 31 closure. “The most consistent fishing of the season was in March, after the crowds left, and the few boats still fishing had decent numbers every day,” said Martin. “The bulk of the run came in during high water periods, and big numbers of downrunners were caught late in the season. Spring salmon fishing has been slow on the Rogue River. Just a handful of springers have been caught so far. Fishing usually improves in April and early May. With low catches, pressure is light.”

Eel River (main stem)
The main stem is in perfect shape, running at 3,100 cubic feet per second as of Wednesday. The few boats still fishing were averaging two or three fish per day, mostly downers along with some half-pounders. 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.

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’re looking to get that one last steelhead trip in, this could be the weekend to do it. All the rivers are green and have plenty of water. The main stem Eel and Chetco have good color and ample water, and that’s probably where you’ll find the majority of the boats. The Smith is low and clear, but still producing for the few anglers still trying. The Mad is turning green and is another good option for the weekend. Reports from all rivers are the same: Fishing isn’t great. If you get a chance at a couple fish, consider that a good day. But now with hungry downers on their way back to the salt, the opportunities to hook a few should improve. With sunshine predicted through the weekend, this is a golden opportunity to get in on some late-season steelhead action.

Upcoming steelhead river closures
After next Wednesday, March 31, the South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and Chetco will all be closed to fishing. A few others however, will remain open. The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork is open to fishing all year. From the mouth to Fulmor Road, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through the Friday, May 21. Only barbless hooks may be used from May 22 through Mar. 31, 2022. From Fulmor Road to the South Fork, it’s open all year. From April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. Only barbless hooks may be used from Oct. 1 through Mar. 31, 2022.

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. Only barbless hooks may be used from Sept. 1 through Apr. 30. The bag limit remains the same at two hatchery steelhead per day.

Sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers are open to fishing, but are subject to in-season changes. For more information, visit www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=190456&inline.

The weather ahead
Sunny and breezy conditions are expected through the weekend. There is a slight chance of rain Wednesday night but not enough to impact river levels. Wind gusts could be as high 23 miles per hour through Thursday.

Recreational Red Abalone fishery to remain closed until 2026
In a press release issued March 19, the CDFW announced the extended closure of the recreational red abalone fishery until April 1, 2026. Red abalone stocks continue to be impacted by large scale die offs in northern California due to the collapse of the bull kelp forest, which is their primary food. The Commission closed the fishery in 2017 because of the mortality of red abalone populations due to environmental stressors. Recovery of bull kelp forests and the diverse ecosystem they support will take time. Thus, the extension of the abalone fishery closure is needed to allow for recovery and protection of surviving abalone. When reopening of the fishery is considered, it will be guided by the Red Abalone Fishery Management Plan, which is currently under development. To learn more about the plan, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Red-Abalone-FMP. For more information on the closure, visit www.cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/03/19/the-recreational-red-abalone-fishery-to-remain-closed-until-2026/

Brookings ocean update
“Lingcod and rockfish action out of Brookings has been very good whenever ocean conditions cooperate,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod fishing was wide open Sunday and Monday, despite windy conditions. Lings remain in shallow water spawning. Marine conditions look good for Saturday and Sunday, but strong winds are expecting prior to the weekend.”

The Rivers:
Smith River
The Smith is low and clear, running just under 8 feet on the Jed Smith gauge as of Thursday. A few boats are still trying but fishing remains very tough. The few that are being caught are fresh. Light leaders and a stealthy presentation are required.

Chetco/Lower Rogue
Steelhead season ends March 31 on the Chetco. “Just a few guides are still fishing but catch rates are still decent with two to four steelhead per boat,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “A few bright steelhead are still being caught but the majority of the fish are downrunners. Conditions are prime for the final week of the season. Spring salmon fishing remains slow in the Rogue. Just a couple of hatchery springers have been caught so far. Steelhead fishing is still fair to good, with fresh hatchery fish still arriving.”

Eel River (main stem)
The main stem is green but still a little wide. It dipped below 4,500 cubic feet per second as of Thursday. Will be in great shape by the weekend.

Eel River (South Fork)
The South Fork is clearing, running under 800 cfs on the Miranda gauge as of Thursday. A few boats were out over the weekend and had some success on downers. The lower end should have better fishing this weekend as the upper reaches are getting low and clear.

Van Duzen
Flowing at 550 cfs Thursday, the Van Duzen is dropping into shape. Conditions for the weekend should be prime for bank anglers.

Mad River
The Mad is green, but still running a little high as of Thursday. Flows are predicted to be right around 1,100 cfs by Saturday, which is about perfect. According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, the fishing has slowed. He said, “The number of fish has tapered off significantly but there are some downers around as well as a few fresh ones. Conditions should be excellent for the 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

Looking at the ocean abundance of Sacramento and Klamath River kings and the numbers that returned to the rivers in 2020, I’d say we’re pretty lucky to have any type of salmon season this fall. But we will and it looks to be comparable to last season. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) last Thursday released three preliminary alternatives for managing salmon fisheries from the Oregon-California border to Horse Mountain, which includes Humboldt County. According to the PFMC, 181,500 Klamath and 271,000 Sacramento fall Chinook are said to be swimming in the ocean, which will restrict the North Coast on season lengths and river quotas. The three alternatives currently on the table: June 28 to July 31; June 26 to July 31; or July 1 to July 31. All three scenarios have the same two fish per day, seven days a week, Chinook only, 20-inch minimum size.

From Horse Mountain to Point Arena, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, the three alternatives are: June 28 to Oct. 31; June 26 to Oct. 24; or June 24 to Oct. 3. All three scenarios are the same, with two fish per day, seven days a week, Chinook only, 20-inch minimum size.

To view all of the salmon management alternatives, visit www.pcouncil.org/press-release-pacific-fishery-management-council-releases-alternatives-for-2021-west-coast-ocean-salmon-fisheries.

Final season dates will be decided during the April 6 to April 9 and April 12 to April 15 PFMC webinar meetings, where the council will consult with scientists, hear public comment and revise preliminary decisions.

Klamath/Trinity fall salmon allocations
Not only will the recreational ocean salmon season be restricted, but sport anglers will have a few less Klamath/Trinity River fall Chinook to harvest this year, as well. The recreational allocations, or quotas, as proposed by the PFMC will range from 1,234 to 1,217 adult fall Chinook in 2021 across the three alternatives. Last year’s basin-wide quota was 1,296 adults. If, for example, the first option is chosen, the quota for the Klamath and Trinity basins would be 1,234 adults. Of those, 617 would be allowed for sport harvest from State Route 96 bridge to the mouth of the Klamath. From the bridge to Iron Gate, 210 could be harvested. The Trinity would receive 407 adults for harvest. The Spit Area (within 100 yards of the channel through the sand spit formed at the Klamath River mouth) would close when 185 adult kings were taken downstream of the U.S. Highway 101 bridge.

The three quota alternatives are not final but will be decided during the aforementioned April PFMC webinar meetings. Once the quota is agreed upon, 50 percent will go to the lower Klamath basin, 17 percent to the upper basin and 33 percent will be allocated for the Trinity River. These quotas would go into effect Aug. 15.

The weather ahead
Rain is in the forecast for later in the week, which will impact all of the coastal rivers. The storm is predicted to hit early Thursday morning and stick around through Friday night, with lingering shower possible Saturday. One to 2 inches is expected in both Del Norte and Humboldt counties.

Bucksport Redtail Perch Contest
Bucksport Sporting Goods will be holding its third annual Redtail Perch Contest beginning on April 1. The contest will run through September and you can enter up to 10 fish per month. A point will be given for each ounce and for each quarter inch. The perch, Redtails only, must be measured and weighed at Bucksport. The top three fish at the end of the contest will win a prize. Entry is free and but limited to in-store registration only. Bucksport is located at 3650 Broadway St, in Eureka.

HSU looking for surfperch anglers/seiners
The HSU Dept. of Fisheries Biology are looking to hire students within the fisheries or related field to help angle for surfperch in Humboldt and seine along the Northern CA coast. To apply, send cover letter to jrm261@Humboldt.edu by April 1.

Brookings ocean update
Ocean fishing out of Brookings was exceptionally good Friday and Saturday, with the majority of boats getting a limits of lingcod reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Many of the charters had limits of lingcod before they limited on rockfish,” said Martin. “The lings are in shallow water spawning and are aggressively biting. Numbers appear to be above average this winter. The best fishing is from Bird Island to House Rock. Surfperch continue to bite well near Brookings.”

The Rivers:
Chetco/Rogue
“After slow fishing for a couple of weeks, steelhead action picked up again on the Chetco last week and over the weekend,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Many guides were getting four to six steelhead a day, with a mix of downrunners and fresh fish. The steelhead are spread throughout the river. Good conditions are expected through Wednesday and then rain and high water return. The Rogue has been good for steelhead near Gold Beach and upriver near Agness, but slow for spring salmon. Anchoring with 3.5 MagLips plugs continues to entice steelhead, with bright hatchery fish still arriving.”

Smith River
The Smith remains low and clear, running at 3,200 cubic feet per second on the Jed Smith gauge as of Tuesday. Nearly 2 inches of rain is expected Thursday and Friday, and flows are predicted to jump to 7,500 cfs by Saturday morning. This should bring in some new fish and kick-start the downers making their way from the tributaries.

Eel and Van Duzen Rivers
The South Fork was in great shape over the weekend but blew out Monday. The fishing remains tough with lots of zeros. The rain coming Thursday and Friday is expected to push the flows to 3,600 cfs by Friday morning. It could be fishable by Monday. The main Eel was a day away from fishable before the rain on Sunday. With another bump in flows later in the week, it could fish late next week. The Van Duzen also got dirty Monday and will blow out again Thursday. Depending on snowmelt, anglers could fish sometime next week.

Mad River
The Mad was dirty Monday but dropping fairly quickly. It may be somewhat green before is rises again Thursday afternoon. Fishing remains slow but a few are being caught near the hatchery. Flows are predicted to reach 3,280 cfs early Friday morning, keeping it off color through the weekend.

Lower Trinity River
The winter fish that are moving through the Klamath are starting to make their way into the lower Trinity. Boats drifting the Willow Creek area are catching a mix of fresh steelhead and downrunners along with a handful of half-pounders per trip. Flows were running at 3,300 cfs on the Hoopa gauge as of Wednesday, but it predicted to rise to 6,400 cfs by Friday afternoon. Should be in fishable shape through the 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

As we move toward the end of the winter steelhead season on the coast, river conditions are shaping up nicely for the weekend. All the rivers, except for the main Eel, should be some shade of green. The catching, on the other hand, may be a different story. It’s been a struggle all year as the steelhead seemed in short supply. Whether the lack of fish can be attributed to the previous drought is hard to say. Whatever the reason, I sure hope it’s short lived. And speaking of conditions, the rain and snow that fell over the past week has been a blessing. The late-season rains may not bring much joy to anglers but they’re a godsend for the fish. The extra water will go a long way in helping the steelhead reach their spawning grounds and also provide a helping hand for the juvenile salmonids as they begin their journey down to the saltwater.

The weather ahead
“Following a fairly wet Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ll finally start to dry out on Thursday,” said Kathleen Zontos of Eureka’s National Weather Service Office. “No rain is in the forecast Thursday through Sunday, so we should start to see the rivers recede. There are a few chances for rain next week that could impact the rivers. There is a chance of rain Monday but it’s not certain. Some models are showing up to 1 inch falling in Del Norte and up to a ½ inch falling in Humboldt. The next chance is for next Thursday and Friday, but there’s also some uncertainty about this system,” said Zontos.

Brookings ocean report
“Calm weather is expected the second half of this week, good news for saltwater anglers,” said Andy Martin with Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lingcod and rockfish action has been good out of Brookings when the wind and swells settle down. The best fishing has been in the Bird Island to House Rock area. Surfperch fishing also has been very good from Brookings-area beaches, especially at Crissy Field and Lone Ranch state parks. There is a nice mix of striped and redtail surfperch.”

The Rivers:
Smith River
The Smith hit 10-feet on the Jed Smith gauge Saturday morning, and was in really good shape the past few days. According to guide Mike Coopman, the fishing is still pretty tough. He said, “We had a really good day after the rise but since then it’s been pretty tough. There are a few around though. We haven’t seen any downers yet, but that will probably change after the next rise. We should also see more fresh fish enter the river.”

Chetco/Rogue
The crowds have left the Chetco, leaving decent fishing for the few guides still working it, according to Martin. “Most of the steelhead are downrunners but a few bright fish also are being caught,” said Martin. “Most of the fresh steelhead are less than 5 pounds. Some of the downrunners have been in the mid-teens. Rogue River anglers are still waiting for the first spring salmon of the year. There have been a few unconfirmed reports of springers but no photos and no fish weighed in at Rogue Outdoor Store or Jot’s. Steelhead fishing is fair, with the best fishing near Agness. Fishing has been slow on the Elk and Sixes.”

Eel River (main stem)
The main Eel has been in fishable shape since Sunday but that was changing Tuesday. Flows were predicted to reach 7,600 cubic feet per second Thursday morning. Dry weather beginning Thursday, will keep it on the drop through the weekend, but another rise is forecast for Monday. It may fish on the weekend. Boats drifting early last week from the forks down were getting two to four fish per trip.

Eel River (South Fork)
The South Fork was dirty Saturday but quickly turned green by Sunday. The rain falling Tuesday and Wednesday are predicted to blow the river out, but it will be on the drop by Thursday. Conditions look excellent for the weekend, but another rise is predicted for Monday.

Van Duzen
Like the Eel, the Van Duzen was dirty Saturday, but quickly cleared and was fishable through Monday. It was on a steep rise as of Tuesday, but only topped out at 1,000 cfs by nightfall. With dry weather predicted by Thursday, it could drop down into fishable shape by late in the weekend. Another rise is predicted for Monday, so the fishable window could be small.

Mad River
According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, the river never really blew out as predicted on Saturday. “The river looked really good above the North Fork over the weekend,” said Kelly. “With the cold temperatures, I think we got a lot more snow in the hills than rain. The fishing was decent over the weekend — there seems to be a few more fish around now. We’re starting to see some downers but there are still fresh ones to be had. A couple small rises are predicted for this week but there’s a good chance the water will be green by the weekend.” Another bump in flows is predicted for Sunday night that will likely turn the river muddy.

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 news wasn’t pretty at Thursday’s annual Ocean Salmon Information meeting. Not only are the Klamath salmon stocks struggling, the Sacramento stocks took a nosedive, as well. The Klamath River fall Chinook ocean abundance forecast in 2021 is 181,500. This is slightly higher than the 2020 forecast but still well below the long-term average. CDFW hinted there will likely be constraints to fishing opportunities north of Point Arena this season. The real damaging news came from the Sacramento River, where only 271,000 adult fall Chinook are said to be swimming in the ocean. That’s some 200,000 fewer salmon than the 2020 forecast. “Klamath River fall Chinook abundance forecasts and spawner returns have been low over the last few years. Fisheries were limited on the northern sections of the California coast last year to reduce impacts on this stock, and that will likely be the case again this year,” said Kandice Morgenstern, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Ocean Salmon Project. “Furthermore, with a reduced abundance forecast for Sacramento River fall Chinook, we could be looking at reduced fishing elsewhere along the coast, as well.” What the PFMC chooses to do with these forecasts will be determined in the next couple of months.

Up next, the PFMC will meet virtually March 2 through March 5 and March 8 through March11. Final regulations will be adopted at the April 6 to April 9 and April 12 to April 15 virtual PFMC meeting. Meeting information can be found at: www.pcouncil.org/council-meetings/upcomingmeeting. To view the salmon preseason process, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon/preseason.

The weather ahead
According to Kathleen Zontos of Eureka’s National Weather Service Office, rain is in the forecast for later in the week. “The first system is well defined and will arrive Thursday evening and continue through Saturday morning,” said Zontos. “Del Norte could see 2 to 3 inches through Sunday and here locally we can expect 1 to 2 inches. Sunday through Wednesday looks wet as well. I don’t think we’ll see substantial totals, but it will keep things wet and keep the river levels up. Another system is developing for late next week but there’s a lot of uncertainty right now.”

Updated freshwater sportfishing regulations begin March 1
The CDFW announced on Monday new freshwater sport fishing regulations that will take effect on March 1, 2021,  and aim to simplify and streamline the laws regulating inland fishing while maintaining and protecting California’s fisheries. The package of updated regulations was adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in October 2020. It was the largest regulatory inland sport fishing package in the Commission’s history. 
“The underlying goals were to reduce the complexity of inland sport fishing regulations, increase regulatory consistency and remove regulations that are no longer biologically justifiable,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Inland Fisheries Program Manager Roger Bloom. 

Major changes include: 

• Separate regulations for inland trout (non-anadromous waters) from those for steelhead and salmon (anadromous waters) to make it easier to understand the bag and possession limits, 
• Replacement of district regulations with statewide regulations separated for trout, and 
• Standardize and consolidate ”special fishing” regulations. 

CDFW held a series of community meetings in 2018 and 2019 at locations across the state to publicly introduce and discuss proposed changes to simplify statewide inland sport fishing regulations. CDFW proposals and recommendations from the public were then vetted at the January and March 2020 Wildlife Resources Committee meetings. 
Anglers should review the changes as they affect most of the inland trout waters in California. Updates to the regulations can be found both at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland and wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations.

Brookings ocean update
Calm ocean conditions resulted in very good lingcod and rockfish action Sunday and Monday reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Big swells return this week,” said Martin. “The best action is from Twin Rocks to House Rock. Surfperch are biting well at Crissy Field and Lone Ranch State Park, and the fishing pier next to the Coast Guard station in Brookings. Perch fishing will continue to improve in the coming weeks.”

The Rivers:
Chetco/Rogue
“Steelhead fishing was decent early last week on the Chetco but slowed by the weekend with mostly downers being caught,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Top boats are getting a fish or two per boat, with many now going fishless. Rain this week could draw in fresh steelhead and flush some of the downers from higher in the system. Although steelhead fishing is open through March on the Chetco, fishing likely will be on the slow side for the rest of the month. Rogue River anglers are hoping this week’s rain will bring in the first few spring salmon of the season. Steelhead fishing remains fair, with boaters anchoring and running plugs having the best success. Spring salmon season peaks in late April and early May, but rains in March often bring fishable numbers of springers into the Rogue. The Elk and Sixes are slow for steelhead,” added Martin.

Smith River
The Smith is currently low and clear, holding at just under 8 feet on the Jed Smith gauge. The fishing remains tough and not a lot of boats are still trying. Most have moved to other rivers. The storm coming later in the week could, however, breathe new life into the river. It’s predicted to reach 10.5 feet early Saturday morning. If there’s fish still waiting to come in, this jump should do it. It will also bring down the freshly spawned fish out of the tributaries.

Eel River (main stem)
Running at 2,900 cubic feet per second as of Thursday, the main Eel is in perfect shape. Boats drifting roe or beads are getting one to four fish per trip. There’s a mix of fresh steelhead and some downers are starting to show up. Windy conditions are predicted for both Thursday and Friday. Rain is forecast to hit Friday evening, which will blow the river out for the weekend. Flows are forecast to reach 6,000 cfs by Sunday morning

Eel River (South Fork)
The South Fork was in perfect shape over the weekend, and there was no shortage of boats. Scores ranged from zero to three fish for boats drifting from Benbow to the forks. The rain coming Friday will push the flows to 1,900 cfs on the Miranda gauge. It could fish again by mid-week with no rain.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen was flowing at 300 cfs Thursday and is in perfect condition. Reports have been hard to come by, but plenty of bank anglers are giving it a go. Expect windy conditions Thursday and Friday, followed by rain on Friday night. It’s forecast to blow out Saturday with flows reaching 2,300 cfs.

Mad River
According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, the river is in perfect shape and holding steady. “Conditions are just about perfect, but there aren’t a ton of fish around,” said Kelly. “They’re definitely scattered, with mostly fresh ones below the hatchery. There’s also a few above. It looks like the river will fish through Friday, then blow out on Saturday.” The river is predicted to hit 5,000 cfs (10.6 ft.) by Saturday morning.

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

Rivers conditions are trending toward perfection this week and it’s pretty much now or never for the 2021 winter steelhead season. In what has been called one of the toughest seasons anyone can remember, if the next week or so doesn’t produce some quality fishing, it’s likely the season will go down as a bust. There are plenty of theories about why the steelhead haven’t returned in big numbers but nobody knows for sure. With a little more than a month left in the season, there is time for a resurgence. And if there was ever a time, it would be this week. Conditions on just about every coastal river are — or soon will be — pristine. We’ve had a few “Miracle Marches” in the past and it’s looking like we’re going to need another.

Weather ahead
“We’ll have a few opportunities for light rain in the next few days,” said Kathleen Zontos of Eureka’s National Weather Service Office. “The six-day rainfall total, which goes through Monday, is showing less than a tenth of an inch of rain. There is a chance for some rain on Sunday and Monday, but there’s quite a bit of uncertainty right now. If the high pressure moves, we could see some rain. But right now, it looks like most of it will land more to the north. The Chetco is showing a slight increase in flows starting on Monday, March 1. If we do get some rain, it will likely have little impact on the river flows.”

The Beaches
The surfperch bite is starting to heat up along the beaches, depending on the weather conditions. One of the top spots this time of year is stinky beach. Limits are a real possibility using sand crabs or shrimp. King Salmon is also a good location. Surfperch are also biting well at Crissy Field and Lone Ranch State Park near Brookings according to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters “The action has been improving, with limits possible,” said Martin

The Rivers:
Smith River
The Smith is dropping quickly and is clear, running right around 5,000 cubic feet per second Wednesday. According to guide Mike Coopman, the fishing has been really tough. “We’re getting one to three bites per day,” said Coopman. “There just doesn’t seem to be a bunch of fish around right now. The fish we are catching have been on the small side, running 5 or 6 pounds. I’m hoping we see some fish show up like they did last year in March.”

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“Despite perfect green water, the Chetco is fishing slow after the latest series of storms, with steelhead few and far between,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Half a dozen boats managed just a handful of steelhead on Monday, even though conditions were good. Plunkers had even fewer fish. Spawned out steelhead should appear in the slower runs as the water drops but steelhead fishing likely will continue to taper off in the next few weeks. The Elk and Sixes also have been slow, but have a few steelhead around. The Rogue River is the best bet, with fair fishing.”

Eel River (main stem)
Running at 6.700 cfs as of Wednesday, the main Eel is starting to get a green tint but is still big. Flows are predicted to be around 4,800 cfs by the weekend. It should be in prime condition next week.

Eel River (South Fork)
The South Fork dropped down to a fishable level Tuesday, as flows were right around 2,000 cfs on the Miranda gauge. That’s still a little pushy but the color is good. Fishing is still tough, with boats reporting up to a couple fish per trip. Lots of zeros, as well. River conditions should be good through the weekend as flows will be down to 1,100 cfs by Saturday morning.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen was running right around 850 cfs Wednesday and is starting to get some nice color. Flows are predicted to be down to 550 cfs by the weekend and could be a good option.

Mad River The Mad was still high and off color as of Wednesday. Flows were 2,700 cfs and predicted to be down to 1,700 cfs by Saturday. According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, it won’t likely turn green until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Most of the fish being caught are coming just below the hatchery by the liners.

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