The good news is that a change in the weather pattern is on the horizon, bringing some much-needed rain. Unfortunately for anglers, the forecast still falls well short of what’s needed to open the coastal rivers to fishing.
From the Smith River south to the South Fork Eel, roughly a quarter inch of rain is forecast for Monday night into Tuesday. While any rain is welcome, our parched rivers will need several inches and a series of consistent storms before they begin to open. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, and the storm door is starting to crack open.
As a reminder, the low-flow hotline is no longer in service. River openings and closures can now be tracked in real time at CDFW’s North Coast Low-Flow webpage. Low-flow information for all North Coast rivers is also available here.
In the meantime, the Chetco River estuary remains the bright spot on the coast for late-fall kings. If you’re looking to hook a big salmon, now’s the time to go — before the rains arrive and the fish make their move upriver.
Weekend marine forecast
Excellent ocean conditions are forecast for Friday and Saturday before it starts to come back up Sunday. As of Thursday afternoon, out 10 nautical miles, Friday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the north 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 2 feet at four seconds and northwest 4 feet at 12 seconds. Saturday, winds will be out of the north 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 2 feet at five seconds and west 5 feet at 12 seconds. Sunday, winds will be 5 to 10 knots out of the northwest with northwest waves 7 feet at 12 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 12 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or 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.
Del Norte razor clam fishery closes due to domoic acid levels
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Oct. 9 that the Del Norte razor clam fishery has been closed. This closure comes following a recommendation from state health agencies that determined consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant threat to human health for domoic acid exposure.
Samples collected in late September at Crescent Beach in Del Norte County found clams exceeding the current federal action level for domoic acid of greater than or equal to 20 parts per million. CDFW will be coordinating with health agencies to determine when this area may be reopened. The recreational razor clam fishery in Humboldt County remains closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid. The closure, which began in May 2024, remains in effect until state health agencies determine razor clams no longer pose a health risk.
For the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, visit CDFW’s fishery closure information and health advisories website or call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.
For the latest consumption warnings, please check for any razor clam health advisory information on the CDPH’s shellfish advisories page or by calling the CDPH’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.
Dungeness crab testing begins
Domoic acid testing in Dungeness crabs has begun on the California coast. To date, only samples from Monterey have been reported and all have come back clean. More information regarding Domoic Acid and the latest test results can be found here.
The Oceans:
Eureka
“There hasn’t been much activity offshore of Eureka lately, but conditions could change that the next couple days,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “Ocean conditions look really good for Friday and Saturday, so I’d imagine boats will be targeting halibut or headed to the Cape for rockfish. We spent a couple of days fishing inside Humboldt Bay for California halibut. The first day we did really well, but the second day the bite was tougher. There’s definitely fish to be had when the tides are right.”
Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, boat traffic has been pretty slow at the Cove. He said, “We did get out the last two days, and the rock fishing was lights-out. We fished around the whistle and had limits by 10 a.m. both days. Tuna fishing isn’t looking too promising as the water has pushed pretty far out.”
Brookings
Sport crab season will be closed beginning Friday, Oct. 16 after a summer and fall of excellent catches just outside of the harbor, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Ocean crab reopens in Oregon Dec. 1,” said Martin. “Windy weather has limited the opportunity to fish for lingcod and rockfish, but limits of rockfish have been easy when the ocean cooperates. Nice weather is expected this weekend.”
North Coast river closures
Currently, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen are closed. Sections of rivers that are open include the main stem Smith River from its mouth to the mouth of Rowdy Creek.
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, 2027.
Lower Trinity River closed to the take of adult salmon after Friday, Oct. 16
In a press release issued Thursday, CDFW has determined the Lower Trinity River adult fall-run Chinook salmon quota will be met as of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16.
CDFW Statement:
“This triggers the closure of the adult Chinook salmon fishery on the Trinity River from the Denny Road Bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River. The quota for this portion of the river is 536 adult fish. The reach will remain open, however, to the harvest of jack (2-year-old) Chinook salmon (less than or equal to 23 inches). All adult Chinook salmon caught must be immediately released.
The Klamath and Trinity rivers are managed as quota fisheries allowing for the combined take of approximately 3,200 adult fall-run Chinook salmon in 2026. Different sections of the two rivers have different quotas assigned to them. You can learn more about these fishing quotas at CDFW’s YouTube channel.
Anglers can monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling CDFW’s information hotline at (800) 564-6479.
CDFW reminds anglers targeting salmon in the Klamath and Trinity rivers that they must be in possession of a 2026 North Coast Salmon Report Card. Anglers are required to begin filling out their card at the start of fishing and record harvest and release in real-time.”
The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
Fishing pressure has been very light on the Lower Klamath, with reports hard to come by. There should be some late arriving kings still making their way into the river, along with some steelhead. Some coho are starting to make their way in as well as the numbers are starting to rise on the Hoopa weir. Flows were just above 2,500 cfs on the lower river gauge but are forecast to drop slightly early next week as flows are reduced down to the winter base flow of 300 cfs coming from the Trinity.
The recreational fall-run adult salmon quota on the Klamath River below the Highway 96 Bridge near Weitchpec was met as of Sunday, Sept. 13. The lower main stem of the Klamath River below the Highway 96 Bridge will remain open to the harvest of jack salmon (2-year-olds) measuring 23 inches or less. All adult Chinook salmon caught in this reach must be immediately released.
Anglers may still target adult Chinook salmon in other reaches of the Klamath Basin, including the main stem of the Klamath River above Weitchpec.
Chetco/Rogue
According to Martin, salmon fishing has been good at times in the Chetco estuary, but catch rates have dropped as bigger numbers of kings move into the tidewater. “Lots of jacks and a few adults were caught this week along the jetties. Bobber fishing in the tidewater has been good with live sand shrimp. Large schools of jacks and adults are spread throughout the entire tidewater section. The river is too low for drift boat fishing above tidewater.
The Rogue Bay has slowed, but a few nice kings are still being caught.”
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
