Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)


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The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted this weekend to recommend opening the California commercial salmon season in 2026, after three straight years of closures.

Local fishermen say they’re excited about the return of the key fishery. But this year, the guidance means much of the North Coast will remain closed.

A planned closure from the Oregon border to Point Arena means commercial fishermen hailing from Humboldt County — along with Del Norte County and most of Mendocino County — will have to travel elsewhere for the chance to catch salmon in 2026.

“It’s going to cost them a lot of money and fuel to travel down there to participate in the fishery,” said Harrison Ibach, commercial fishermen and president of the Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association.

“People are a little nervous about expenditures, to get all the way down to where the season is actually open,” he said.

Diesel is currently averaging $7.68 a gallon in California, according to AAA.

“My boat gets one and a half miles per gallon. Fuel is a big, big concern,” said Tim Klassen, captain and owner of Reel Steel Sportfishing in Eureka.

Ibach said there are some new regulations this year that commercial fishermen will need to work out.

A vessel cap will limit the fish caught per ship per week — a first for the fishery — and a statewide harvest limit of 83,000 Chinook salmon was set. Fishery managers can close salmon seasons early, if these limits are reached.

Despite the new rules, Ibach said everyone is “very excited” there’s going to be a salmon season.

“It’s probably a decent approach to take baby steps to get back to, hopefully, where the fishery once was,” he said.

Recreational salmon fishing, on the other hand, will be open in Humboldt County for up to 66 days this summer. This would end after a limit of 3,900 fish in the Klamath Management Zone was reached.

Closures for three years have been the result of abysmally low fish counts, caused by drought, habitat loss and (fishing groups argue) water diversion policy.

The three years have been difficult for fishermen. Some have sold their boats.

Ken Bates, commercial fishermen, said the state of California salmon fishing for the past three years has been one of economic disaster.

“Four and five years ago, older fishermen watched younger fishermen invest and buy salmon boats. Those young fishermen have not been able to use their boats for salmon fishing for three years. How do you survive that?” he said. Similar to statewide fishermen organizations, Bates said he’s most concerned about California water policy in diversions.

While fishermen aren’t expecting the 2026 season to be a massive economic boon for locals, they say it’s progress.

“Salmon is really important here on the North Coast, it has been for decades and decades,” said Klassen.

“To lose it for a while was painful, but to get it back is… We’re definitely excited,” he said.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife pointed to “significant improvements” for Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and Klamath River fall-run Chinook, in a press release on the season opening. 

Next, the PFMC will forward the management recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service, which will implement them into federal regulations, according to CDFW.

Read more about the 2026 ocean regulations here.

Press Release from CDFW:

Commercial Fishing Returns After 3-Year Closure; Recreational Anglers to See More Open Days in 2026 

Significant improvements in key California salmon populations — specifically Sacramento River fall-run Chinook and Klamath River fall-run Chinook — will allow for more ocean salmon fishing opportunities this year. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that commercial ocean salmon fishing is back after being closed three straight years and that recreational ocean salmon anglers will have more opportunities in 2026.  

“Seeing our salmon populations recover is incredibly heartening and demonstrates what’s possible when we all work together — state and federal partners, tribes, sport anglers and commercial fishing interests, NGOs and others – to do what’s best for salmon,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “Salmon are part of the cultural fabric of California, and I’m delighted more Californians will have the opportunity to enjoy these magnificent fish whether that’s in the water, on the end of their fishing lines or on their dinner plates.” 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) finalized its recommendations for California’s recreational and commercial ocean salmon seasons and harvest limits at its April 7-12 meeting in Portland, Ore. The PFMC will forward its recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which will implement them into federal regulations. A summary of the recreational season dates, locations and harvest guidelines are available at CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information web page.

“The health of our salmon populations fluctuates with environmental conditions, and we’ve seen just how vulnerable these fish are to recent droughts, changing river conditions and a warming climate,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “This year’s return of ocean salmon fishing is an encouraging sign as we advance California’s long-term, science-based Salmon Strategy. Together with a range of partners, we’re restoring habitat, removing barriers, improving flow and reconnecting rivers to give salmon a better chance to survive in all conditions. This work is about balance — making improvements and modernizing water management to help nature thrive and our communities prosper.” 

California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future(external link), put into action beginning in 2024, is laying the groundwork for California to restore and rebuild salmon populations. State agencies, tribes and other partners are making significant progress in achieving goals that include restoring and expanding habitat for salmon spawning and rearing, removing barriers and updating infrastructure for salmon migration. California has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years to support salmon throughout their various life stages. 

More open fishing days come as welcome news following complete closure of recreational ocean salmon fisheries in 2023 and 2024, and only six open days in 2025.

In 2026, CDFW will implement in-season management in both commercial and recreational fisheries to ensure catch of rebounding salmon stocks does not exceed seasonal harvest guidelines. This is the first year of vessel-based trip limits and seasonal harvest guidelines for California’s commercial salmon fishery following the first use of an in-season management framework during California’s limited recreational ocean season in 2025. In-season management allows fishery managers to close salmon seasons early should harvest guidelines be reached. 

In-season monitoring to actively manage commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries to align with harvest guidelines is identified as a priority action item in the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future(external link).

Sport anglers are advised to check for updated information when planning a salmon fishing trip. Season dates, harvest guidelines/catch limits, bag/possession, vessel limit information and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information web page or by calling the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Public notification of any in-season change to conform state regulations to federal regulations is made through the NMFS ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.