Salmon season

Anyone know when CDFW announces salmon season start date? I am licking my chops for some fresh salmon going to try a charter boat for opening day.

Salmon Preseason Process: Calendar of Events and Contact Information
Calendar of Events


March 4-9, 2026
PFMC March Meeting
Sacramento, CA
The Council will determine whether any in-season actions are required for fisheries scheduled to open prior to May 16. They will also craft three regulatory alternatives for ocean salmon fisheries in effect on or after May 16. Final adoption of alternatives for public review is tentatively scheduled for March 9.
Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2026 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations will be available online in late March at www.pcouncil.org.

March 23, 2026 (7:00 p.m.)
PFMC Public Hearing
Santa Rosa, CA
The Council will receive comments from the public on the three California ocean salmon fishery regulatory alternatives adopted by the Council in March. More information is available at www.pcouncil.org.

April 7-12, 2026
PFMC April Meeting
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, 2026
California Fish and Game Commission Meeting
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 fgc.ca.gov.

For additional Salmon Information: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon

Thanks so looks like we won’t know final date until April 15-16th

Salmon Preseason Process: Calendar of Events and Contact Information
Calendar of Events


March 4-9, 2026
PFMC March Meeting
Sacramento, CA
The Council will determine whether any in-season actions are required for fisheries scheduled to open prior to May 16. They will also craft three regulatory alternatives for ocean salmon fisheries in effect on or after May 16. Final adoption of alternatives for public review is tentatively scheduled for March 9.
Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2026 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations will be available online in late March at www.pcouncil.org.

March 23, 2026 (7:00 p.m.)
PFMC Public Hearing
Santa Rosa, CA
The Council will receive comments from the public on the three California ocean salmon fishery regulatory alternatives adopted by the Council in March. More information is available at www.pcouncil.org.

April 7-12, 2026
PFMC April Meeting
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, 2026
California Fish and Game Commission Meeting
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 fgc.ca.gov.

For additional Salmon Information: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon

You can read about the alternatives here: https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2026/03/c-6-a-supplemental-stt-report-1-salmon-technical-team-report-collation-of-preliminary-salmon-management-alternatives-for-2026-ocean-fisheries.pdf/

And in-season action (Pigeon Point and south) here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/bulletins/40d6f14

Pretty much only the Monterey opener is set in stone since all of the alternatives are similar. I would try to book a spot out of Monterey/Moss/Santa Cruz for April 11 if charters are booking already.

Us kayakers will generally want to support alternative III for its later season dates when the fish tend to be in-shore. Alternative III for the SF area also allows you the option to fish north of Point Reyes in September, whereas alternative I does not.

There will be a PFMC meeting Monday 03/23/2026 in Santa Rosa to hash things out.

Right on thanks hopefully they don’t raise the minimum size to 27 inches I am a pro at catching small salmon 

You can read about the alternatives here: https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2026/03/c-6-a-supplemental-stt-report-1-salmon-technical-team-report-collation-of-preliminary-salmon-management-alternatives-for-2026-ocean-fisheries.pdf/

And in-season action (Pigeon Point and south) here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/bulletins/40d6f14

Pretty much only the Monterey opener is set in stone since all of the alternatives are similar. I would try to book a spot out of Monterey/Moss/Santa Cruz for April 11 if charters are booking already.

Us kayakers will generally want to support alternative III for its later season dates when the fish tend to be in-shore. Alternative III for the SF area also allows you the option to fish north of Point Reyes in September, whereas alternative I does not.

There will be a PFMC meeting Monday 03/23/2026 in Santa Rosa to hash things out.

Right on thanks hopefully they don’t raise the minimum size to 27 inches I am a pro at catching small salmon 

Those are commercial size limits. The recreational zones size limits be 20"/24".

Recreational will be open April 11th below pigeon point.

If we keep having these limited-quota seasons, I think it would be fair and reasonable to implement a punch card system with an annual limit per angler.

Otherwise, this system favors people who:

A. Don't have to work.

and

B. Have big boats capable of targeting fish off-shore and in sloppy weather.

A punch card system would allow those of us with kayaks and jobs to sleep at night in the early part of season without the worry that the annual quota will be met before we even get a shot at the fish.

implement a punch card system with an annual limit per angler.

This has been on my mind for sure - it's overdue.  I've advocated for this to be the case with Pacific halibut as well.

There are plenty of people who try to get as many fish as they can.  With the big halibut, how many 40 and 60 pounders does one person need in a year?

I'd support a 6 fish per year Pac halibut punch card, and with Chinook I think 20 is a good place to start.

We have a problem in our culture where people do not have respect for the resources.  If we don't do something to elevate the level of reverence for and support of the animals and their habitats, we can kiss it all good bye.

"I'd support a 6 fish per year Pac halibut punch card, and with Chinook I think 20 is a good place to start."

From this kayak angler's perspective it seems like half that - 3 Pac Hali and 10 Chinook - would be huge year.

If we keep having these limited-quota seasons, I think it would be fair and reasonable to implement a punch card system with an annual limit per angler.

Otherwise, this system favors people who:

A. Don't have to work.

and

B. Have big boats capable of targeting fish off-shore and in sloppy weather.

A punch card system would allow those of us with kayaks and jobs to sleep at night in the early part of season without the worry that the annual quota will be met before we even get a shot at the fish.

So people that work their whole life and are now retired. Would be restricted to a number that weekend warriors have.

So people that spent 100k on a boat would be limited to catch the same amount a 1k boat can.

I don't like punch cards, maybe have a people powered season instead.  Punch cards would require a lot more wardens and cash to cover the extra expense

I think punch cards or tags should be considered in California too.
An e-Tag option (like in Oregon) may better inform real-time catch rates.

If we keep having these limited-quota seasons, I think it would be fair and reasonable to implement a punch card system with an annual limit per angler.

Otherwise, this system favors people who:

A. Don't have to work.

and

B. Have big boats capable of targeting fish off-shore and in sloppy weather.

A punch card system would allow those of us with kayaks and jobs to sleep at night in the early part of season without the worry that the annual quota will be met before we even get a shot at the fish.

So people that work their whole life and are now retired. Would be restricted to a number that weekend warriors have.

So people that spent 100k on a boat would be limited to catch the same amount a 1k boat can.

I don't like punch cards, maybe have a people powered season instead.  Punch cards would require a lot more wardens and cash to cover the extra expense

Nothing about the salmon situation is ideal. This is just an idea.

So people that work their whole life and are now retired. Would be restricted to a number that weekend warriors have.

So people that spent 100k on a boat would be limited to catch the same amount a 1k boat can.

I don't like punch cards, maybe have a people powered season instead.  Punch cards would require a lot more wardens and cash to cover the extra expense

Yes. Wildlife as a resource is held in trust for the benefit of all beneficiaries of the state equitably. It should not matter how old a beneficiary is or what assets they own.

Wardens can already see live in real-time when you purchase a license and submit a harvest report. CDFW's licensing system can already put a hold and extra fees on your account for non-reporting. And there is already increased federal and state presence at major ports during these shortened salmon seasons. Abalone had a punch card system and that was more difficult to enforce due to the remote and spread-out nature of abalone access. Salmon would be relatively easier to enforce due to the chokepoints of access.

So people that work their whole life and are now retired. Would be restricted to a number that weekend warriors have.

So people that spent 100k on a boat would be limited to catch the same amount a 1k boat can.

I don't like punch cards, maybe have a people powered season instead.  Punch cards would require a lot more wardens and cash to cover the extra expense

Yes. Wildlife as a resource is held in trust for the benefit of all beneficiaries of the state equitably. It should not matter how old a beneficiary is or what assets they own.

You were much more polite than I was going to be... Thank you.