Let’s go fishin’: Salmon move to rivers

Salmon fishing has remained strong, and as more fish move into the rivers, the local fishing focus is in transition.
The Sacramento River has been producing limits of salmon. The Klamath River is next in line, as many Chinooks are getting closer to their natal waters. Ocean fishing has continued to produce a nice mix of species. The large summer south swell is subsiding and should turn the inshore fish back on the bite.
Salmon fishing in the river is great fun, and if fresh salmon are caught, they are still nice on the grill. After an ocean salmon moves upriver to spawn, it makes some major changes. If salmon are caught early in the river, though, they will still be bright silver with fresh red meat. These fish are being caught now in the lower Sacramento River.
“We are getting limits of salmon every day and have been for a few weeks,” J.D. Richey of JD Sportfishing reports.
The fish are not huge, with most running 8 to 20 pounds. The Sacramento River below Red Bluff has been good, with many king salmon slowing down in the greater Chico area. The usual river techniques are catching the fish, using plugs with a sardine wrap on them at first light and then switching to fresh salmon eggs after the sun hits the water.
Salmon fishing will get better on the Sacramento River into late fall. The Klamath River starts its peak season for the fall run of salmon the first and second week of September. Both rivers see early action in the lower river. As the season progresses, the fish migrate to the upper reaches of the water shed, and of course anglers will follow.
Ocean fishing has had some changes. The swell rolled through and slowed the inshore bite. This should settle back down and put rockfish and lingcod back on the bite. Halibut fishing should pick back up for some of the final halibut catches of the summer season. Typically, late-season halibut are caught along the coast north of Santa Cruz and can be some of the season’s largest fish. Albacore remain an option if a 60-mile run offshore is possible for your boat. When the weather cooperates, private boats are still catching albacore. I hope you can get out for some fall fishing.
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

ca************@ya***.com











. He also hosts a fishing show on radio station KSCO (1080) from 7:06 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, April through September.