Shelter Cove | Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest

Back in Business: KMZ Salmon Season Opens Wide in 2026

Louie Damante of Reno landed this beautiful king salmon a few seasons ago out of Eureka. The North Coast is slated for the longest sport salmon season we’ve had in three years, starting in June. Photo courtesy of Gary Blasi/Full Throttle Sport Fishing

For the first time in three years, not one of the salmon season alternatives in the KMZ developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) included the word “closed.” That alone tells you everything you need to know about where we’re at heading into 2026.

In fact, North Coast anglers are looking at a solid opportunity this season, with 68 days on the water — assuming the quota doesn’t get met early. That’s a far cry from last year’s blink-and-you-missed-it two-day opener.

The improved outlook is driven by encouraging returns. An estimated 392,349 Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and 176,233 Klamath River fall-run Chinook are projected to be swimming off the California coast this season. Those numbers translate into more opportunity — not just locally, but up and down the coast.

At the April 7–12 PFMC meeting in Portland, Oregon, the PFMC Salmon Advisory Subpanel, along with the Salmon Technical Team — with heavy input from anglers and stakeholders — refined the three alternatives that came out of the March session. What they landed on for the KMZ is a season that should give anglers something to be excited about:

Season (KMZ): June 13 through July 19 and August 1–31
Bag limit: Two salmon per day, with no more than two daily limits in possession on land
Species: Chinook only (no coho retention)
Size limit: 24 inches through May 15, 2026; 20 inches thereafter
Quota: 3,900 Chinook

As always, in-season action remains on the table. If the fleet starts pushing up against the quota, managers can shut things down early to stay within the harvest guideline.

While the KMZ quota is modest compared to other areas, it reflects the ongoing need to protect Klamath River fish. The stock is improving, but it’s still not fully out of the woods. As you move south, quotas increase significantly, peaking at 34,900 fish in the San Francisco zone.

Just to the south, the Fort Bragg area — from the 40°10’ line to Point Arena — will mirror the KMZ season dates, but with a slightly higher quota of 5,100 Chinook.

After a few lean years, this season finally feels like a step in the right direction.

Klamath and Central Valley rivers
The seasons for the Klamath River fall and spring-run Chinook and the Central Valley fall Chinook fishery are still to be determined. As of now, the Klamath River fall recreational quota stands at 3,248. This will be divided between the Klamath and Trinity. At the April 15-16 California Fish and Game Commission meeting, season proposals will be heard from California Fish and Wildlife staff. These proposals will be decided upon at the May 5-6 California Fish and Game Commission meeting.

Southern Oregon salmon season
To our north in Brookings, the Chinook season opened March 15 and will run through August 31. The daily bag limit is two kings. The mark-selective coho fishery begins June 6 and will run through the earlier of Aug. 23, or 47,600 marked coho quota.

Upcoming salmon meeting
April 15-16: CDFW Commission Meeting in Sacramento, CA. The Commission will receive an update on ocean salmon sport fishery regulations in effect in 2026. The public may address and/or ask questions of the Commission relating to the implementation of its policies or any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Agenda and audio available online at https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2026

Marine forecast
Ocean conditions are looking good for Friday and Saturday before the south wind returns Sunday. Friday is calling for north winds 5 to 10 knots and northwest waves 6 feet at 10 seconds. Saturday is calling for winds out of the west up to 5 knots with northwest waves 3 feet at nine seconds and southwest 1 foot at 14 seconds. Sunday the winds will be coming out of the south 10 to 15 knots and waves southwest 4 feet at eight seconds and southwest 1 foot at 14 seconds with rain likely. Conditions can and will change prior to the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com/. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Lewiston Dam Set for Spring Pulse Flows
The 2026 water year hydrograph is awaiting final approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior, but if adopted as proposed, Trinity River anglers can expect a series of spring pulse flows beginning April 15.
Releases out of Lewiston Dam will gradually build with the spring snowmelt, peaking at 4,300 cubic feet per second on April 24. Following the peak, flows will steadily taper off, dropping to 750 cfs by June 9.
Another scheduled bump is set for mid-June, with flows increasing to 1,450 cfs on June 15 before once again receding. By early summer, the river is expected to settle into a 450 cfs baseflow by July 3.
If approved, the variable flow pattern should help mimic natural runoff conditions, benefiting fish movement and overall river health heading into the summer months.

Please take appropriate precautions whenever on or near the river. Residents in the river corridor are advised to move items away from the riverbank before peak flows begin.
Questions can be directed to the Trinity River Restoration Program office at 530-623-1800 or by emailing your question to info@trrp.net. An up-to-date daily schedule of flow releases are available at: TRRP: Current Conditions

Perchin’ on the Peninsula this Saturday
The Samoa Peninsula Fire District will be holding their Annual Perchin’ on the Peninsula Surfperch Fishing
Tournament and Fish Fry/Oyster BBQ Fundraiser this Saturday, April 18 at the Peninsula Elementary School, 909 Vance Ave, Samoa. The fish fry fundraiser is open to the public and admission is only $15 for adults and $10 for juniors for
just the fish fry. Adult fishing tournament entry is $25 and junior entry (15 and under) is $15. Fish fry lunch is included with tournament entry. Lunch begins at noon, weigh-ins end at 2 p.m.

Tournament day registration is available at the Peninsula Elementary School, cutoff is 7 a.m. Entries can be purchased at Grundman’s, Pacific Outfitters, Englund Marine, Ace Hardware in Fortuna, A&L Feed in McKinleyville, or Ken’s Auto in Arcata. Tournament rules are available at all sign-up locations. For more information, text (707) 599-5412 or visit SPFD Facebook page. All proceeds are a direct donation to the Samoa Peninsula Fire District.

California Halibut Derby on Humboldt Bay coming July 25
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding the second annual California Halibut Derby on Saturday, July 25. The fishing event will be held within the waters of Humboldt Bay. Check-ins, Weigh-ins, and Awards Ceremony will be held at Woodley Island, 601 Startare Drive at the East-I Lot Grass Area.

This is a slot size derby, a measurement will be drawn in the morning before the derby and posted to the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Adult payouts will be $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place, and $150 for 3rd place. Youth Payouts – $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place. Youth payouts will be in the form of gift cards. All Youths registered in the Derby will receive a rod and reel combo! Raffle prizes will include fishing trips, rods and reels, fishing tackle and gear, merchandise and more.

Big Fish Prize: entries will be California Halibut 30” and above. ONLY ONE Big Fish can be entered per entrant. In case of a tie, winner will be determined by weight. For the big fish, adult and youth divisions will be combined. Winner to be announced at event.

Sign-ups will begin on May 1. Entry Fees for adults are $60 (comes with a $30 NCGASA Membership). Youth entry fees are $40, 13 years and under (comes with a $10 NCGASA Membership) *If you are a current NCGASA member, you will receive $20 in raffle tickets at check-in.

The Oceans:
Eureka
Ocean conditions have been good all week for those targeting early Pacific halibut. There’s been a few caught, but overall, it’s been pretty slow. Most boats are either anchoring or drifting in 300 feet of water. The water has been clear; we probably need a stiff north wind to mix up the conditions. The rockfish bite at the Cape has been really good. Conditions look good through Saturday before the south wind returns.

Trinidad
Excellent ocean conditions allowed small boats and kayaks to finally launch off the beach this week. Reportedly, the fishing has been good. Conditions look a little rough for Friday, but the weekend is looking better. The boat launch was scheduled to open April 15. For updates and current information, you can call the bait shop at 677-3625.

Shelter Cove
“Rock Fishing remains really good at the Cove,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “We’ve been spending most of our time at White Rock and the Old Man. The lingcod bite hasn’t been red hot, but good enough to get limits. The Pacific halibut bite has been pretty slow.”

Crescent City
Excellent ocean conditions this week made for some really good fishing. Boats have been traveling both north and south for quick limits of rockfish as well as ling cod. Conditions look decent for the weekend, though winds will be out of the south.

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

Eel (main stem)
The main stem Eel is dropping back into shape. As of Thursday, flows were at 3,500 cfs at Scotia and it should be plenty fishable by the weekend. Another rise is predicted for early next week following the rain Sunday. It’s predicted to reach roughly 10,000 cfs. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through Sept. 30.

Smith River
The Smith rose to over 9 feet early Thursday morning following Wednesday’s storm. It’s predicted to drop quickly and will be back to low and clear by the weekend. Fishing pressure has been light. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April, as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
“The Rogue has been slow for springers, but plunkers are getting a few fish, and boaters anchoring and running anchovies are catching a few fish at first light,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “This week’s rain may improve catch rates.”

Brookings ocean update
According to Martin, salmon fishing has been good overall out of Brookings, with wide-open fishing at times over the weekend. “Most boats are getting a fish per rod, with plenty of limits. Kings range from 24 to 30 inches, with an occasional Rogue springer mixed in. Fishing has been best in 120 feet of water off the mill, with divers and shallow downriggers. Last week there was good action offshore in 250 feet of water, but the bait and salmon have moved back toward shore. With the commercial season now open, lots of boats are concentrated just north of Chetco Point. Salmon season runs through Aug. 31. Coho season runs June 6-Aug. 23. Lingcod and rockfish action also is very good. Halibut season opens in Oregon May 1.”

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

Solid start to rockfish, halibut season across local ports

Eureka resident Keith Daniels with a nice Pacific halibut landed Tuesday while fishing out of Eureka. Photo courtesy of Gary Blasi/Full Throttle Sport Fishing

The much-anticipated rockfish and Pacific halibut seasons kicked off last Wednesday, but rough ocean conditions kept most boats at the dock. Fortunately, the weather window didn’t last long, and by Friday — and through the weekend — anglers were back on the water. Since then, conditions have lined up nicely, giving boats across all ports a solid stretch of fishable days.

Out of Eureka, the rockfish bite has been excellent off Cape Mendocino, with limits coming easy. The lingcod bite has been just as strong, and the Pacific halibut showing up this early has been a welcome surprise. April halibut aren’t the norm, especially with fish typically holding deeper early in the season, but the early bite is definitely a good sign.

Up in Crescent City, where anglers didn’t have to deal with a bar crossing and conditions were a bit more forgiving, boats found quick limits of rockfish and lingcod at the usual spots. There hasn’t been much halibut effort yet, but at least one fish made it over the rail during the opener weekend.

Down in Shelter Cove, Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing reported a solid start to the season. “The rockfish bite has been good, while lingcod have been a bit tougher and halibut action on the slow side,” said Mitchell. “Still, with decent weather, boats have been able to spread out from Bear Harbor to Punta Gorda, all seeing fairly similar results.”

Weekend marine forecast
Ocean conditions have been great all week, and it doesn’t look like it will change much this weekend, except for a couple days of south wind and rain. Friday is calling for south winds 10 to 15 knots and northwest waves 3 feet at nine seconds and south 1 foot at 12 seconds. Saturday looks a little better, with winds out of the south 5 to 10 knots with southwest waves 3 feet at five seconds and northwest 3 feet at nine seconds. The wind will switch Sunday, coming out of the north 5 to 10 knots. Waves will be from the southwest 3 feet at eight seconds and west 5 feet at 10 seconds. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com/. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

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.

Upcoming salmon meetings
April 7-12: PFMC April Meeting in Portland, OR. The Council will adopt final regulatory measures for analysis by the STT. Final adoption of recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service will also occur and is tentatively scheduled for April 12.
Preseason Report III: Council-Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2026 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations will be available online in late April at www.pcouncil.org

April 15-16: CDFW Commission Meeting in Sacramento, CA. The Commission will receive an update on ocean salmon sport fishery regulations in effect in 2026. The public may address and/or ask questions of the Commission relating to the implementation of its policies or any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Agenda and audio available online at https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2026

Perchin’ on the Peninsula coming April 18
The Samoa Peninsula Fire District will be holding their Annual Perchin’ on the Peninsula Surfperch Fishing Tournament and Fish Fry/Oyster BBQ Fundraiser on Saturday, April 18 at the Peninsula Elementary School, 909 Vance Ave, Samoa. The fish fry fundraiser is open to the public and admission is only $15 for adults and $10 for juniors for just the fish fry. Adult fishing tournament entry is $25 and junior entry (15 and under) is $15. Fish fry lunch is included with tournament entry. Lunch begins at noon, weigh-ins end at 2 p.m.

Tournament day registration is available at the Peninsula Elementary School, cutoff is 7 a.m. Entries can be purchased at Grundman’s, Pacific Outfitters, Englund Marine, Ace Hardware in Fortuna, A&L Feed in McKinleyville, or Ken’s Auto in Arcata. Tournament rules are available at all sign-up locations. For more information, text (707) 599-5412 or visit SPFD Facebook page. All proceeds are a direct donation to the Samoa Peninsula Fire District.

Bass Tourney coming to Ruth Lake May 2nd
The Alderpoint Volunteer Fire Department is hosting the Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Bass Tournament on Saturday May 2nd at Ruth Lake. Check in is Friday night between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Ruth Lake Marina and Journey’s End between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. The tournament starts Saturday morning between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. with live well checks. This is a catch and release tournament with a 13-inch minimum length. Blast off is 6 a.m. or at first safe light. $150 fee and a $20 Big Fish option. For more information, call Thomas Bruce at 707-223-6258 or Roger Coleman Jr., 707-223-3858.

RMI Outdoors fishing contest
RMI Outdoors of Eureka is holding their annual Screamin’ Reels fishing contest starting May 1 and running through Sept. 7. To enter, take a picture with your fish and like the RMI Facebook and Instagram pages. Message RMI through Facebook or email your picture to rmi@rmioutdoorseureka.com. There are two categories, youth and adult youth. The winner of each category will win a fishing rod. Visit rmioutdoorseureka.com/tackle for more information.

The Rivers
Reminder: The Eel River, from its confluence with the SF Eel River upstream to Cape Horn Dam, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco all closed to fishing March 31.

Wayne Wilson of McKinleyville landed this nice steelhead last Saturday while Fishing the main stem of the Eel River. Photo courtesy of Mark Santos

Main Stem Eel
The main stem is clearing as it was down to 1,600 cfs at Scotia as of Thursday. The rain late last week put some color back in the river, and the fishing was decent for the handful of boats still fishing. And surprisingly, most of the fish being caught are fresh out of the ocean. A bigger rise is predicted for the weekend, which will blow it out for a while. Flows are predicted to hit close to 18,000 cfs early Monday morning. That should bring a good portion of the spent fish downriver. Once it clears, there could be some fish around. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Smith
Following late last week’s rain, there were some downers to be had. Fishing pressure is extremely light this time of the year, but fishing after these late season rises can be productive. A more significant and very winter-like rise is forecast for the weekend, and the river could reach 11 feet. That should really bring the spawners out of the creeks and could bring in some late fresh ones. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April, as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
“Salmon fishing is slow on the Rogue, with low water conditions,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The Chetco is closed to fishing until mid-May.”

Brookings ocean update
According to Martin, salmon fishing continues to be good, with a fish per rod for charters, and some boats limiting out. “On Tuesday a big school of kings was located about four miles offshore, in 230 feet of water off Bird Island. Fish to 20 pounds were caught. Lingcod and rockfish also continues to be very good, while sport crabbing has improved. ODFW has delivered the fish batch of snouts from hatchery salmon to its lab to determine where the large number of hatchery kings off of Oregon are originating from.

Brookings Salmon Bite Off to Strong Start

Customers fishing aboard the Miss Brooke of Brookings Fishing Charters with Capt. Chris Cooke hold some of the salmon they caught Monday on anchovies and Fish Flash flashers. Photo courtesy of Brookings Fishing Charters

The early salmon opener delivered a surprise most weren’t expecting — and anglers along the southern Oregon coast are taking full advantage.

Out of Brookings, the season kicked off with some of the most consistent early action seen in a very long time. Opening-day reports pointed to roughly a fish per rod, with some boats finding limits. While most anglers initially focused on lingcod and rockfish, word of a strong early salmon bite quickly shifted attention offshore, with crews scrambling for flashers and mooching rigs as favorable weather windows came into play.

The bite has remained steady, with catch rates hovering around a fish per rod and plenty of boats boxing their two-kings-per-person limits. The majority of fish have been smaller, 5- to 8-pound “feeder kings,” but a growing number of larger, springer-size Chinook are showing, pushing the average size closer to 10 pounds as the week progressed.

Fish are holding high in the water column, keyed in on large bait schools. The most productive water has been between the buoys and out to about 100 feet, particularly along the stretch from Chetco Point down toward Bird Island. Pelican activity has also tipped anglers off to where bait — and salmon — are stacking up.

Tactics have been straightforward but effective. Local charter and sport boats are finding success trolling Fish Flash-style flashers paired with anchovies or red-label herring. While more bait has been spotted farther offshore, crab gear has made trolling those zones challenging, keeping most of the effort concentrated in closer.

A notable portion of the salmon appear to be hatchery fish, though it’s still too early to determine where they came from. Even with a brief midweek slowdown, the fishery remains the most consistent on the Oregon coast right now, and with improved weather on the horizon, effort — and success — should continue to get better.

The king salmon season will run through May 15 from Cape Falcon to the OR/CA border. If Alt 1 is selected, the season will continue on through Aug. 31. The two other alternatives have the season resuming in June and running through late August. Currently, you’re allowed two Chinook salmon per day with a minimum size limit of 24 inches.

Marine forecast
Wind and rough seas put a damper on Wednesday’s rockfish and Pacific halibut openers. But winds and seas will diminish significantly by the weekend. Friday is calling for north winds 15 to 20 knots and northwest waves 7 feet at 11 seconds. Saturday looks much improved, with winds out of the north 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 6 feet at nine seconds. The wind will decrease slightly Sunday, coming out of the south up to 5 knots. Waves will be from the northwest 5 feet at 12 seconds and south 1 foot at 12 seconds. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com/. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The Eel River,from its confluence with the SF Eel River upstream to Cape Horn Dam, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco all closed to fishing March 31.

Eel (main stem)
The main stem Eel is rising slightly following Tuesday’s rain event. As of Thursday, flows were 2,200 cfs at Scotia. It’s predicted to reach just above 2,400 cfs, but could fall short. The small increase in flows should do wonders, however. The river was getting clear and the increased flow should add some color back in. The fishing had been pretty good for this late in the season, with plenty of fresh steelhead still making their way upriver. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used from April 1 through Sept. 30.

Smith River
Nearly three inches of rain fell within the Smith watershed Wednesday. The river went from just under 6 feet at Jed Smith to 9.4 feet. Not much in the way of fishing reports as most anglers have called it a season, but these late-season rises should flush some of the last spawned-out steelhead downriver and could bring in a few fresh ones. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April, as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Southern Oregon rivers
The Chetco is now closed for the season and reopens in mid-May, when sea-run cutthroat trout fishing is generally good reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Steelhead has been slow since early March, but peak season in January and February was decent,” said Martin. “Spring salmon fishing continues to be slow on the Rogue, but this week’s rains will give flows a much-needed boost. Expect good conditions this weekend.”

Brookings ocean update
According to Martin, the salmon action out of Brookings has been the most consistent on the entire Oregon Coast. “Catch rates were around a fish per rod over the weekend, with slower action Tuesday and Wednesday. The average size has increased to nearly 10 pounds, with plenty of springers in the mix. Fish Flash flashers with anchovies or red label herring are working best for the local charter boats catching fish. The salmon are near the buoys and off of Chetco Point. Nicer weather returns Saturday. Lingcod and rockfish has been very good.”

Steelhead season ends dry, but one more storm looms

Nick Henning of Glenn, CA landed this nice steelhead last week while fishing the main stem Eel River. Photo courtesy of Fishing the North Coast Guide Service

Winter steelhead season is shaping up to end on a much drier note than it began back in January. The forecast is calling for dry weather through March 31, when most rivers close. However, a late-season storm is brewing that could drop 3 to 6 inches of rain on the main stem Eel and the Smith — two rivers that will remain open after April 1.

Any meaningful rain this time of year is a big plus. It should improve survival rates for spawned-out adult steelhead (kelts), as well as salmon and steelhead fry and smolts migrating downstream toward the estuaries and ocean. And of course, it could also set up some solid fishing conditions.

As of Thursday, the Mad and main stem Eel are the only rivers in fishable shape. The rest are low, clear, and likely seeing very little pressure.

Looking back, this season was defined by a couple of well-timed storms mixed with long dry stretches in between. Fishing was excellent across much of the region, with some quality fish in the mix. With the 2022 drought now several years behind us, steelhead numbers should continue trending upward.

As one season winds down, the next is right around the corner. Rockfish and Pacific halibut open April 1, California halibut should start showing in Humboldt Bay, and spring salmon on the lower Rogue isn’t far off. Beaches are producing redtails, and the lagoons are still full of trout.

It’s been a great steelhead season—but a change of scenery sounds pretty good right about now.

The weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, “dry and stable weather is expected for the remainder of this week into the weekend. Generally, above normal high temperatures and areas of minor heat risk are forecast for mostly the interior as a broad flat ridge aloft dominates. Longer range models and national blend of models continue to trend wetter and colder next week, Monday March 30 to Friday, April 3rd. Higher end scenario (90th percentile) suggests multiple inches of rain (> 2 to 5 inches) spread out over 3-days while a lower end scenario (10th percentile) would yield an inch or less over the same 3-days.”

Rockfish and Pacific halibut seasons set to open April 1
The statewide 2026 rockfish season will officially kickoff on Wednesday, April 1, and it will be open all depths through Dec. 31. And that’s no April Fool’s joke. (exception will be the Southern Management Zone where all depths are open through June 30.) The daily bag limit will be 10 fish per person within the RCG complex, which includes all species of Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenlings. The lingcod limit is 2 per person per day, with a 22-inch total length. Within your daily bag limit, only one Copper rockfish, 4 Vermilion (northern mgmt. area) and 2 Canary rockfish are allowed.

A descending device is required. No one may take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without a descending device in possession.

These rockfishes may not be taken or possessed in California – No retention at any time:
Bronzespotted rockfish, Cowcod, Quillback, and Yelloweye

For a complete list of regulations, visit Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations.

Pacific halibut
The 2026 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Wednesday, April 1 and remain open until the season ends Nov. 15 north of Point Arena (38°57.5 N. Latitude) and Dec. 31 south of Point Arena, or until the quota is reached, whichever occurs first. The 2026 Pacific halibut quota for the California sport fishery is 40,040 pounds — approximately the same amount as last year. The daily bag and possession limit for Pacific halibut is one fish. There is no minimum size limit. When angling, no more than one line with two hooks attached may be used. A harpoon, gaff, or net may be used to assist in taking a Pacific halibut that has been legally caught by angling. More information can be found on CDFW’s Pacific halibut page.

Steelhead rivers openings/closures
After Tuesday, March 31, the South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek, Mattole and Chetco rivers will all be closed to fishing.

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 Friday, May 22, 2026. Only barbless hooks may be used from May 23 through Mar. 31, 2027.
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, 2027.

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. More information can be found here.

The Rivers:
Mad
According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, fishing has been good for those still out there. He said, “A good number of fresh fish are still moving through, along with a lot of downers. Most of the fish are wild, but there’s a few clipped fish mixed in as well. Spinners, soft beads, and Mad River steelhead worm have all been working well.”

Main stem Eel
The main Eel is in great shape, running at just under 3,000 cfs at Scotia as of Thursday. Boat pressure has been light, and boats are getting a chance at a few fish each day. There’s still a smattering of fresh ones coming, but most fish landed have been downers. 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.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork has dipped under 900 cfs at Miranda and is starting to get low and clear. At this height, the spots holding fish are limited. Most boats have either called it a season or moved down to the main stem.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen is closed to fishing as of March 17 due to low flows from its junction with the Eel River to the end of Golden Gate Drive near Bridgeville (approximately 4,000 feet upstream from the Little Golden Gate Bridge).

Smith
The Smith is just above 6 feet at the Jed Smith gauge as of Thursday. It’s low, clear, and snaggy. Reports have been hard to come by as most anglers have moved to other rivers or called it a season.

Southern Oregon rivers
The Chetco closes for the season on Tuesday reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Fishing has been slow, on what overall was a fairly good steelhead run,” said Martin. “Spring salmon fishing is slow on the Rogue, but catch rates generally improve in April.”

Brookings ocean report
According to Martin, salmon fishing continues to be surprisingly good out of Brookings, with an overall average of a fish per rod, and may boats getting their two-kings-per-person limit. “There are a mix of feeder kings and larger springer-size salmon. The fish are high in the water column, with good catches between the buoys and in 100 feet of water between Chetco Point and Bird Island. Lots of bait is also being observed offshore, but crab pots are still making trolling difficult there. Many of the kings are hatchery fish. Still too early on reports of where those fish originated.
Lingcod and rockfish action is good on calm weather days. This weekend looks prime. Sport crabbing remains slow.”

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

Coastal Rivers Teeter Between Prime and Done

Adam Irino of San Jose with a nice winter steelhead landed last week on the South Fork Eel River. Photo courtesy of Taku

With no measurable rain over the past three weeks, coastal rivers are all over the map right now. Some systems are getting low and clear, others are still in decent shape, and a few are nearing or at low-flow closures.

The Smith is extremely low and clear, with the Chetco not far behind and dropping fast. The South Fork Eel is also low and clear, especially in the upper stretches, though there are still some fish holding in the deeper runs closer to the confluence. The Mad River is in better shape, holding a bit of color and offering solid fishing conditions. Meanwhile, the mainstem Eel is really starting to hit its stride and should provide good opportunities for a while longer.

Looking ahead, there’s a chance of rain in the 10-day forecast around Wednesday or Thursday. If it materializes, it could bring a much-needed bump to all coastal rivers and provide a late push to cap off the winter steelhead season.

The weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, “high pressure is expected to gradually weaken and shift southward this weekend and into early next week, while an upper-level trough develops over the Gulf of Alaska. Surface analysis suggests a cold front traversing the area the weekend. However, confidence remains high in continuing dry weather through the weekend and early next week. A gradual cooling is expected to begin on Friday, though temperatures remain above- normal through the weekend and early next week.

A pattern shift is expected by mid-next week as an upper-level trough and associated frontal system approaches the Pacific NW and Northern California. Global ensembles models and WPC cluster guidance’s are suggesting a break-through in the westerlies of the blocking ridge by mid next week indicates an upper-level trough will approach the Pacific NW and shifting or “flattening” the high pressure by mid next week. This has the potential to bring increasing chances of precipitation and continue the cooling trend as early as Tuesday. High uncertainty remains regarding the specific details at this moment.”

PFMC to hold public hearing on salmon season alternatives
The PFMC will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa, CA on March 23. The purpose of this hearing is to receive comments on the proposed management alternatives in preparation for adopting final salmon management recommendations at the April 2026 Council meeting. A summary of verbal comments heard at the hearings will be provided to the Pacific Council at its April meeting. This public hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriot in the Sonoma Room, 175 Railroad Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401.

Details on how to attend the public hearing and PFMC meeting, as well as instructions to provide public comment, can be found here.

Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers dinner returns|
Join the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers on April 11 for an evening of great food and community at the Sequoia Conference Center in Eureka.

Your attendance does more than just fill your plate — it fuels our mission. Proceeds from our banquets allow HASA to advocate for your fishing rights at state meetings for salmon, groundfish, Pacific halibut, and Dungeness crab. Plus, you’re helping us inspire the next generation through programs like Steelhead in the Classroom and Perchin’ on the Peninsula.

Where: Sequoia Conference Center – 901 Myrtle Ave, Eureka

Catering: Delicious dinner by Ramone’s

Tickets can be found at Englund Marine, Pacific Outfitters, RMI Outdoors, or reach out to any HASA Board Member to grab yours before they’re gone.

Tickets: $50 Adults | $35 Kids (12 & under)

Trinity River flow release updates
The California Department of Water Resources March B120 90% exceedance forecast was announced as “Dry” on Mar. 9.A “dry” determination allocates the Program a release of 20,000 AF over the next month which will be subtracted from the Program’s restoration allocation for WY26. Flows will begin to increase from winter baseflow (300 cfs) on Thursday, Mar. 19. Peak flows will reach 1200 cfs on Friday, Mar. 20 and slowly recede. There are two additional peak flows of 1700 cfs (Mar. 29) and 1550 cfs (Apr. 7).
The next period in the Environmental Flows Schedule is the Spring Snowmelt and Recession Period (April 14 – variable). Recommended flows for this period await the final B120 water year determination for 2026, which is announced in early April.
A slow incline of flows with variability built in this time of year are beneficial for benthic food production and an increase in habitat for hungry migrating juvenile salmonids. You can read the full March forecast here.

The Rivers:
Mad
The Mad is still a little bit colored, but there’s some fish around according to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors. “Bobbers with 16 or 18 mm beads are doing the trick,” said Kelly.

Main stem Eel
The main Eel is in great shape, running at 3,920 cfs at Scotia as of Thursday. Boat pressure has been fairly light, and boats are getting a chance at a few fish each day. There’s still a few fresh ones coming, but most fish landed have been downers. 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.

South Fork Eel
The South Fork is still in good shape but getting lower and clearer by the day. As of Thursday, it was just below 1,200 cfs at Miranda. Fish are still being caught daily, and the boat traffic remains pretty high.

Smith
The Smith is down to 6.5 feet at the Jed Smith gauge Thursday. It’s low, clear and snaggy. Reports have been hard to come by as most anglers have moved to other rivers.

Southern Oregon rivers
“Steelhead fishing is slow on the Chetco, with most anglers seeking late-season steelhead heading to the Umpqua,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Spring salmon is slow on the Rogue, but fish are being caught daily. Peak season is still weeks away, but early fish are showing up.”

Brookings ocean report
The ocean opened to salmon fishing on Sunday, the earliest opener in decades, with surprising results according to Martin. “Fish checkers estimate a fish per rod in Brookings, with some boats limiting out. Most anglers have been focusing on lingcod and rockfish, but with the word of an early salmon bite spreading, anglers were busy rigging flashes and mooching leaders on Tuesday in preparation for a few more days of nice weather. The salmon are in close, where the bait is thick. Pelicans have already arrived in Brookings. Most of the kings are 5 to 8 pound feeder kings, with a few larger Rogue springers mixed in.”

Salmon Season Back on the Table for the North Coast

If the PFMC is right, we could see more salmon like the one pictured here with Colby Black, from Houston, Texas, this fall. The recreational ocean salmon season in the KMZ is tentatively scheduled to open sometime in June and last through most of August. The final decision will come from the PFMC meetings in April. Photo courtesy of Tony Sepulveda/Shellback Sport Fishing

After a few wet winters and very little ocean or river salmon harvesting, it looks like we’re finally getting back on track. At least for now. With 392,349 Sacramento River fall Chinook and 176,233 Klamath fall Chinook estimated to be swimming in the ocean, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has proposed ocean salmon season alternatives that would provide California anglers with some decent opportunity while still meeting conservation goals.

It should be noted these are preliminary alternatives, and adjustments are still possible as the preseason process moves forward. But as of now, here’s where things stand for the North Coast.

California KMZ (Oregon Border to Latitude 40°10’ N)
This section includes Humboldt County waters.

Alternative 1
June 20 – July 19; August 1 – August 23

In season action may close the fishery when harvest approaches a 3,100 Chinook guideline

Alternative 2
June 13 – July 19; August 1 – August 31

In season action may close the fishery when harvest approaches a 3,900 Chinook guideline

Alternative 3
June 27 – July 5; July 12 – August 23

In season action may close the fishery when harvest approaches a 3,100 Chinook guideline

Regulations:

All salmon except coho
Two salmon per day
20-inch minimum size for Chinook

Latitude 40°10’ N to Point Arena|
This section includes ports such as Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg.

Alternative 1
June 20 – July 19; August 1 – August 23

Harvest guideline: 4,400 Chinook

Alternative 2
June 13 – July 19; August 1 – August 31

Harvest guideline: 5,100 Chinook

Alternative 3
June 27 – July 5; July 12 – August 23

Harvest guideline: 5,000 Chinook

Regulations:

All salmon except coho
Two salmon per day
20-inch minimum size for Chinook

Full salmon management alternatives are available through the Pacific Fishery Management Council website.

The next step in the preseason process is a public hearing on March 23 in Santa Rosa, where anglers and stakeholders can comment on the proposed California ocean salmon fishery alternatives.

Final season recommendations will be adopted at the April 7–12 PFMC meeting in Portland, Oregon. Information on attending the hearing, participating in the meeting, or submitting public comment can be found at www.pcouncil.org.

Klamath/Trinity fall salmon allocations
With ocean abundance on the rise, the Klamath and Trinity Rivers will be open to salmon harvest for the first time since 2023.
The recreational allocations, or quotas, as proposed by the PFMC will range from 3,355 to 3,235 adult fall Chinook in 2026 across the three alternatives.

The three quota alternatives are not final and will be decided during the April 7-12 PFMC 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. When adopted, these quotas will go into effect August 15, 2026.

If, for example, Alternative One was chosen, the quota for the Klamath and Trinity basins would be 3,355 adults. Of those, 1,678 would be allowed for sport harvest from Hwy. 96 bridge to the mouth of the Klamath. From the 96 bridge to the Iron Gate area, 570 could be harvested. The Trinity would receive 1,107 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 503 adult kings were taken downstream of the Highway 101 bridge.

Klamath tribal allocations range from 7,094 to 7,067 across the three alternatives. These allocations will be split between the Yurok and Hoopa tribes.

The weather ahead
According to Eureka’s National Weather Service office, “a dominant ridge of high pressure will also be building over the rest through the week. Another weak, clipping front will temporarily weaken the ridge and will bring more chances for light rainfall or drizzle late Friday and Saturday. Chances for a 0.1 inch or more of rainfall are a little higher for this system for coastal Del Norte (50-75%), but only trace amounts may be recorded elsewhere. There is high confidence the ridge will begin to greatly amplify through the end of the weekend and next week.”

The Rivers:
As of Thursday, all North Coast rivers subjected to low-flow fishing closures were open to fishing. This includes the Mad, main stem Eel, South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Redwood Creek, and Smith rivers. 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.

Mad
As of Thursday, the Mad has dipped under 8 feet and still has some color, but is fishable. According to Justin Kelly of RMI Outdoors, those who are trying are hooking fish. He said, “large beads, 18 to 20 mm are working well along with spin n glo’s and bait. This weekend conditions should be excellent.

Main stem Eel
The main Eel is sitting just above 5,000 cfs at Scotia as of Thursday. Conditions should be excellent starting this weekend and through next week. There should be quite a few downers around and some fresh ones as well. 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.

South Fork Eel
Conditions are still good on the lower South Fork, but the upper section in the Benbow area and above is getting low and clear. As of Thursday, it was right around 1,500 cfs at Miranda. Fishing has been decent, with most boats getting a chance at a few fish per day. Most of the fish being caught this week have been downers.

Van Duzen
The Van Duzen is down below 200 cfs as of Thursday and is low and clear. If it continues to drop at this pace, it could close by early next week. In the meantime, bank anglers should be able to find some fish sitting in the deeper slots. Minimum flow: 150 cfs at the gauging station near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.

Smith
The Smith is low and clear, sitting just above 7 feet at the Jed Smith gauge. Flows are predicted to continue to drop through the weekend and next week. Fishing reports have been hard to come by as most anglers have moved to other rivers.

Southern Oregon rivers
Steelhead fishing has slowed on the Chetco, although a mix of fresh and spawned out fish are still around reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Boat pressure is light, making for an enjoyable day on the river,” said Martin. “Flows will continue to drop through the month, but the entire stretch from the South Fork to Social Security Bar will be driftable this weekend.

After an early push of springers, salmon fishing has slowed on the Rogue. A fish or two a day are being caught for a couple dozen boats fishing the lower river. Plunkers are getting a fish or two as well on the lower river gravel bars, but catch rates are slow. The next major rain will bring in more fish.”

Brookings ocean report
Lingcod and rockfish action is good out of Brookings according to Martin. “Salmon season opens Sunday, the earliest in decades, but ocean salmon fishing tends to be very slow in March and April, according to historic catch records from commercial trollers. Action can improve in mid-May during years of high ocean abundance.”

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

Eureka Tuna Action Falls Short of Expectations

Robin Brown of Benbow shows off a nice albacore caught over the weekend while fishing out of Shelter Cove with Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. Photo courtesy of Jake Mitchell/Sea Hawk Sport Fishing.

Heading into last weekend, anticipation was sky-high for a wide-open tuna bite off Eureka. With flat seas and warm water in place, conditions looked perfect for an epic run. While the action didn’t quite live up to those lofty expectations, there were still some bright spots—and plenty of lessons learned for next time.

The best water was sitting southwest of Eureka near Cape Mendocino, roughly 30 miles from the entrance to Humboldt Bay. Many boats made the run and put in serious effort, but scores were generally modest. The crews that landed the most fish found success drifting live bait immediately after hooking up on the troll—a tactic you can expect to see more of on future trips.

Looking ahead, the next shot might take a little patience. Winds are forecasted through at least Tuesday, which will likely keep the fleet on shore for a few days. The good news? The warm water appears to be holding in place offshore. If that continues, round two could shape up by the middle of next week—and with a few adjustments, the bite could turn on in a big way.

Weekend marine forecast
After some really good conditions earlier in the week, the wind will make a return, sidelining the tuna fleet through the weekend and early next week. On Friday, within 10 nautical miles, winds will be out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots. Waves will be from the northwest 6 feet at seven seconds. Saturday is calling for northwest winds up to 5 knots and waves northwest 4 feet at seven seconds. Sunday’s forecast looks a little better, with winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots and waves northwest 3 feet at seven seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka or www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

August 30 is statewide Free Fishing Day
The last chance of the year to fish for free arrives over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Free Fishing Day is offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Saturday, Aug. 30. While no fishing license is required on free fishing days, all fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. Every angler must have an appropriate report card if they are fishing for steelhead or sturgeon anywhere in the state or salmon in the Smith River. For more information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days

Pacific halibut quota update
As of August 17, California’s share of Area 2A’s quota, which includes Washington and Oregon, is at 41 percent, with just 16,176 net pounds harvested against the 39,280 net pound quota. (500 pounds are set aside for the area south of Point Arena). The Pacific halibut fishery will run through Nov. 15 or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. To view the latest catch projection information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/pacific-halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking.

Trinity River water release
Beginning Friday, Aug. 22, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin to increase flows to the Trinity River for the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Ceremonial Boat Dance. Lewiston Dam releases are scheduled to gradually increase from the summer base flow of 450 cubic feet per second and are expected to reach a peak flow of 2,300 cfs on Aug. 25 before gradually returning to summer base flows later in the week.

River recreators can expect a higher volume of water and increased turbidity in the Trinity River during the ceremonial flow. As always, the public is urged to exercise caution when recreating in or around the Trinity River. For more information, contact Reclamation’s Northern California Area Office at 530-247-8500 (TTY 800-877-8339)

An angler aboard Eureka’s Fishy Business is all smiles after boating a couple Tuna Monday. Photo courtesy of Matt Dallam/Northwind Charters

The oceans:
Eureka
“The tuna bite never really exploded over the weekend, but there were some decent scores put up,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “If I had to rate the fishing, I’d say it was a 5 out of 10. Some boats got 4 or 5, or less, with some of the top scores in the low twenties. The best bite was southwest of the entrance about 30 to 35 miles. The water was plenty warm, but there wasn’t much bait around. That might have had something to do with the slow bite. We had our best success on live bait stops, and I think that was the case for the other boats as well. Though there weren’t big numbers of fish, they were all really good size. They averaged 15 to 25 pounds with no peanuts in the mix.

The halibut got a little bit of a reprieve with a lot of boats focusing on tuna. The boats that did target halibut did well, with most putting in limits. We ran to the Cape last Friday chasing rockfish, and the bite was really good. Not a ton of variety but we did get limits of rockfish and lingcod. There’s some really big and healthy black rockfish down there now.”

Shelter Cove
The weather laid down for a tuna run on Monday and boats did ok reports Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. He said, “Scores ranged from 5 to 30 fish for boats targeting tuna in the Gorda Valley area. Rock fishing remains solid, but the lingcod are really hit and miss lately.”

Crescent City
“The tuna fishing out of Crescent City has not taken off,” said Will Moore of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “A few commercial boats went out and didn’t find anything until they got way north. Because of that, there hasn’t been much effort from the sport guys. The California halibut bite has slowed a little, but they’re still here. The same can’t be said for the Pacific Halibut. The rockfish and lingcod fishing continues to sizzle, with easy limits coming for anglers targeting the Sisters and the cans out front. Some really big vermilion are being caught.”

Brookings
“Ocean salmon season closes Sunday on the Southern Oregon Coast,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Fishing has been slow, with a few hatchery coho still being caught and plenty of wild coho. Fishing is already closed for kings. Halibut action improved this week out of Brookings, with a few charters averaging a fish per rod, and two-fish limits some days. The best fishing has been in 250 to 300 feet. Herring and squid combinations are working best. Sport crabbing is good out of Brookings. Lingcod and rockfish also are biting well.”

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
The river is in good shape as flows have dropped under 2,800 cfs as of Thursday. The water being released from Lewiston is forecast to reach the lower Klamath Sunday morning, raising the cfs’s to just over 3,000. This should bring in some fish from the ocean/estuary and we should see the first real good push of salmon moving upriver. Fishing for steelhead was decent last weekend, with boats hooking 3 to 6 fish a day. 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 Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters More information can be found here.

Lower Rogue/Chetco
According to Martin, the Rogue Bay has been fair, with good catches one day and then a couple of slow days. “Large kings to 40 pounds are being caught. The crowds have arrived, with well over 100 boats a day trolling the bay.”

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.

Pacific Halibut Bite Hit and Miss

Shellby House of Arcata holds a 46-inch Pacific halibut caught out of Brookings in late July while jigging for lingcod. Photo courtesy of Marc Hazel

Around this same time the past few years, our Pacific halibut seasons were coming to a close as red-hot fishing made quick work of the quotas. Much like last year, the same cannot be said for 2025. Though we’ve had some pretty good flurries, the bite remains fairly inconsistent. Boats have been covering a lot of ground, searching from Trinidad south to the Eel River Canyon in looking for schools, but have to yet to locate any spots that will offer consistent fishing day after day. As of the end of July, our projected catch rate stood at 16,731 net pounds harvested against the 39,280 quota. But we know we’ve caught quite a few since the catch estimate was last updated.

Now, with the tuna water in clear view, anglers will shift their focus to the longfins giving the halibut a bit of a breather. This should set the stage for halibut, rockfish, and Dungeness crab combo trips come November.

Tuna update
A handful of boats made the run west out of Eureka on Tuesday and Wednesday looking for tuna. Scored ranged from a couple to mid-teens. The water is currently sitting at roughly 38 miles straight west of Eureka. After the wind blows through this weekend, early next week could be a possibility to head offshore again.

Weekend marine forecast
Breezy conditions are in the forecast for the next few days, but things look much better starting Monday. For coastal waters out 10 nautical miles, Friday’s forecast is calling for north winds 20 to 25 knots and north waves 8 feet at seven seconds and west 3 feet at 10 seconds. Saturday is calling for north winds 10 to 15 knots and waves out of the north 7 feet at seven seconds. Sunday looks better, with winds out of the west 5 to 10 knots and waves north 6 feet at eight seconds and northwest 3 feet at 13 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

The Oceans:
Eureka
According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, the Pacific halibut bite is still decent, but not red hot. “You really need to grind on them,” said Klassen. “There are some limits coming, but it’s not every day. If you land on a good spot, you’ll do well. Boats have mostly been fishing between the 51 and 55-lines. The rockfish bite at the Cape wasn’t great the last couple days, mostly due to the wonky current. We caught lots of black rockfish, but the lings and other varieties were tougher to come by. The fish are there, just need better conditions. The tuna water is sitting about 41 miles off of Eureka, so we may get an opportunity early next week when the ocean lays down.”

Shelter Cove
Not much has changed at the Cove reports Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. He said, “Rock fishing remains solid with the lingcod being hit and miss. The weather hasn’t allowed to get back to the halibut grounds this week. Most rock fishing effort was around the whistle buoy. It’s looking like we may get a shot at tuna Monday and Tuesday.”

Crescent City
The California halibut bite really turned on this week reports Will Moore of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “I’ve seen close to 20 caught myself,” said Moore. “Boats trolling South Beach are doing well along with anglers fishing off the rock wall across from the launch. The Pacific halibut bite is not really happening. The rockfish and lingcod bite are still on fire, with limits coming pretty easily The Sisters and right out front at the cans have both been very productive. One boat went out for tuna on Wednesday and got one at 30 miles. We should get some better opportunities in the coming week.”

Brookings
“Fishing remains open for hatchery coho salmon, but action has been slow, as the bulk of the run has migrated north, headed back to the Columbia River,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Fishing for coho has picked up considerably out of Coos Bay, Winchester Bay and Newport as the run moves north. King fishing is closed, but they are around in good numbers, and anglers continue to encounter them while bottom fishing. Halibut action is good at times out of Brookings, but large numbers of small black cod have made soaking baits difficult. Lingcod and rockfish action is good, along with sport crabbing.”

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
Steelhead fishing is hit and miss on the Lower Klamath. The fish seem to be trickling in, offering decent fishing one day and very slow the next. Fishing should only get better as we head into the first few weeks of August. 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 Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. More information can be found here.

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, the Rogue Bay has improved, but is fair at best. “Some boats are catching a few fish a day, while many are returning without fish. New kings are arriving daily, and can be seen splashing and rolling along the jetties.”

Ken Wood of the Bay Area holds a king salmon caught trolling the Rogue Bay with guide Rye Phillips of Brookings Fishing Charters.

Finally, Calm Seas Ahead

Keith Daniels, right, along with grandson Brian landed this nice Pacific halibut Wednesday while fishing out of Eureka aboard the Sea Weasel II. Photo courtesy of Gary Blasi/Full Throttle Sport Fishing

After a full week of sitting on the sidelines watching the wind blow, the Eureka fleet finally got untied Wednesday. And it looks there’s some really nice weather on the horizon too. Friday looks good, though Saturday is looking a little lumpy. Sunday and into next week are looking nice and calm. As for fishing, the few boats that went out Wednesday found some hungry Pacific halibut. I’d expect to see scores go up over the next few days. The other ports are finally getting in on the action. A few were finally caught out of Shelter Cove and Crescent City this week. Along with Pacific’s showing signs of life, both those ports also saw an uptick in the California halibut catch rate. With the nice weather, the Eureka boats will be able to get down to Cape Mendocino to enjoy some of the wide-open rockfish action that’s happening up and down the coast. The fishing is definitely looking up; all we needed was some nice weather.

Marine Forecast
After a weeklong stretch of rough seas and wind, we’re finally getting a break. As of Thursday, Friday’s forecast is calling for north winds up to 5 knots and waves north 1 foot at four seconds and northwest 5 feet at nine seconds. Saturday, the winds will increase slightly, coming from the north 10 to 15 knots with northwest waves 5 feet at nine seconds. Sunday, winds will be out of the north 5 to 10 knots with waves out of the northwest 4 feet at seven seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Sport Crab season coming to a close
The 2025 sport Dungeness crab season in Humboldt, Mendocino and Del Norte counties will close July 30. The season is expected to reopen Nov. 1.

California Halibut Derby on Humboldt Bay this Saturday
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding the first annual California Halibut Derby on Saturday, July 19. The fishing event will be held within the waters of Humboldt Bay. Check-ins, Weigh-ins and Awards Ceremony will be held at Woodley Island, 601 Startare Drive at the East-I Lot Grass Area.

Entry Fees for adults is $60 (comes with a $30 NCGASA Membership). Youth entry fees are $40, 13 years and under (comes with a $10 NCGASA Membership)

*If you are a current NCGASA member, you will receive $20 in raffle tickets at check-in.

You can register online at https://ncgasa.org/shop. Entrants will need to be signed up and paid for by July 18 at midnight. Derby information and rules can be found here.

The Oceans:
Eureka
It was a quiet week for the Eureka fleet, with boats tied up since the last week, reports Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “Some boats went out for halibut Wednesday and caught a few,” said Klassen. “We have some good weather coming up starting Thursday. Saturday looks a little iffy, but Sunday and next week are looking good at the moment.”

Shelter Cove
Rock fishing remains great, but the lingcod bite has gotten more inconsistent,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “The best rockfish action this week was in close right off the point. The Pacific halibut bite has started to show some signs of life as there were a few caught this week. Some California halibut are being caught as well.”

Crescent City
The California halibut bite has really picked up reports Will Moore of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “Boats trolling South Beach are doing well along with anglers fishing off the rock wall across from the launch,” said Moore. “The Pacific halibut bite is finally showing signs of life. I heard of a couple caught this week. And with better weather coming, we should see those numbers go up. The rockfish and lingcod bite are still excellent, with limits coming pretty easily The Sisters and right out front at the cans have both been very productive.”

Brookings
The ocean king season ended Tuesday, with the last few days producing surprisingly good fishing considering big swells and strong winds reports Andy Martin, of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Lots of kings were schooled up near the buoys, feeding on baitfish, said Martin. “Kings to 30 pounds were caught, with a mix of hatchery and wild salmon. Fishing remains open for hatchery coho salmon through most of August. Coho have been found in deeper water, three to five miles offshore. Halibut fishing has been fair. Lingcod fishing also is good. Sport crabbing has improved.”

Klamath River
The lower river is still really big, flowing at 4,370 cfs on the lower gauge. There are some steelhead around, including some hatchery fish. As the river drops, which is predicted, we should start to see more fish move into the system.

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, the Rogue Bay is showing signs of life, with a dozen or more kings caught each day. “Fishing generally picks up considerably in August. Hot weather in the Rogue Valley has salmon held up in the bay. The incoming tide has been best. Mossy conditions have slowed the action at low tide.”

Eureka Kicking Out Some Big Butts

John Lanz scored the biggest Pacific halibut of the season with this 91-pounder. It was caught on July 4th out of Trinidad fishing with Don Galusha. Photo courtesy of John Lanz

Anglers fishing out of Eureka enjoyed some of the best Pacific halibut fishing of the season this week. Not only was there a good volume of fish, there were some big ones in the mix. The leaderboard for Englund Marine’s big fish contest consists of 71, 75, and 88 pounders. Not to be outdone, Trinidad checked in with a 91-pounder over the fourth of July weekend.

Ocean conditions were excellent the last several days, and that played a big role in anglers success. Out of Eureka, boats have congregated around the 50-line in 250 to 270 feet of water. But halibut have also been caught south at the edge of the Eel River canyon and we’re starting to see more come out of Trinidad. But just as soon as we get on a roll, the wind machine fires back up. North winds are expected to reach near gale force through the weekend.

Weekend marine forecast
After a nice stretch of calm seas, the wind is forecast to pick up over the weekend. According to Eureka’s National Weather Service, “surface high pressure is forecast to re-build toward the Northwest California coast through Thursday. This will enhance the pressure gradient and once again strengthen the northerlies. Gale force winds and large steep waves are probable over the outer waters Thursday afternoon through Friday night. Gale force winds and/or very large steep waves will likely persist into at least Saturday for the northern outer waters. Closer to shore and across the inner waters, gale force gusts are probable around and downwind of Cape Mendocino and Pt St George.

As of Thursday afternoon, Friday’s forecast is calling for north winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to 45 knots. Waves will be from the north 9 feet at nine seconds. Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. North waves will be 9 feet at nine seconds and west 2 feet at 12 seconds. Winds will decrease slightly Sunday, blowing 10 to 15 knots from the northwest with waves northwest 7 feet at eight seconds and northwest 3 feet at 11 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit weather.gov/eureka or windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

California Halibut Derby on Humboldt Bay coming July 19
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding the first annual California Halibut Derby on Saturday, July 19. The fishing event will be held within the waters of Humboldt Bay. Check-ins, Weigh-ins and Awards Ceremony will be held at Woodley Island, 601 Startare Drive at the East-I Lot Grass Area.

Nathan Teasley of Rio Del with a monster California Halibut caught Tuesday out of Humboldt Bay. The big fish measured 43 inches.

Entry Fees for adults is $60 (comes with a $30 NCGASA Membership). Youth entry fees are $40, 13 years and under (comes with a $10 NCGASA Membership)

*If you are a current NCGASA member, you will receive $20 in raffle tickets at check-in.

You can register online at https://ncgasa.org/shop. Entrants will need to be signed up and paid for by July 18 at midnight. Derby information and rules can be found here.

Eel River Pikeminnow Fishing Derby now underway
After a successful Eel River Pikeminnow derby in 2024, CalTrout is back with another derby that started July 1 and will run through Aug. 31. The derby, which is put on with the help of CDFW, will offer $2,500 worth of prizes for:

Most pikeminnow greater than six inches
Most pikeminnow greater than 12 inches
Biggest fish (length)
Drawing for kids (under 18) that entered a pikeminnow in the contest.

Rules:
Contestants will follow all CDFW fishing regulations, including no bait, barbless artificial lures only.
Prohibited actions: Throwing fish on the bank or into the river, any blatant waste of fish.

All waters open to angling on the South Fork Eel River downstream of the Humboldt County line to the confluence with the mainstem. The mainstem Eel from Dos Rios to the mouth of the Van Duzen. The Van Duzen from Grizzly Creek to the mouth of the Van Duzen.

Submit entries online using one email address. All entries for the “most pikeminnow” will be tallied by participant name. Photos from poor angles or of bad quality are subject to disqualification.
Mail in forms must be postmarked on or before September 3. Send a copy of your photo(s), minimum size 3”x5” each, along with completed entry form to: CalTrout 1380 9th St. Arcata, CA 95521
Individual contestants can win no more than one prize category. In the case of multiple wins, the largest prize amount will be awarded.
Cheating or falsification of entries will result in automatic disqualification.

For more information, visit https://tribresearch.org/pikeminnow/

Warning against consumption of Sport-Harvested Bivalve Shellfish from Del Norte County
In a press release issued July 3rd, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising consumers not to eat sport-harvested mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters from Del Norte County.

Statement:
“Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been detected in mussels from Del Norte County. The naturally occurring PSP toxins can cause illness or death in humans. Cooking does not destroy the toxin.

This shellfish safety notification is in addition to the warnings against eating sport-harvested bivalve shellfish in Marin, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange counties due to marine biotoxins, and to the annual mussel quarantine. The annual quarantine prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption and applies to all species of mussels harvested for human consumption along the California coast, as well as all bays and estuaries, and will continue through at least October 31. Additionally, there are razor clam advisories for Del Norte and Humboldt counties due to domoic acid.

This warning does not apply to commercially sold mussels, clams, scallops, and 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.”

You can get the most current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines by calling CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133 or viewing the recreational bivalve shellfish advisory interactive map. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring web page.

The Oceans:
Eureka
“There is a little bit of a Pacific halibut bite going on right now,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “It’s not wide-open, but there are limits to be had. It’s about being at the right place at the right time. The tide change has been the key, with most of the bites coming just prior to high tide. Most of the action is coming just a little north of the entrance in 270 feet of water. But I’m sure there are fish in other places as well. Herring has been the bait of choice. The fish are ranging from 20 to 50-pounds, with the occasional bigger one. The wind is coming back up starting Thursday and looks to stick around through the weekend.”

Shelter Cove
“The rock fishing and lingcod got a little tougher this last week with the increased pressure over the holiday weekend,” said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “We still got limits every day, but really had to work for them. We fished all over from the whistle down to the Ranch House. We still have not caught a halibut, but there are a few California halibut being caught.”

Crescent City
“Both the rockfish and lingcod bite have been over the top, with limits coming easily,” said Chris Hegnes, of Crescent City’s Englund Marine.” The reefs along with the Sisters have been productive. The California halibut bite has improved, with five landed off the rock wall on Tuesday. The Pacific halibut bite remains non-existent; I haven’t heard of one caught yet. There hasn’t been much effort.”

Brookings
“Salmon fishing has shown signs of busting open out of Brookings, but every time there is a day or two of good fishing, strong winds return,” said Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Wednesday was the best day so far this season, with numerous boats returning with multiple kings and hatchery coho. The best fishing has been in 140 to 300 feet of water. The fish are close to the surface. Windy weather returns for the weekend. Halibut fishing has been decent out of Brookings, while lingcod and rockfish action has been good. Surfperch continue to bite at beaches around Brookings.”