California’s Ocean Salmon Fishing Season Returns with Strict Limits and New Federal Alignment

CALIFORNIA — Following a year of closures and conservation concerns, limited recreational ocean salmon fishing will return to California’s coast under tightly controlled conditions. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the 2025 West Coast salmon fishing regulations on May 16, reinstating a shortened season with set quotas and gear restrictions that now carry the force of federal law. California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed that the state will conform to the newly issued federal guidelines, in accordance with Title 14, Section 1.95 of the California Code of Regulations. The full text of the federal regulations is available in the Federal Register under reference 90 FR 20810. The first opportunity was a two-day window earlier this month on June 7 and 8. Spanning all ocean waters between the California–Oregon border and the U.S.–Mexico line, the opener operated under a summer harvest guideline of 7,000 Chinook salmon. Additional openers may be scheduled in July and August — but only if the June quota has not been reached. A second chance to target Chinook will take place from September 4 through 7 in the central coast region between Point Reyes and Point Sur. This fall fishery carries a separate 7,500-Chinook harvest...