Recreational Ocean Salmon Season to Open South of Horse Mountain on April 2

March 21

California's recreational salmon season will open in ocean waters on Saturday, April 2, 2016, from Horse Mountain (40° 05' 00" N. latitude) south to the U.S./Mexico border.
 
The daily bag limit is two Chinook per day and no more than two daily bag limits may be possessed when on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person may possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit.
 
Between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (38° 57' 30" N. latitude), the minimum size limit is 20 inches total length. For areas south of Point Arena, the minimum size limit is 24 inches total length. The recreational salmon season north of Horse Mountain remains closed and the season will be determined in April.
 
For anglers fishing north of Point Conception (34° 27' 00" N. latitude), no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks may be used, and no more than one rod may be used per angler when fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat with salmon on board. In addition, barbless circle hooks are required when fishing with bait by any means other than trolling.
 
Additional ocean salmon fishing regulations for the 2016 fishing season will be decided by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) during its April 9-14 meeting in Vancouver, Washington, and by the Fish and Game Commission at its April 18 teleconference. Final sport regulations will be published in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 2016-2017 Supplemental Sport Fishing Regulations booklet, which will be printed and posted online in May.
 
"Salmon abundance estimates are lower this year and there is concern that the forecasts may be overly optimistic. Ocean and river salmon anglers can expect less fishing opportunity compared to last year, especially later in the season, to protect vulnerable stocks," said CDFW Environmental Scientist Jennifer Simon.
 
Three alternatives are currently being considered for California's 2016 commercial and recreational ocean salmon regulations. Each option includes different season dates, size limits, bag limits and quotas. The public is encouraged to comment on any of the proposed alternatives that can be found on the PFMC website.
 
CDFW reminds anglers that retention of coho salmon is prohibited in all ocean fisheries. For complete ocean salmon regulations in effect during April, please visit CDFW's ocean salmon webpage or call the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.

Indubitably.

Likewise Im sure

Just to confirm... If I'm trolling I don't need to use circle hooks?

Just to confirm... If I'm trolling I don't need to use circle hooks?

Correct.

Circle hooks are required if all three of these conditions apply - else, not required.

1.  You are south of Horse Mountain
2.  You are not trolling
3.  You are using bait.  Bait includes scent attractants as well as dead animals.

Any insight as to why you don't need circle hooks while trolling?

It was my understanding that circle hooks make it easier to release Coho or undersized salmon, but that shouldn't change if you are trolling.

Yeah, fish tend to inhale stationary bait. You end up with hooks deep inside the fish making them more prone to injury. Circle hook pull out and catch the lip of the fish without the need for a strong hook set.

If you fish trout inland think of how often you asshole a fish with a soaked worm or power bait vs how you hook them in the lip when trolling a lure.

Interesting... why are circle hooks not required with other species then? (lingcod / rockfish /etc)

Interesting... why are circle hooks not required with other species then? (lingcod / rockfish /etc)

Lingcod and rockfish are plentiful, hardy, and have lots of suitable habitat for spawning. Salmon are not doing as well. We need to make sure any that aren't caught and eaten survive to spawning age.

Don't take our loose rockfish regs for granted though. Up in WA, they have to use barbless hooks for RF.

Interesting... why are circle hooks not required with other species then? (lingcod / rockfish /etc)

Lingcod and rockfish are plentiful, hardy, and have lots of suitable habitat for spawning. Salmon are not doing as well. We need to make sure any that aren't caught and eaten survive to spawning age.

Don't take our loose rockfish regs for granted though. Up in WA, they have to use barbless hooks for RF.

Yeah, all of this.

There is even talk of reducing our sublimit of blacks further, down to 2, and reducing lingcod back down to 2.  That's still a year off but its in the discussion stage rightnow.  Up here in the north probably 75-85% of rockfish caught are blacks. 

Yeah, that'd be tough for you guys up north if they reduced the blacks even further. It seems like the farther north you go the higher your percentage of blacks. Fishing with my uncle in Sekiu, we only saw one non-black RF after two solid days of fishing. The blacks get HUGE up there, though. 5-8 lbs is common. Super fun catching them top water on bass gear.

I was hoping to try Salmon fishing for the first time south of Do ran,  launching at Do ran- and tips on gear set up and location?

Doran

I was hoping to try Salmon fishing for the first time south of Do ran,  launching at Do ran- and tips on gear set up and location?

If you fish south of Doran be prepared for a long paddle back when the wind comes up as it does most afternoons the paddle back can be brutal. They don't call it Blowdega for nothing.
 Better off fishing straight out or a little North just be mindful of the MLPAs and the island it breaks in a large swell on both sides.

I was hoping to try Salmon fishing for the first time south of Do ran,  launching at Do ran- and tips on gear set up and location?

Is there a particular reason you're thinking south of Doran? You might have better luck out by the whistle buoy (west of Doran, around the Head).