eureka | Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest

Rising rivers reset coastal steelhead conditions

Mark Parrish holds a hefty Chetco River steelhead that hit a roe and Corky combination while fishing with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing on New Year’s Eve.

The Smith and Chetco have been in great shape this week, and green water was finally on the horizon for some of the other coastal rivers. Unfortunately, that’s all about to change — again. Mother Nature is again hitting the reset button, putting rivers back on the rise and erasing about a week and a half of progress toward fishable conditions. And we all know what comes next.

The Smith will be the first river to drop back into shape and looks driftable early next week. The Chetco will likely be a few days behind, becoming fishable later in the week.

As for the rest of the coast, it’s back to square one when it comes to fishable conditions. Looking at the 10-day forecast, it appears the Smith and Chetco will be the only options for the first couple weeks of the new year.

Weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service, “the first in a series of storm systems is now moving through northwest California producing light to moderate rainfall throughout the region. Up to 0.75″ has been recorded in parts of Mendocino and Lake counties with much less rain off to the north in northern Humboldt and Del Norte.

A more potent front will approach the region on Friday, first bringing increasing southerly winds across the entire region. Ridgetop winds could reach advisory levels by late Friday morning across Humboldt and Del Norte counties, expanding inland through the day. The front will then rapidly move through the region during the evening or overnight hours Friday night with a narrow band of potentially very strong winds which could mix down to the coastal plain. Wind advisories have been issued for all coastal areas and coastal ridge tops.

There may be a quick hit of stronger winds to warning levels on the ridgetops near Cape Mendocino and a high wind watch is in effect for that area. Behind this front a secondary low will approach the northwest California coast within a more unstable, mixed atmosphere. It is highly likely that this low will bring another round of strong southerlies on Saturday, especially in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, and the winds could mix better down to the coastal plain and again bring strong winds to the ridgetops.

In addition to the wind from these two systems, heavy rain is also expected. Guidance is now in very good agreement on a band of rain with heavy rain rates rapidly moving through the region in advance of the front. Total rainfall is not expected to be exceptionally heavy, around 1-3 inches across the region, but this rain should allow for many small streams to begin to rise. Quickly behind this front the rain will re-enhance as the secondary low approaches and an atmospheric river may aim toward Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, and Lake counties. Guidance continues to increase the rainfall potential and Saturday into Sunday. Overall rainfall during the Thursday through Monday could range from 3-6 inches across the region with locally higher amounts up to 8 inches. This heavy rain could easily result in small stream flooding and even main stem rivers reaching critical flood levels. Thus, a flood watch has been issued for all of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Lake counties. If these trends continue it will be highly likely that flood advisories and/or warnings will be needed this weekend into Monday.”

Humboldt County sport Dungeness crab fishery opens
In a press release issued by CDFW very late Tuesday, sport crab anglers learned the season in Humboldt had opened earlier in the day. According to CDFW, “state health agencies determined that Dungeness crab in waters from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas to Cape Mendocino can open. While the area is open to fishing, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a health advisory to not eat crab viscera (also known as guts) and to clean crab prior to cooking.

Due to the potential for whales in this area to become entangled in trap buoy lines, Dungeness crab may currently only be taken with hoop nets, crab snares, or by hand in accordance with the declared trap prohibition in RAMP Fishing Zone 1. Effective 8:01 a.m., Jan. 2, 2026, crab trap restrictions in this area will be lifted and all recreational gear types may be used statewide.”

Commercial crab fishery in Northern Management Area to open Jan. 15
The Dungeness crab season in the Northern Management Area (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) remains delayed because of the inability to conduct meat quality testing due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Pending results of ongoing domoic acid testing, the season will open on Jan. 15, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., under a 15% trap reduction.

After being delayed due to entanglement risk, the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Central Management Area (Sonoma/Mendocino County line (38°46.125’ N. latitude) to Point Conception (34°27’ N. latitude)) will open on Jan. 5, 2026, at 12:01 a.m., under a 40% trap reduction.

Boat-based rockfish season comes to a close
The rockfish and lingcod season is now closed as of Dec. 31, 2025, for boat-based anglers in the Northern and Central Management Areas. The season is open year-round for Shore-based anglers that fish from beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other manmade structures connected to the shore and spear fishermen entering the water either from the shore or from a boat or other floating object.

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, all rivers subject to low flow fishing closures are open. This includes the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Van Duzen, Redwood Creek, and Smith. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast. Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam and the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream are now open to fishing. More information can be found here.

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

Mad
The Mad is still high and dirty and is about to get another big rise. The next round of storms is forecast to push levels past the monitor stage (over 15 feet) Sunday evening. It will need a couple weeks of dry weather before we see some green water.

Main stem Eel
The Eel dipped below 13,000 cfs at Scotia Thursday, but another big rise is on the way. Flows are expected to surpass 85,000 cfs Sunday night. Will need at least a couple weeks of dry weather once it starts to drop before it comes down to a fishable height.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork was green above the East Fork Wednesday and needed just a few more dry days before it became fishable to the forks. All that is out the window now as the next round of storms approach. It was on a slow rise Thursday but will pick up steam over the weekend. It’s predicted to peak at over 19,000 cfs Sunday afternoon. It will likely need up to 10 days of dry weather before the color and height align. It will typically fish a few days earlier above Benbow.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen is back on the rise after getting down to 800 cfs Wednesday. Flows are predicted to reach 11,700 cfs Sunday morning before it goes back on the drop. If the 10-day forecast is correct, it likely won’t fish the first couple weeks of January.

Smith
The river dropped into shape last weekend and has been fishable since. A few fish were caught each day by the plunkers as well as the boats drifting from the forks down. It was just starting to rise slowly Thursday, and it’s predicted to peak at 10.6 feet on the Jed Smith gauge early Friday. With a break in the rain, it should be driftable by mid-day Friday. By Saturday its forecast for a much steeper rise, reaching 14.5 feet Sunday afternoon. Monday looks like a good day for plunking, and by Tuesday it should be in great shape to drift. The 10-day forecast has the river hovering between 11 and 12 feet from Tuesday through next weekend.

Chetco/Elk
“The Chetco dropped into shape over the weekend for plunkers and on Monday for drift boats,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Rain is expected to push the Chetco above 5,000 cfs on Friday and blow it out Saturday and Sunday. Plunkers did well on the lower river early in the week, while guides reported a mix of half pounders and larger adults, with a few fish pushing 15-plus pounds. Overall action has been fair. The Elk produced a mix of late salmon and early steelhead before it closed for the season Wednesday night. It remains open for steelhead.”

Brookings ocean update
According to Martin, sport crabbing has slowed out of Brookings since the commercial opener, but pots soaking in 100 feet of water are still getting half a dozen or more keepers per trap, with most barely legal and few jumbos. “Lingcod and rockfish action remains very good, although stormy weather is expected for the next week.”

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

All Eyes on the Smith as Storms Limit Winter Steelhead Options

Sisters, Oregon, resident Taylor Robertson landed this beautiful winter steelhead back in January of 2023 on the Smith River. Recent storms have left the Smith River as the only fishable river for the next couple weeks. Photo courtesy of Josh Smith Guide Service

If you’re looking to tangle with your first coastal winter steelhead between now and the end of the year, your options will likely be limited to the Smith River. It’s currently the only river on the coast running green and fishable, and it’s expected to remain that way as the region stays locked into a wet weather pattern over the next couple of weeks.

A larger rise is forecast for Friday, which could make the river unsafe to drift, but plunking will be an excellent option. Weekend conditions are shaping up well, with the river expected to hover in the 11- to 12-foot range. Beginning Monday and continuing through next week, flows are forecast to range from 11 to 13 feet on the Jed Smith gauge—ideal plunking conditions from both the bank and a boat. Drifting from the forks down should also be a good option on the lower end of those flows.

Elsewhere on the coast, from the Mad River south to the South Fork Eel, green water appears unlikely before 2026. Multiple storm systems are expected to bring rain this weekend, followed by additional rainfall next week that will keep rivers high and off color.

Weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, moderate to heavy rainfall will begin spreading into Del Norte County late Thursday as the next IVT plume sags south. Mean HREF and RRFS hourly rainfall rates are 0.3 to 0.5 inch per hour, with locally up to 0.6 inch per hour over the higher and windward facing terrain through a large portion of Del Norte County.

The front and focus of moderate to heavy rainfall and chances for minor flooding will then progress southward through North California throughout the day Friday. South of Del Norte, the heaviest rainfall rates will be mostly along the windward slopes of the higher terrain. All main stem rivers are forecast to remain below action or monitor stages, however rivers in narrow basins will likely once again quickly rise. Creeks and streams will also quickly rise and could result in nuisance flooding. Ponding on roadways is also likely throughout the duration of heavy rainfall. Rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches are forecast for Del Norte County, with 1 to 3 south through Northern Mendocino County. Outside of Del Norte, there is up to a 70% chance for 24-hour rainfall over 3 inches for southwest facing slopes of Cape Mendocino and some higher interior ridges of Humboldt.

Rainfall will turn much lighter Friday afternoon with a transition to lighter rain or showers. Rainfall will then begin trending higher Saturday south through Lake and Mendocino counties.”

Oregon sport bottomfish regs set for 2026
In a press release issued Dec. 12, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized the 2026 recreational bottomfish season and regulations.

Bag Limits

General Marine Species:
- 4-fish bag limit (new in 2026)
- Canary rockfish: 2-fish sub-bag limit (new in 2026)
- Cabezon: 1-fish sub-bag limit
  - 16-inch minimum size limit
  - Opens July 1
Lingcod: 3-fish bag limit (new in 2026)
- 22-inch minimum size limit
Flatfish: 25-fish bag limit
Sablefish: 10-fish bag limit
Offshore long-leader fishery: 10-fish bag limit
- Canary rockfish: 2-fish sub-bag limit (new in 2026)
- For a 10-fish bag limit to apply, long-leader gear must be used outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line
- 10 midwater rockfish species only
Retention of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes remain prohibited.

The bottomfish fishery will again be open at all-depths year-round (no seasonal depth restriction).

Beginning in 2026, an Ocean Endorsement is required for most anglers fishing in the ocean from beaches, jetties, and boats except when taking shellfish or when fishing for and retaining salmon or steelhead unless other marine finfish are retained. For more information on requirements and fees, please visit myodfw.com/articles/ocean-endorsement.

Recreational Red Abalone fishery to remain closed until 2036
In a press release issued Thursday, the California Fish and Game Commission has extended the Red Abalone recreational fishery closure.

CDFW Commission Statement:

“In a move to protect red abalone populations that have suffered drastic population decline, the California Fish and Game Commission at its Dec. 10-11 meeting extended the red abalone recreational fishery closure 10 years.
The Commission unanimously voted to adopt regulatory amendments to extend the red abalone recreational fishery closure in Northern California until April 1, 2036. The Commission determined that continuing the closure is necessary to protect red abalone and help facilitate its restoration.
California’s red abalone population suffered a drastic decline, approximately 85%, following the 2014 kelp forest collapse triggered by a marine heatwave. The loss of kelp greatly contributed to this decline and the increase in purple sea urchin densities prevent kelp recovery, abalone’s primary food source. CDFW will be supporting abalone restoration through the development of a statewide red abalone restoration plan that will include robust and adaptive strategies to support abalone populations.”

Guy Mitchell from Laytonville with a nice ling cod caught over the weekend out of Shelter Cove. Photo courtesy of Jake Mitchell, Sea Hawk Sport Fishing

Shelter Cove update
“Fishing and crabbing was great over the weekend, until the weather turned,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “Both Sunday and Monday we had limits or rockfish, lings, and crab and were off the water by 11 am. The crabs aren’t really big, but they’re nice and full.”

Brookings update
According to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters, Lingcod fishing has been good out of Brookings, but rough weather is expected for the next week.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad
The Mad is high and off color, sitting at just over 9 feet on Thursday. With more rain in the forecast, it will likely remain that way through all next week and weekend. The likelihood of seeing green water is slim between now and the new year. Once the flows do recede, we should be off and running on the steelhead season.

Main Eel
After reaching 48,000 cfs Wednesday night, the man Eel was on the drop Thursday. The next round of storms will put it back on the rise Friday, with flows predicted to reach 65,000 Monday morning. Needless to say, it will need a couple weeks of dry weather before it rounds into shape. When the river drops down to a fishable height and color, we should see some pretty good steelhead fishing.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork Eel is big and muddy, and temporarily on the drop. It peaked Wednesday at over 21,000 cfs, but was right around 5,000 cfs Thursday. With more rain on the way, it will likely remain too high and off color all next week and through the weekend. There should be some winter steelhead around once it drops and clears.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen peaked at over 8,700 cfs Wednesday morning, but has dropped quickly. It was down to 1,600 cfs Thursday, but was still dirty. More rain Friday and throughout the weekend will keep the river off color. It’s not forecast to drop down to a fishable height between now and the first of the year.

Smith
The Smith jumped to over 21 feet Wednesday, but has since dropped down to a fishable height. As of Thursday afternoon, it was just above 10 feet, perfect for drifting. However, more rain is predicted for Friday, which could push flows to high to drift. The weekend looks plenty fishable, as does next week. It’s forecast to remain in the 10-12-foot range all next week, and will likely be the only game in town. Should be some steelhead making their way in.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“The few boats fishing the Chetco before Tuesday’s rain were finding decent numbers of adult steelhead, but high water will now have the river blown out of at least a week,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “River levels jumped 10 feet overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, from 1,500 cfs to nearly 20,000 cfs. Another big storm on Thursday may blow the river out for the rest of the year. Prior to the storms, ODFW crews doing salmon spawning surveys observed impressive numbers of adult steelhead spread throughout the river. Plunkers could have a chance between Christmas and New Year’s, while drift boaters may have to wait for the first week of January. The Elk and Sixes also blew out Tuesday night, with the Elk jumping to nearly 7.5 feet. Both rivers close to salmon fishing Dec. 31.”

Storms Set Stage for Winter Steelhead Kickoff

Eureka angler Bob White shows off a quality winter steelhead from last year. Incoming storms are expected to jump-start this season’s run. Photo courtesy of Kenny Priest/Fishing the North Coast Guide Service.

Winter steelhead season has been slow to ignite on the North Coast, but that’s about to change. A series of storm systems is lining up over the Pacific, and the impacts could be significant beginning next week and beyond.

According to the National Weather Service, rain is expected to arrive Monday and persist for several days, with a few inches forecast along the coast — exactly what the rivers need. Steady rainfall and resulting pulse flows should be enough to draw the first major push of winter steelhead out of the salt. If the storms materialize as predicted, the Smith River could be in excellent shape sometime next week. The Chetco is projected to spike to around 9,000 cfs and will likely remain unfishable through the week.

Elsewhere, the Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen and Mad rivers are expected to take on plenty of color and will probably need some time before dropping back into shape. Once all the rivers crest and begin to recede to fishable levels, the first wave of winter steelhead should follow.

After a standout late-fall salmon season, seeing the rivers fill with bright winter steelhead would be a welcome encore.

Weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, Sunday is expected to start to see conditions transition to a wetter pattern. “Winds start to turn southerly and increase Sunday morning. High clouds are expected to start to move into the area as well. There is a slight chance for rain in Del Norte county Sunday evening, but the rain will likely stay to the north of the area.

Monday the wet pattern is expected to return. The first system is expected to move through Monday afternoon or evening with a second Tuesday afternoon or evening. The ECMWF and ensembles keep the heavier rain a bit farther north for the first one, but is in better agreement with the GEFS on the second one. Some areas may not see much of a break between the systems and it this point it is hard to time a break out. Confidence is growing that we will see 1 to 3 inches of rain over Monday and Tuesday in Humboldt and Trinity counties with more like 2 to 3 inches in Del Norte County. In Mendocino and Lake counties rainfall amounts drop off quickly with amounts ranging from a quarter of an inch in southern Lake County to 1.5 inches in northern Mendocino County. These amounts may continue to rise.

Later in the week there is the potential for continued wet weather, but details are low at this point. There are some indications that this could be a colder storm with some snow at the higher elevations.”

Shelter Cove update
“The rockfish and lingcod fishing continues to be great,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “We’ve been having some excellent December weather to go with it. We’re spending most of our time at the Hat and the Old Man.”

Brookings update
According to Martin, lingcod action has been very good out of Brookings, while sport crabbing also is excellent. “Crabbing will remain good through Saturday, and then likely drop off sharply with the commercial opener and incoming storm. Calm conditions are expected through Saturday. A major winter storm arrives Sunday night.”

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, the main stem Eel and Smith were open to fishing. The Mad, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, and Redwood Creek remained closed due to low flows. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast. Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad
The Mad remains closed, but changes are on the way. Rain is in the forecast for Monday, and we should see the river start to rise early Tuesday. It’s predicted to stay in the 9-to-10-foot range through at least next Sunday. Once the flows recede, we should see the first push of winter steelhead. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge.

Main Eel
The main Eel remains open, but is now under 700 cfs as of Thursday. The next rise is forecast to start late Monday or early Tuesday and will likely turn the river muddy. There should be some late kings and coho making their way in along with the first round of steelhead when the river drops down to a fishable height and color. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork Eel remains closed to fishing, but some much-needed water is on the way. With rain starting Monday, the South Fork is forecast to rise early Tuesday morning and will likely blow out. Flows are predicted to be above 3,000 cfs by next Sunday. We should see a few winter steelhead show up on the next rise.Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen is currently closed due to low flows, but that will soon change. The river is predicted to rise Monday evening, and will likely blow out soon after. It’s predicted to be high and off color through next week. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.

Smith
The Smith remains open as of Thursday, but is low and clear with very little fishing pressure. There’s a chance it could close prior to the rain coming late Monday as flows were 620 cfs at Jed Smith Park Thursday. It’s predicted to rise starting Monday evening and could be in plunkable or in drifting shape throughout next week as it should be in the 10-to-12-foot range. The next rise should bring in the last of the kings as well as some bright winter steelhead. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
Salmon fishing has been slow on the Chetco, Elk and Sixes with prolonged low water reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “A big boost in flows is expected Sunday night, but the river will quickly blow out and could be high for more than a week,” said Martin. “Expect steelhead fishing to kick into gear as the river drops. Flows are expected to approach 10,000 cfs by early next week. Flows were between 500 and 650 cfs this week.

Salmon Season Fades — Now It’s Time to Chase Steelhead

Point Reyes resident Anastacia Gonzalez shows off an Eel River Steelhead from a couple of seasons ago. It’s getting to be steelhead time on the coast, but we’ll need some rain to kick things off. Photo courtesy of Kenny Priest/Fishing the North Coast Guide Service.

With the late-fall king salmon season all but wrapped up on the North Coast, anglers are already shifting their attention to winter steelhead. Unfortunately, flows are running low across all the coastal rivers, and significant rain doesn’t appear likely until at least late next weekend — and even that remains uncertain. Despite the dry spell, a smattering of early steelhead has been reported from most rivers, a promising sign that fish are staged and ready for better conditions.

The salmon season itself delivered flashes of excellent fishing mixed with long stretches of low water. Both the Smith and Eel rivers saw solid returns of fall kings. At the Eel River fishway at Cape Horn Dam, salmon counts through the end of November were the highest recorded since the 2012-13 season. The Chetco also posted strong numbers of returning kings, helping round out a generally positive year for coastal fall salmon runs.

But with December now on the calendar and rain beginning to show up—however faintly—in the extended forecast, anglers are eager for the first real rise of the season. Once the rivers get a much-needed shot of water, winter steelhead season should finally get rolling.

Weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service, Thursday night into Friday morning a shortwave coming over the ridge is expected to start bringing more cloudiness to the area. “This will likely keep temperatures warmer. It is possible this could bring some drizzle to the northern coastal areas, but confidence is low on this. Friday afternoon looks like the first chance for some light rain and this may continue through the weekend. The big question is how far south this rain will come. The current forecast keeps most of it in Del Norte County with less than a quarter of an inch in northern Humboldt County. Del Norte count may see over a half inch. However, this is a small system and a slight shift farther north or south could really change the rainfall totals. The 25th percentile for Crescent City shows 0.2 inches while the 75th percentile shows 1.1 inches. In Eureka and much of Humboldt and Trinity counties those amounts range from 0.00 to 0.5 inches. Farther south and east in southern Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties even the high ends amounts are less than a quarter inch. Even if the heavier amounts make it farther south, there aren`t expected to be many impacts.”

Shelter Cove update
“We had some really good ocean conditions last week and we made a few trips up to Gorda,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing.“The fishing was fantastic, with a great grade of lingcod and rockfish. We were able to put limits onboard pretty quickly.”

Brookings update
According to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters, sport crabbing was good out of Brookings during the Dec. 1 opener, while lingcod and rockfish action also has been good. “Calm weather is expected through the end of the week,” said Martin. The best crabbing was in 100 feet of water near the whistle buoy.”

Mad
The Mad was closed as of last week and looks to remain closed throughout the weekend and into early next week. Prior to closing, fresh kings were making their way into the lower river. With the next rise, we should see the first push of winter steelhead. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge.

Main Eel
The main Eel remains open, but is getting low and clear. There are still a few kings around, along with quite a few coho. Winter steelhead should begin to show on the next rise. Over 1,200 Chinook have been counted as of Nov. 23 at the Van Arsdale fishery station, the most since 2012. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork Eel was closed as of last week and looks to remain closed throughout the weekend and next week. Prior to closing, there were quite a few coho moving through. We should see a few winter steelhead show up on the next rise. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen has been closed since last week and will likely remain closed through next week. Most of the kings have moved through, expect to see some winter steelhead on the next rise. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.

Smith
The Smith remains open, but is low and clear with very little fishing pressure. As of Thursday, flows were 650 cfs at Jed Smith Park and it looks to remain open through the weekend. A slight bump in flows is forecast for Saturday, but it won’t last long. If the predictions are correct, it could close early next week. The next rise should bring in the last of the kings as well as some bright winter steelhead. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station.

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
Low, clear water has stalled late-season salmon fishing on the Elk, Sixes and Chetco, as well as the start of steelhead fishing, but rain over the weekend could give just enough of a boost to make side-drifting worthwhile reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Steelhead season opened Dec. 1, as well as the upper section of the Chetco above Nook Creek,” said Martin. “Salmon fishing has been slow the past week. Flows are expected to jump from 500 cfs to 1,500 cfs or more next week, if the forecast materializes. King tides this week could draw in late kings on the Elk and Sixes.”

Eel River Chinook salmon returns
For the week of November 17 – 23, 305 Chinook salmon (female 109, male 87, unknown 25, jack 84) were observed moving upstream through the fishway at Cape Horn Dam. The season total for upstream migrating Chinook salmon now stands at 1,274 (female 424, male 393, unknown 115, jack 342), through Sunday, November 23. This is the highest number since the 2012/13 season. For more information, visit https://eelriver.org/the-eel-river/#fishcount.

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

Another Storm, Another Miss: North Coast Still Waiting on a Real Rise

Sol Gallaway with a Smith River king landed last Friday. Photo courtesy of Fishing the North Coast Guide Service.

Another week, another dismal atmospheric river has come and gone. The storm door cracked open back in early October, but it hasn’t been kicked open much farther since. Instead, we’ve seen a parade of modest systems — just enough rain to bump flows, but not nearly enough to produce the kind of full-blown rises anglers hope for this time of year. It’s been one little storm after another, keeping the rivers barely high enough to remain open and allowing salmon to trickle in rather than charge upriver in big bunches.

Despite the lack of a true gully-washer, the small rises we’ve had have created windows of very fishable conditions. Those brief lifts in flow have turned out some pretty good scores for boats and bank anglers who were able to time their outings around the modest pulses of water. Fish continue to move on each rise, albeit in smaller and smaller numbers.

For now, the pattern remains the same: light rains, marginal rises, and steady but unspectacular fishing. Anglers will be watching closely for a stronger system that could finally open the door all the way and push the bulk of the late-fall fish into the rivers as well as some early-arriving steelhead. Until then, the trickle continues — and so does the opportunity for those willing to watch the gauges and take advantage when conditions line up.

Weather ahead
According to the Eureka’s National Weather Service, moderate to locally heavy rainfall ended late Wednesday with the passing of the front. “A chillier airmass has moved in behind the front. Overnight lows will bring chances for interior frost and some freezing temperatures, but values will be close to climatological norms. After the recent rains, and building high pressure, the environment will be favorable for poorly modeled radiational fog over at least the next couple of mornings. An additional system is possible early next week, but ensembles continue to trend this system northward. Even high-end precipitation amounts are only showing 0.25 amounts clipping Del Norte County. After the passage of an associated cold front, cooler overnight lows will return Tuesday morning. Precipitation chances are currently not forecast to trend higher until mid to late next week.”

CDFW awaits new domoic acid test results for North Coast crab
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted additional domoic acid sampling late last week, deploying a vessel out of Eureka to collect crabs for both retesting and initial toxicity checks. The effort included a retest of the Trinidad area, which previously returned elevated domoic acid levels. Under state health guidelines, any area that tests high must produce two consecutive clean results, collected at least one week apart, before restrictions can be lifted.

According to a CDFW, test results from the most recent round of sampling are expected to be available on Nov. 20 or Nov. 21. These findings will help determine whether the Trinidad zone is trending toward reopening and will provide the first assessment of crab condition in the Eureka area.

Shelter Cove update
“It’s been a little slow without being able to fish for crab, but things are picking up,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “Rock fishing has been really good lately, and the lingcod action has been excellent as well. Haven’t been going too far, just around the Old Man and the Hat.”

Brookings update
According to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters, lingcod and rockfish action is good out of Brookings when the weather cooperates. “Last weekend produced limits,” said Martin. “Winds calm down this weekend, although the swell is borderline at 10 feet.”

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mad, and Smith were open to fishing. Only Redwood Creek remained closed due to low flows. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.

Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad
The Mad was on a slight rise as of Thursday morning and is forecast to reach 1,100 cfs in the afternoon. It’s forecast to drop through the weekend and into early next week before the rain returns mid-next week. There are reportedly fresh salmon making their way into the river. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ARCC1

Main Eel
Following Tuesday’s rise, the main stem was on drop Thursday and flowing just above 4,000 cfs. It’s predicted to drop through the weekend and could be fishable next week when flows will dip below 2,000 cfs. The next rise is predicted for the end of next week. There should be some late arriving kings around as well as some fresh coho. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=SCOC1

South Fork Eel
The South Fork was running at 1,000 cfs Thursday morning and it looks like it won’t reach 1,200 cfs as predicted. It will be on the drop through the weekend and all next week. Last weekend, with flows under 1,000, the river remained off color. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=MRNC1

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen was on a very slight rise Thursday morning, but it won’t amount to much. Flows were right around 575 cfs and will be on the drop through mid-next week. It’s predicted to get down to 200 cfs late next week prior to the next rain event. It should be fishable by the weekend. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BRGC1

Smith
The Smith was on a slow rise Thursday morning, but likely to peak at less than predicted. As of noon it was around 2,290 cfs and may not go much above 2,300 cfs. Rain last Sunday brought flows up Monday and the fishing was decent. Some fresh fish were caught, but the majority are now dark and there’s some nice coho around. The ensemble forecast shows the river dropping through next Tuesday, with the next small rise predicted for Wednesday. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=CREC1

Eel River Chinook salmon returns
According to the Friends of the Eel website, the first Chinook salmon arrived at the Van Arsdale Fisheries Station (VAFS) on Wednesday, November 5. Salmon arrivals were steady throughout the week and peaked on Thursday, November 6, with 111 arrivals. Over the week (November 3 – 9), 251 Chinook salmon (female 73, male 85, unknown 27, jack 66) were observed migrating upstream through the fish passage facility at Cape Horn Dam. The season total for upstream migrating Chinook salmon stands at 251 (female 73, male 85, unknown 27, jack 66), through Sunday, November 9. For more information, visit https://eelriver.org/the-eel-river/#fishcount.

Nov. 28 and 29 free fish days in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is waiving all fishing licensing requirements on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to experience fishing with friends and family during the long holiday weekend. All fishing, crabbing and clamming in Oregon will be free for both Oregon residents and non-residents. No licenses, tags or endorsements are needed on those days, but all other fishing regulations apply. Visit https://myodfw.com/articles/2025-free-fishing-days-and-events

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“Salmon fishing has slowed on the Chetco,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “After a decent weekend, catch rates dropped significantly to begin the week. A few late fish are expected after the next rain, but many anglers will turn their attention to the Dec. 1 steelhead opener. A few steelhead have already been released.

The Elk and Sixes need a big rain event to jumpstart the action. Expect decent fishing on the Elk after the next rise to 4 feet. The river was 2.3 feet on Wednesday.”

Last Call for Kings — Steelhead Season on Deck

Ferndale resident Iver Skavdal with a nice king caught last week on the Smith River. Photo courtesy of Alan’s Guide Service

As another weakening storm approaches the North Coast, it’s safe to say we’re now on the backside of the late-fall coastal king salmon run. This fall still hasn’t delivered the kind of big storm needed to give the rivers a full blowout, and most have been teetering between open and closed. On the bright side, salmon returns to the coastal rivers appear strong. Plenty of kings have been caught on the Smith, from the tidewater up to the forks, over the past few weeks, and schools of traveling salmon have been spotted pushing through the smaller coastal streams as well.

If conditions hold, anglers should have another week or two of opportunity to hook a bright king. We’re also starting to see good numbers of coho moving into the rivers, which is usually a sign the king run is winding down.

With the salmon now taking care of business in their home tributaries, we’ll turn our attention to what’s next — the first signs of the winter steelhead run.

Weather ahead
According to the US National Weather Service Eureka, 2 to 3 inches of rain is most likely across Mendocino and Lake Counties with only about 1 inch of rain in Humboldt Bay and Crescent City. “Rain amounts may peak over 4 inches in some isolated high mountain areas in the King Range and Trinity Alps. Some showers could linger Thursday evening into early Friday. Additional rainfall will most likely be no more than 0.1 inches with less than 10% chance of additional total rainfall over 0.2 inches. A drier and cooler air mass will quickly build behind the front with mostly clear skies by Friday afternoon. Another, weak rain event is expected later in the weekend. Current rain amounts will most likely be less than 0.5 inches, focused along the North Coast.”

2025 Recreational Pacific Halibut Fishery to Close Nov. 15
The 2025 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will close after Saturday, Nov. 15, according to state and federal fishery managers. As of Oct. 26, California anglers had harvested 19,110 net pounds of halibut — about 49 percent of the state’s 39,280-pound share of the Area 2A quota, which is jointly managed with Washington and Oregon.

Of California’s allocation, 500 pounds are reserved for the waters south of Point Arena. Despite the underage, the fishery will still close as scheduled under the season structure approved earlier this year.

Shelter Cove update
“Rock fishing has been excellent and the lingcod bite has gotten really good the last week or so,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “We’ve been fishing the Old Man lately. There’s been some decent albacore fishing out of Fort Bragg the last few days, but no Cove boats made the trek.”

Brookings update
According to Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters, boaters have been able to get out of Brookings this week for lingcod and rockfish, although choppy seas have limited success for lings to some extent. “Quality rockfish are as close as Chetco Point. Saturday’s forecast looks fishable,” said Martin.

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, and the Smith were open to fishing. The Mad, and Redwood Creek remained closed due to low flows. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.

Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad
The Mad was around 165 cfs as of Thursday morning and is forecast for a steep rise throughout the day, peaking at 3,100 cfs in the evening. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ARCC1

Main Eel
The main Eel as flowing at 1,690 cfs as of Thursday morning and starting to rise. With the rain, it’s predicted to peak at 8,460 cfs Friday night and will likely be muddy It should drop into fishable shape late in the weekend or the first of next week. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=SCOC1

South Fork Eel
The South Fork opened to fishing Thursday morning as flows were 470 cfs and rising quickly. It should be fishable throughout the weekend, with the next, smaller rise forecast for Monday. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=MRNC1

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen has been open since mid-last week. It was on a steep rise Thursday morning and expected to peak at nearly 5,000 cfs later in the evening. It should drop in to fishable shape by later in the weekend before the next rise begins Monday morning. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BRGC1

Smith
Flows and fishing both peaked last Thursday as the river peaked at over 11 feet on the Jed Smith gauge. Since then, it’s been getting low and clear. Back bouncing roe in the spots that have current has been the ticket this week and will be the case through the weekend. A slight rise is predicted for Friday, but it’s predicted to remain under 7 feet. There are likely a few bright kings still making their way in, along with some darker fish. Quite a few coho have been caught this week. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=CREC1

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“The Chetco has been fair for salmon, but slower than expected considering this week’s prime conditions,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Many of the salmon have already moved upriver to spawn. Spawning salmon can be seen throughout the upper river. Leaves challenged anglers over the weekend, making it difficult to run plugs as the biggest number of kings move through. By Monday, the action had slowed, but anglers back-bouncing roe or bobber fishing were catching a mix of bright and dark salmon. This week’s rain will help for the weekend, although the lower river could get muddy.

The Elk and Sixes had a brief window on Sunday and Monday, but will fish well again with rain late this week. The Elk was slower than expected, but plenty of fish should still be coming. The Sixes fished well with good flows to begin the week.”

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.

Prime Weekend for Late Fall Kings

Matt Vanoli landed a bright king while fishing the Smith River Wednesday. Excellent conditions are on tap for the next few days on the Smith. Photo courtesy of Michael Poly.

If you haven’t gotten in on the late fall king action yet, this should be your weekend. River conditions are lining up nicely for both the Smith and Chetco — and with the run possibly winding down, now’s the time to go.

Earlier rain put plenty of water back into both systems. Boats were back on the Smith by Wednesday, while the Chetco was still too muddy. That should change soon — the Smith is prime right now, and the Chetco should come around by Saturday. It may start off a bit high, but by Sunday it should be in great shape and fishing well into next week.

Closer to home, the main stem Eel could be fishable by late in the weekend or early next week, depending on how dirty the creeks get. It’s forecast to peak around 7,940 cfs Friday but was already dropping Thursday and running below projections — a good sign. The South Fork was a little off-color Thursday but could be in shape by the weekend, with flows expected just under 1,200 cfs Saturday morning. The Van Duzen has one more rise coming Friday, but if it falls short, it could be fishable by the weekend too.

Weather ahead
According to the US National Weather Service Eureka, high pressure and upper-level ridge will build in quickly Friday over the West Coast in the wake of the front. Any lingering showers are expected to dissipate Friday morning as the flow aloft shifts to northwest and dryer airmass moves in. Dry and seasonably high temperatures are expected on Friday.

Dry offshore regimen will promote a drying and warming trend this weekend through at least early next week. Ensemble and deterministic models’ guidance’s are in a good agreement with the high pressure persisting over the area this weekend. High pressure breakdown begins to shift eastward on Tuesday as an upper-level trough approaches.”

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures were open to fishing. This includes the main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast. Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad
The Mad was down to 1,375 as of Thursday morning and dropping. It’s predicted to rise early Friday morning, peaking at 2,980 cfs. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ARCC1

Main Eel
Peaked at 5,960 cfs early Thursday morning, but came in below projections. Another half-inch of rain is forecast for late Thursday, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to put it back on the rise. It could drop into shape late in the weekend and should be in good shape early next week. The next significant rise is predicted for Thursday. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=SCOC1

South Fork Eel
The South Fork opened to angling Tuesday, and peaked at 2,300 cfs Wednesday afternoon. It’s predicted to drop – though it could see a slight bump in flows Friday – through the weekend and into next week. Conditions should be good for the weekend and there are salmon spread throughout the river. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=MRNC1

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen opened to angling Wednesday as flows climbed to 2,530 cfs. It has been on the drop since, with the next rise forecast for Friday where it could reach 2,900 cfs. It’s predicted to drop through the weekend and into next week. Flows should be right around 980 cfs Saturday morning. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.
cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BRGC1

Smith
The Smith opened back up Tuesday and boats were back on the water Wednesday. Even on the steep rise, plenty of fish were caught. Conditions should be excellent Friday as the river will be on the drop from 10 feet at the Jed Smith gauge. It will continue to drop through mid-next week when the next round of rain is forecasted. Expect clearing conditions this weekend. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=CREC1

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
“The Chetco fished well Monday and Tuesday, before blowing out Tuesday evening,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “It was high and muddy Wednesday, and expected to remain blown out Thursday before dropping for the weekend. A mix of bright and dark adults and jacks are being caught, with hatchery and wild fish in the mix. Tuesday’s all-tackle opener lives up to its billing, with a good bite for drift boaters back-bouncing roe. Lots of leaves and muddy water kept everyone away Wednesday. Flows below 4,000 cfs are fishable, with flows below 3,000 ideal. The Ice Box gate is now open for launching and bank fishing access. The Elk and Sixes also blew out Wednesday and were full of leaves. They will be in shape for the weekend, but expect a crowd.”

Weekend Rains Briefly Open North Coast Rivers

Brady Smith of Klamath Falls holds a 41-inch king caught Monday on the Smith River with guide Andy Martin. He was fishing a 5.0 MagLip with a tuna wrap. Photo courtesy of Wild Rivers Fishing

The season’s first atmospheric river was forecast to hit the North Coast last Friday and into the weekend, but it came in well under predictions. What was expected to deliver 4 to 6 inches of rain ended up producing just 2 to 2.5 inches. Still, it was enough to briefly open several rivers — the Smith for three days, and the Mad and Van Duzen for just one. The main stem Eel opened Sunday and remains the only North Coast river subject to low-flow closures that’s still open. Across the border, the Chetco is open, though anglers are required to fish with a bobber through Nov. 3.

The good news is there’s plenty of salmon around. Unfortunately, most of the fish caught in North Coast rivers have been dark and past their prime. The Smith produced good numbers Sunday and Monday, but chrome-bright fish were scarce. The Chetco also saw a solid bite, with a more even mix of dark and fresh salmon.

Looking ahead, the next storm is forecast to arrive Tuesday. The Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14-day outlook calls for above-normal precipitation — hopefully the next round of rain will bring more fishable water and a few more bright kings.

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, except the main stem Eel are closed to fishing. This includes the Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.

Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Smith
Fishing was good Sunday and Monday prior to closing Tuesday. Most of the fish were dark, but there were some bright ones caught. There should be more bright fish coming with the next rise, which should happen next Tuesday. The daily bag limit is one Chinook salmon per day and no more than five wild Chinook salmon over 22 inches per year. Minimum flow: 600 cfs at the Jedediah Smith State Park gauging station. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=CREC1

Mad
The Mad was open Monday, but quickly closed Tuesday due to low flows. There were reportedly quite a few salmon seen moving up from the tide water. The ensemble forecast shows the river beginning to rise late Tuesday. Minimum flow: 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=ARCC1

Main stem Eel
The river was open as of Thursday with flows right around 670 cfs and dropping. With dry weather on tap for the next several days, it may close to fishing later in the weekend of early next week. The next rise, which is forecast for Wednesday could open it back up to fishing. The Eel River is open to catch and release of salmon in 2025/26. Minimum Flow: 350 cubic feet per second at the gauging station near Scotia.
cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=SCOC1

South Fork Eel
The South Fork didn’t receive enough rain over the weekend to open it up. That could change late next week with the arrival of the next storm. Minimum flow: 340 cfs at the gauging station at Miranda. cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=MRNC1

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen opened, and closed, last Monday as flows quickly fell below 150 cfs. If the forecast is correct, it could open to fishing next Wednesday. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.
cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BRGC1

Chetco
“The Chetco River was in good shape for fall kings over the weekend and the beginning of the week, with lots of fish spread throughout the river,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “By Tuesday, the river was already low and clear and challenging to drift. Boats were bumping bottom on most riffles on Wednesday. A mix of bright and dark fish were caught early in the week, before action dropped sharply on Tuesday. Fishing was slow Wednesday, and will likely remain so until next week’s rain. Gear restrictions requiring a bobber remain in effect through Nov. 3. Several anglers and some guides were ticketed by state troopers at the beginning of the week.”

Sixes River low flow angling closure to be lifted
Beginning Nov. 3, the Sixes River low flow angling closure will be lifted. ODFW typically closes a portion of the river to angling Oct. 1 to protect wild fall chinook salmon vulnerable to snagging or poaching while staging between Crystal Creek and Hughes House Boat Ramp.

Anglers are reminded the bag limit for wild adult chinook in the Sixes River is one adult chinook per day, 10 for the season. Elk River, just south of Sixes River is closed to retention of wild fall chinook this year. For more information, check the ODFW Recreation Report.

Sport Dungeness crab season delayed on the North Coast
In a press release issued Oct. 24 by CDFW, the recreational Dungeness crab season will open beginning Nov. 1, 2025, except in northern California where it has been delayed due to a public health hazard.

CDFW Statement:
“State health agencies determined that Dungeness crab in northern California have unhealthy levels of domoic acid and recommended delaying the opening of the recreational fishery in state waters from the California/Oregon border (42° 0.00’ N latitude) south to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line (38° 46.125’ N latitude). Following this recommendation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has delayed the opening of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery in northern California. Recreational take and/or possession of Dungeness crab is prohibited in these closed waters.

In the area between the Sonoma/Mendocino County line and Point Reyes (37° 59.73’ N latitude), state health agencies are advising the public not to consume crab viscera (guts) to avoid potential domoic acid exposure. In addition, the use of crab traps will be temporarily restricted between the Sonoma/Mendocino County line and Lopez Point, Monterey County (36° N latitude, Fishing Zones 3 and 4) when the season opens due to the presence of humpback whales and potential for entanglement from recreational crab traps.

A Fleet Advisory has also been issued for all Fishing Zones for the recreational fishery and crabbers should avoid setting any gear in areas where whales are present. Also, all hoop nets must be serviced every two hours and cannot be left unattended for longer periods.

Recreational take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is not affected by the temporary trap restriction in these areas. Crab traps cannot be used south of Point Arguello.
The delay of the northern recreational fishery shall remain in effect until the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in consultation with the State Public Health Officer of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), determines that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health.

Expired marine flare collection events
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and the Make the Electronic Marine Flare Switch campaign have partnered with CalRecycle, and the California State Parks and Coastal Commission’s California Boating Clean and Green Program to collect expired marine flares and educate residents about marine flare management safety, including the advantages of reusable distress signals, to protect California communities and the local environment.

Residents and boaters berthing their boats in Alameda County, Del Norte County, West Contra Costa County, Marin County, and Santa Cruz County can take their expired marine flares to their county’s designated marine flare collection events in the fall. Click here for all the Bay Area times and locations.

A collection date for Del Norte has been set for Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1700 State Street, Crescent City. For more information, visit www.calpsc.org/marineflareswitchcampaign

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, rock fishing has been good for the few boats that made it out this week. “Looks like we may have some decent weather at the end of the week,” said Mitchell.”

Big Storms on the Way — and So Are the Kings

Big kings, like this one caught by Whitney Floyd on the Smith River, should be showing up after this weekend’s storms. Photo courtesy of Seth Waters Fishing

The season’s first major storms are headed for the North Coast, and they’re shaping up to be impressive. According to the National Weather Service office in Eureka, a deep and expansive Aleutian low will drive an atmospheric river–type system into the Pacific Northwest beginning Friday. Multiple disturbances rotating off this low will impact Northern California, bringing moderate to heavy precipitation from late Friday through Sunday.

Oceanic-to-coastal thunderstorms are also possible from Saturday afternoon into Sunday across Northern Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Rainfall totals are forecast to range from 4 to 6 inches in Del Norte County and 1.5 to 3.5 inches in Humboldt and Trinity counties. Another disturbance is expected to pass through on Sunday, with additional systems following into Monday. These will likely carry weak to moderate atmospheric river characteristics, especially on Sunday.

For salmon anglers, that’s welcome news. Fresh-from-the-salt king salmon — big, bright, and full of energy — will begin making their way up all of our coastal rivers starting this weekend. If you notice a line of drift boats heading north on U.S. Highway 101, this is the reason.

Following an early rise Saturday morning, both the Smith and Chetco rivers could be fishable by Sunday, though anglers should expect off-colored water, plenty of debris, and continued rising flows. Fresh kings should be moving through both systems.

As of Thursday, the Smith River is forecast to peak just over 4,000 cfs at the Jed Smith gauge early Monday morning before beginning a steady drop through the week. The Chetco is expected to follow a similar pattern, peaking around 1,500 cfs Saturday before leveling out and offering good conditions Sunday through Tuesday. Another round of storms predicted for next weekend could push Chetco flows above 2,300 cfs, bringing another pulse of fresh fish upriver.

As of Thursday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen were closed to fishing. The low-flow closure telephone hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.
Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

Mad River
Predicted to peak at 545 cfs Monday morning. Minimum flows are 200 cfs at the gauging station at the Highway 299 bridge to lift angling restrictions.

Main Eel
Forecasted to reach 1,050 cfs early Monday morning. Minimum flows are 350 cfs on the Scotia gauge to lift angling restrictions.

Van Duzen
Predicted to peak at 340 cfs Monday morning Minimum flows are 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park to lift angling restrictions.

South Fork Eel
Flows are predicted to peak at 445 cfs Monday morning. Minimum flows are 340 cfs at Miranda to lift angling restrictions.

Smith
The Smith is likely to see heavy boat traffic this weekend. If the predictions hold, it could open sometime Saturday morning. It’s forecast for a steep rise through Sunday, but could be fishable in the afternoon. Monday is looking like the day. It could be a little dirty and leafy, but fish should be coming. Minimum flows are 600 cfs at Jedediah Smith State Park to lift angling restrictions.

Chetco/Rogue
“The Chetco should be high enough to float with a drift boat by the weekend, although bobber restrictions remain in place until early November,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The estuary has slowed as big schools of kings have moved into the tidewater. Generally, boats can get down river with a little dragging at 800 cfs. Above 1,500 cfs, the lower river is an easy drift, although boats may bump bottom at Willow Riffle and above Moffit Rock. The gate at Ice Box is expected to remain closed until Nov. 3. Flows of 1,000 to 1,500 cfs are expected this weekend and early next week. At flows less than 2,000 cfs, boaters will have to fish next to bank anglers on the lower river.

If rain comes in a little more than expected, the Elk and Sixes could become fishable, although a big surf could reduce the number of kings that move in from the ocean. The Rogue Bay is slow, with an occasional late king or coho moving through. Steelhead fishing has been disappointing upriver.”

Dungeness crab testing continues
Domoic acid testing in Dungeness crabs has begun on the California coast. To date, samples from Trinidad, Crescent City, and Monterey have been reported. Of the five crabs from Trinidad and Crescent City, one or more have exceeded the action level of 30 parts per million. Crabs tested out of Monterey Bay all came back clean. More information regarding Domoic Acid and the latest test results can be found here.

Expired marine flare collection events
The California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and the Make the Electronic Marine Flare Switch campaign have partnered with CalRecycle, and the California State Parks and Coastal Commission’s California Boating Clean and Green Program to collect expired marine flares and educate residents about marine flare management safety, including the advantages of reusable distress signals, to protect California communities and the local environment.
Residents and boaters berthing their boats in Alameda County, Del Norte County, West Contra Costa County, Marin County, and Santa Cruz County can take their expired marine flares to their county’s designated marine flare collection events in the fall. Click here for all the Bay Area times and locations.
A collection date for Del Norte has been set for Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1700 State Street, Crescent City. For more information, visit www.calpsc.org/marineflareswitchcampaign

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

Storm Door Cracking Open on the North Coast

The Chetco estuary continues to be the hot spot for kings, with plenty of big ones being landed daily. Pictured above is one of the kings caught this week with guide Rye Phillips of Brookings Fishing Charters. Photo courtesy of Brookings Fishing Charters

The good news is we’re starting to see a shift in the weather pattern, bringing with it the second rainstorm of the season. Unfortunately, it looks like it will still fall short of what’s needed to open the coastal rivers to fishing. The one possible exception could be the main stem Eel River, where flows are predicted to surpass the 350 cfs threshold at Scotia.

From the Smith down to the South Fork Eel, roughly three-quarters to an inch of rain is forecast between Friday and Saturday. Another small storm is expected Monday, but it doesn’t appear strong enough to make much of a difference. While this rain will help, our parched rivers will need several inches and a series of consistent storms before they open up. Hopefully this is just the beginning and the storm door has been pushed open.

As a reminder, the low-flow hotline has been disconnected. River openings and closures can now be tracked in real time at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast. Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

In the meantime, the Chetco continues to be the bright spot on the coast for fall kings. If you’re looking for big fish, now’s the time to go — before the rains come and the salmon make their move upriver.

Weekend marine forecast
South winds, albeit slight, are in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. As of Thursday afternoon, out 10 nautical miles, Friday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the south 10 to 15 knots with south waves 4 feet at five seconds and northwest 5 feet at 10 seconds. Saturday, winds will be out of the south up to 5 knots with west waves 3 feet at seven seconds and northwest 4 feet at 10 seconds. Sunday, winds will be 5 to 10 knots out of the north with northwest waves 2 feet at five seconds and northwest 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 https://www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Warnings lifted for some shellfish in Humboldt County
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish and seafood safety notification today related to certain sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from Humboldt County. The warning no longer applies to scallops, oysters and clams (except for razor clams). An advisory for razor clams in Humboldt County remains in effect.

CDFW Statement:

The safety notification for Humboldt County was issued on September 9, 2025, due to dangerous levels of domoic acid in mussels. This naturally occurring toxin can cause illness or death in humans. Recent testing shows domoic acid has decreased to safe levels in shellfish other than razor clams in this area.

A warning against eating sport-harvested razor clams from Humboldt County remains in effect as razor clams are at high risk for long-term elevated levels of domoic acid. Dangerous levels of naturally occurring domoic acid, also referred to as amnesic shellfish poisoning, have been detected in the razor clams. Razor clams are known to retain domoic acid toxin in their meat and tissues much longer than other species of bivalve shellfish. The annual mussel quarantine also remains in effect, which means that while scallops, oysters, and most types of clams can be harvested from Humboldt County, mussels remain under quarantine. The annual quarantine prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption and applies to all species of mussels harvested along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries, and will continue through at least October 31. This warning does not apply to commercially sold mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters from approved sources. State law permits only state-certified commercial shellfish harvesters or dealers to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing to monitor for toxins. More information can be found here.

The Oceans:
Eureka
“Excellent ocean conditions earlier this week allowed boats to make it down to the Cape for the first time in a while,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “We fished down there on Tuesday and the bite was excellent. We landed a really good variety of rockfish along with some nice lings. There’s been just a few boats fishing for halibut, and it sounds like they’re still biting. Most of the action has been north of the entrance. Ocean conditions for the weekend don’t look great, with the south wind returning on Friday.”

Jesse Mela and Shaun Mitchell of Benbow with a couple Albacore landed Monday out of Shelter Cove. Photo courtesy of Jake Mitchell/Sea Hawk Sport Fishing

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, the rock fishing was good as usual. He said, “It’s been really quick and easy limits. We also got some nice weather Monday and Tuesday and we were able to get back offshore and look for tuna. It was a 45-mile run but the fish were there and bit pretty good. We ended the day with 36 and the boats that went Tuesday landed between 20 and 30. We fished outside the Knoll.

Brookings
“Lingcod, rockfish and crab action remains good out of Brookings, with halibut biting on calm weather days,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “This weekend looks decent. Lingcod are already staging in shallow water for the winter spawn.”

Low flow river closures in effect since Sept. 1
As Sept. 1, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen were closed to fishing. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is no longer in service. You can now find river openings and closures in real time online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.

Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is available here.

NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2026.

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
The Klamath is back under 3,000 cfs as of Thursday, but the mouth reportedly remains plugged or severely restricted. There hasn’t been much in the way of new fish entering the lower river for quite some time. Rain is on the way, hopefully it will be enough to blow it out. There should be quite a few more kings, along with coho, still waiting to make their way into the river. Fishing pressure has been very light.

The daily bag limit is two hatchery steelhead or hatchery trout per day on both the Klamath and Trinity rivers, with a possession limit of four. Anglers must have a Steelhead Report/Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. Both the Klamath and Trinity rivers are open to fishing, but take and possession of Chinook salmon is prohibited. More information, can be found here.

Chetco/Rogue
According to Martin. salmon fishing has been good at the mouth of the Chetco, but the estuary is crowded with upwards of 30 boats a day along the jetties. “Salmon to 30 pounds are being caught daily, with wild and hatchery adults and lots of jacks. Salmon also are biting bobbers and eggs in the tidewater.
The Rogue Bay is still a solid bet, with late kings, lots of wild coho and a few hatchery coho. Crowds also have thinned out.”