Let’s Go Fishin’: Salmon season to remain open

The Pacific Fisheries Management Counsel has announced its final decision to offer a salmon season for 2010.
The regulations south of Point Arena will allow recreational salmon fishing through Labor Day weekend, Sept. 6. The limit will be two salmon per person, per day, with a minimum size limit of 24 inches. However, fishing will not be permitted Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
It’s exciting news, as more fishermen realize the reality of this decision. Boats are being taken out of storage, motors are being tuned and fishermen are gearing up for a full salmon season.
The commercial season will be limited, however, with two four-day openers in July south of Point Arena, and additional quota fisheries in the Fort Bragg area during late July and August.
Most parties interested in our resources hope this decision is best for all involved — including the salmon.
Pacific Fisheries and the California Department Fish and Game expect the ocean stock of salmon to be 245,000.
With a questionable track record at managing our fisheries and science that includes counting jack salmon to predict future runs, Fish and Game and Pacific Fisheries had better hope that their estimates allow for a sport fishing season with a natural escapement goal of between 120,000 and 180,000 salmon returning to the Sacramento River.
Local fishermen, meanwhile, are starting to haul in salmon already.
“We are catching nice, big, healthy salmon, and there appears to be good numbers of fish out there,” reported Ken Stagnaro aboard the Velocity.
Stagnaro had 12 passengers aboard his charter boat the day I spoke with him, and they caught 15 fish of up to 20 pounds each. Private boats have had mixed reports, from zero fish per boat all the way up to eight-fish limits. The trollers are catching more fish than the boats mooching, and the best bet is to fish close to the bottom in 250 feet of water.
I hope you can get out for a fresh salmon.
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.