It appears as though all parties involved in the ocean salmon fishery agree that a season for salmon fishing is a strong possibility for 2011. This comes as great news after last years’ shorted season, followed by consecutive years of a closed season for salmon. The steelhead season closed with what seemed to be a healthy return of fish in our local streams.
Why does salmon fishing in 2011 appear promising? The returns for coastal streams, the Klamath, and Trinity rivers are in and combined with the Sacramento River returns they look high enough for the governing agencies to consider a season to harvest fish by sport and commercial fishermen.
Ken Stagnaro aboard the Charter boat Velocity called and verified the possibility of a good salmon season.
“We have caught and released 15 salmon between now and the first of the year.” Ken also added, “I am seeing more anchovies in the bay than I have in the past five years, it looks very good out there for salmon.”
The Stagnaro family will be booking trips aboard the Velocity for salmon during the season and are starting to book trips now.
Captain Jimmy Rubin aboard the Becky Anne reported, “We caught and released four incidental salmon while sand dab fishing this weekend.”
Jimmy has been doing well on sand dabs and crabs. His past trip yielded limits of crabs and 50 sand dabs per fishermen. Jimmy is also booking salmon trips starting on April 2.
Estimates show 152,000 salmon returned to the Sacramento River watershed and its tributaries in 2010. These along with the expected returns are high enough for a proposed salmon season.
National Marine fisheries are proposing a season for sport fishing from April 2 to the first Saturday in October from Pigeon Point to the Mexico border with a size limit of 24 inches. There may be a commercial salmon season from Point Arena to the Mexico border from May 1 to September 30. Most businesses and anglers are hopeful for this season and are gearing up for a good year.
The final options should be available after March 10 at the conclusion of several meetings between Department of Fish and Game and its commission, National Marine Fisheries and Pacific Fisheries Counsel.
Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. Contact him at [email protected]. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 7:06 to 8 p.m. Thursdays April through September.
