Rivers
KLAMATH RIVER CLOSED TO SALMON HARVEST IN 2025
The adult salmon quota for the Klamath/Trinity basin is zero in 2024
On the Lower Klamath, from the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth, 0 adults will be allowed for sport harvest. The section above the 96 bridge at Weitchpec to 3,500 feet downstream of the Iron Gate Dam will get 0 adults.
The Spit Area (within 100 yards of the channel through the sand spit formed at the Klamath River mouth) will close when 15 percent of the total Klamath River Basin quota is taken downstream of the Highway 101 bridge. In 2024, 0 adults can be harvested below the 101 bridge before the closure at the mouth is implemented. The rest of the area below Highway 101 (estuary) will remain open to recreational fishing.
Important Reminder: All legally caught Chinook salmon must be retained while fishing the spit. Once the adult component of the total daily bag limit has been retained, anglers must cease fishing in the spit area. Also, the new six-foot leader length restriction remains in effect.
Spring-run Chinook salmon fishing regulations began on July 1 and run through Aug. 14, with a daily bag and possession limit of one salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited on the Klamath River from Iron Gate Dam downstream to Weitchpec from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14.
TRINITY RIVER CLOSED TO SALMON HARVEST IN 2025
On the Trinity side, which will be open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing Sept. 1 and run through Dec. 31, the quota is set at 0 adults. The quota will be split almost evenly; 0 adults for the main stem Trinity downstream of the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat and 0 adults for the main stem Trinity downstream of the Denny Road bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath.
The Trinity is open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from July 1 through Aug. 31. The daily bag and possession limit is one Chinook salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited from the confluence of the South Fork Trinity River downstream to the confluence of the Klamath River from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.
Once these quotas have been met, no Chinook salmon greater than 23 inches in length may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 23 inches in length). Additional season information is available on the Klamath-Trinity River hotline at 800-564-6479. All anglers on the Trinity and Klamath rivers must have Salmon Harvest Cards in their possession when fishing for salmon.
Ocean
Sport Salmon Season Closed in 2025
Our 2024ocean sport salmon season will open May 1 and run through May 31. The season will open back up Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 5. It will be open from the OR/CA 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 will 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 707-576-3429.
Pacific Halibut:
The 2025 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open May 1 and remain open seven days per week until Nov. 15 or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2024 Pacific halibut quota for the California subarea is 38,220 pounds – approximately the same as the 2024 quota.
CDFW will again monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on the CDFW Pacific halibut webpage, https://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 inshore 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 Dec. 31 in 2025.
Effective September 18, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths in state and federal waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025. Recreational regulations for other groundfish species can be found on the CDFW Sport Fishing Regulations page.
Regulation changes for 2025
Changes to the sub-bag limits within the 10-fish daily Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling (RCG) complex bag and possession limit include a new statewide ban on possession of quillback rockfish. Also new in 2025 is the mandatory possession of descending devices . No person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a descending device in possession and available for immediate use to assist in releasing rockfish to the depth of capture.
Daily bag limit
In the Northern Management Area, the RCG complex includes all species of rockfishes, Cabezon and Greenlings. You are allowed 10 fish in combination per person EXCEPT:
- A sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish
- A sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish of four fish
- A sub-bag limit for Canary rockfish of two 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.
Important reminder:
In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas, those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While anchored, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets, Dungeness crab traps, and dip nets.
For more information about recreational groundfish regulations within the northern management area, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/GroundfishSummary#north
