UPDATE! California Ocean Salmon Season Process 2026

Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen's Association President James Stone gave a Facebook live video update on the California recreational ocean salmon season setting process to the public regarding the potential salmon fishing dates set by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Our NCGASA Guide members received this information the day before this video. Watch the meetings at: https://www.youtube.com/@pacificfishery182 Visit the PFMC's website at https://www.pcouncil.org/ What is discussed: Salmon quotas, ocean recreation fishing dates for each CA Zone such as the Klamath Control Zone, Fort Bragg, San Francisco and Monterey Management Zones. • Read from the PFMC April Meetings Briefing Book the dates proposed under the SALMON agenda item reports: Agenda Item D.6.a SALMON TECHNICAL TEAM REPORT COLLATION OF PRELIMINARY SALMON MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR 2026 OCEAN FISHERIES Salmon Fishing Dates Setting Process Timeline: • PFMC Timeline: Preliminary ocean and inland options are reviewed in March, with final, definitive recommendations for the upcoming season made in the April meetings sessions. • CA State Action: Based on the PFMC recommendations, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommends specific in-river dates to the Fish and Game Commission at their April 15 meeting, with final adoption on May 5 (https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2026). • Season Start: Inland salmon fishing on the Sacramento River and associated Central Valley rivers dates will come out of the Fish and Game Commission and different Central Valley rivers including the Sac, Feather, American, Mokelumne will have different opener dates. Generally, openers start on July 15 through Aug. 1 Join us at ncgasa.org with a donation or membership so we can keep working on anglers behalf (inland and ocean fishermen and women) and be able to participate in Pacific Fisheries Management Council meetings every year. The recrea Salmon Saving Projects we are involved in: https://youtu.be/ZH76j9uGkKI?si=RtVlAQzqJSc8ahqt