Monday, August 24, 2009

Ocean Salmon Fishing? Well.... Yeah! Sort of...

We received a ton of calls over the weekend concerning the California Department of Fish & Game Announcement of a limited ocean salmon fishing season for this year.

In short, they are allowing a limited period of fishing near the mouth of the Klamath River, so unless you plan on trailering your boat or making a long run, most of the San Francisco Bay boat owners are better off chasing the local halibut and striped bass.

Here's the press release we received from the DFG:

From: "Marine Management News" <marinenews@dfg.ca.gov>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:30:13 -0700
Subject: CDFG News Release: Ten-Day Recreational Ocean Salmon Season to Open
in Northern California Aug. 29

California Department of Fish and Game News Release

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2009

Contact: Joe Duran, Associate Marine Biologist, (707) 576-3456
Harry Morse, Public Information Officer, (916) 322-8962

Ten-Day Recreational Ocean Salmon Season to Open in Northern California
Aug. 29

California¹s only 2009 recreational ocean salmon season will be open
Aug. 29 through Sept. 7 in the Klamath Management Zone along the north
coast. The brief season was authorized by the Pacific Fishery Management
Council and California Fish and Game Commission, based on data collected
by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) showing enough adult Klamath
fall run Chinook will return to the Klamath River Basin to allow for a
limited ocean harvest while maintaining conservation goals. Since 2008,
commercial and recreational fishing for salmon has been closed in all
other ocean areas off California in order to protect Sacramento River
fall run Chinook, which have been at historically low numbers the last
two years.

³This northern California season was specifically designed to
minimize the incidental take of Sacramento River fall Chinook,² said
Marija Vojkovich, Marine Region Manager and DFG¹s representative to
the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The boundaries of the open ocean fishing area extend from north of
Horse Mt. (40° 05¹ 00² N. latitude) to the California - Oregon
border. The retention of coho salmon or steelhead trout is prohibited in
all California ocean fisheries. Anglers are required to use barbless
hooks and are limited to one rod per person when fishing for salmon, or
when fishing from a boat with salmon on board.

The daily bag and possession limit is two salmon of any species except
coho, with a minimum size limit of 24 inches total length. A salmon
report card is no longer required when fishing for salmon in the
ocean.

The opening of this salmon season is expected to provide some relief to
businesses that cater to the salmon anglers. According to DFG economist
Terry Tillman, the 10-day ocean salmon sport fishing season could boost
economic output by $2 million statewide. Locally, in Humboldt and Del
Norte counties, the season could contribute an additional $370,000 to
total economic output for the region.

The 2009-2010 Freshwater and Ocean Sport Fishing Supplement, published
by DFG, lists all current regulations and restrictions. The supplement
is available at sport fishing licenses dealers, DFG offices and online
at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations. Anglers may also call the Ocean Salmon
Hotline at (707) 576-3429 for additional information.

Salmon news and related information compiled by DFG is online at:
www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/salmon.

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