April 12, 2024

More than 500,000 salmon will be released over two days from CDFW’s Fall Creek Fish Hatchery into the Klamath River below the Iron Gate Dam

What: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), joined by Tribal leaders and fisheries experts from the Karuk Tribe, Yurok Tribe, the Shasta Indian Nation and the Quartz Valley Indian Rancheria, will release almost 100,000 yearling coho salmon and more than 400,000 Chinook salmon fry into the Klamath River from CDFW’s Fall Creek Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County over two days.

It is the first major release of coho salmon, a state and federally listed threatened species, into the Klamath River since the drawdown of the Klamath River reservoirs as part of the historic dam removal underway and a major milestone in the rebirth of a free-flowing, undammed Klamath River, which these salmon will return to as adults in a few years.

When: Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Iron Gate Fish Hatchery, 8638 Lakeview Road, Hornbrook, Calif., 96044

Who: Salmon and fisheries experts from CDFW, leaders from the Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Shasta Indian Nation and the Quartz Valley Indian Rancheria will be available for interviews.

More Info: The salmon release will be preceded by a Tribal blessing.

April 4, 2024

Question: A friend was telling me about fishing tournaments in California. How can I get involved?

Answer: Hundreds of fishing tournaments and contests are scheduled in California for the rest of 2024. You can search the type of contest, location, date and sponsor name at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery. Please make sure to be in touch with the sponsor organization to register, since CDFW does not host these events.

Most of the contests target black bs, but some involve other species such as trout, kokanee and striped bass. Contests take place all year, but most occur in the spring, summer and fall. Diamond Valley Lake (Riverside County), Clear Lake (Lake County) and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are among the most popular locations for anglers to compete against each other. Fishing is mostly from motorized boats, but there is a growing popularity for the shore-based and kayak contests.

“Many people enjoy fishing for the chance to be alone in nature. It’s their time away from the busy parts of our lives,” said Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor Flower Moye. “Fishing contests can give people that same feeling, but also provide a space for camaraderie and healthy competition. They offer folks another way to enjoy the sport. In fact, some people get into fishing because of the tournament scene.”

Since 1975, CDFW has required tournament organizers to have permits for their events. The regulation enables the department to ensure responsible use of resources. CDFW does not make money from the contests. Usual fishing regulations apply meaning winners are determined not by the number of fish caught, but by the weight or length.

A full explanation of CDFW contests, tournaments and derbies is available at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Contests?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.

April 10, 2024

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted unanimously to recommend closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries through the end of the year, mirroring recommendations made last year to close the fisheries in 2023.

Salmon stocks continue to be impacted in California from ongoing issues associated with drought and climate disruption. The salmon currently present and returning to California’s coast and rivers were impacted by a multi-year drought, severe wildfires, and associated impacts to spawning and rearing habitat, harmful algal blooms and ocean forage shifts. The low ocean abundance forecasts, coupled with low 2023 returns, led the PFMC to recommend full closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries.

After reviewing the PFMC recommendation, it is expected that the National Marine Fisheries Service will take regulatory action to enact the closure, effective in mid-May. In addition, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider whether to adopt a closure of inland salmon fisheries at its May 15, teleconference meeting.

“After the closure last year, this decision is not an easy one to make,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “While we have been enjoying back-to-back wet winters this year and last, the salmon that will benefit from these conditions aren’t expected to return to California until around 2026 or 2027. The current salmon for this year’s season were impacted by the difficult environmental factors present three to five years ago.”

“While incredibly painful to fishing families and fishing communities, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations supports the closure,” said George Bradshaw, president of PCFFA. “We all need to be doing everything we can to give California’s salmon a chance to recover. It has to be an all hands-on deck effort to ensure survival for our Central Valley and Klamath salmon runs.”

Following today’s actions, CDFW will work to expedite a request for federal fishery resource disaster determination for the State of California 2024 Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean salmon fisheries. Governor Newsom made a similar request in response to the closure in 2023, which was approved. The Department is currently seeking comments on the 2023 spend plan for the $20,625,729 that has been allocated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for the disaster. Comments may be provided via email through 5 p.m., April 19, 2024, at SalmonDisaster@wildlife.ca.gov.

Salmon are significantly important to California’s cultural and natural resources. These important species provide significant commercial, recreational, economic, intrinsic, and cultural benefits to California Native American tribes, fishing communities and the state.  California is taking several steps to rebuild salmon stocks across California. In late January 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in the Age of Climate Change. The strategy has six priorities and 71 actions that will benefit salmon stocks in California.

More information about the PFMC is available on the PFMC website. More information about federal fishery disaster relief and ocean salmon fishing seasons is available on the CDFW website.