{"id":396654,"date":"2026-07-13T15:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/396654\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:50:10","slug":"salmon-fishing-resumes-off-california-coast-for-first-time-since-2022-heres-what-that-means-east-bay-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/396654\/","title":{"rendered":"Salmon fishing resumes off California coast for first time since 2022. Here\u2019s what that means \u2013 East Bay Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commercial and recreational salmon fishing has resumed off the North Coast after a three-year statewide closure, marking a long-awaited milestone for a troubled industry that has endured historic losses in revenue and resources.<\/p>\n

Charter captains are reporting abundant catches out of Bodega Bay, and commercial boats up and down the coast are again unloading hauls of the prized West Coast staple for the first time since 2022.<\/p>\n

Still, the reopening is far from a return to normal, industry veterans say.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s season is heavily restricted with staggered openings and closings designed to limit the take on rebounding Chinook salmon returns. And fewer boats may be around to cash in, as some fishermen say years of lost income from curtailed and closed fisheries have driven some away from the water for good.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at a little less than half throttle right now,\u201d said Capt. Mike Harbarth of Sonoma Coast Adventures. \u201cThere is strict management and they\u2019re being conservative this year. We\u2019ve all respected that.\u201d<\/p>\n

From his charter boat \u201cShauna Lee\u201d berthed at the Porto Bodega Marina, Harbarth said sport anglers have managed to reel in their two-fish limits on most trips out. Some of those fish have weighed up to 30 pounds and Harbarth said they are finding \u201cmiles and miles of salmon\u201d off the Sonoma Coast.<\/p>\n

Harbarth, who has spent most of his life chasing salmon, remembers when California\u2019s season stretched from late winter into the next fall \u2014 a far cry from the current reality. But, after three consecutive years of closures, the carefully managed reopening is a welcome start.<\/p>\n

\"Salmon<\/p>\n

Salmon boat charter captain Mike Harbarth of the Shauna Lee, photographs Peter Mlynar, left, and Ryan Willusz at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Bodega Bay, after Harbath\u2019s group all reeled in their limit. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Hustrulid filets a salmon at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, after the fish were caught by a group of sport fisherman out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

\"Salmon<\/p>\n

Salmon to be cleaned at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, the fish were caught by a group of sport fisherman out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

\"Filleted<\/p>\n

Filleted salmon at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, the fish were caught by a group of sport fisherman out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vince<\/p>\n

Vince Orisini of Bodega Bay, left, prepares to throw filleted salmon to harbor seals at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, the fish were caught by a group of sport fisherman out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 5<\/p>\n

Salmon boat charter captain Mike Harbarth of the Shauna Lee, photographs Peter Mlynar, left, and Ryan Willusz at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Bodega Bay, after Harbath\u2019s group all reeled in their limit. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Years of drought and changing ocean conditions over the past decade contributed to a sharp decline in Chinook stocks targeted by sport and commercial anglers. Coho salmon, a more sensitive species, are so imperiled they\u2019re off limits in California.<\/p>\n

Once-abundant West Coast runs have been diminished over the past century by water diversions, damned rivers, development and habitat loss, with ever tighter regulations, including full and partial closures geared to preserve what remains.<\/p>\n

State and federal fishery managers reopened the season in late June following improved rainfall and snowpack in 2023 and 2024, which boosted survival rates for juvenile Chinook salmon migrating from the Sacramento Valley to the Pacific Ocean, according to John McManus, the senior policy director for the Golden State Salmon Association.<\/p>\n

Those fish have now returned as adults in numbers large enough to support a limited fishery, McManus said, though managers are carefully monitoring harvest levels to ensure the stock remains sustainable.<\/p>\n

About two-thirds of the allowed commercial harvest of 83,000 fish already has been caught as of July 1, according to the state.<\/p>\n

\"News\/\u2013At<\/p>\n

News\/\u2013At Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, Sandy B skipper Stan Carpenter is wondering what he will do to replace his income due to the unprecedented closure of coastal salmon fishing by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Friday April 11, 2008. Carpenter. 55, has been a commercial salmon fisherman since he was a teenager out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)2008\n<\/p>\n

\"Danny<\/p>\n

Danny Kunstman, owner of the Orion fishing boat in Bodega Bay, walks the A dock at Spud Point Marina after working on his boat. Kunstman and other California commercial and recreational fishermen, will not be salmon fishing this season due to the Pacific Marine Fisheries Council endorsing a full closure of the season, Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ Press Democrat) 2024\n<\/p>\n

\"Deckhand<\/p>\n

Deckhand Jose Barilla readies the fishing vessel Annabelle on at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat) 2008<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 3<\/p>\n

News\/\u2013At Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, Sandy B skipper Stan Carpenter is wondering what he will do to replace his income due to the unprecedented closure of coastal salmon fishing by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Friday April 11, 2008. Carpenter. 55, has been a commercial salmon fisherman since he was a teenager out of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)2008\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

For the commercial fleet and its many associated businesses, however, the return of salmon fishing won\u2019t come close to offsetting losses tied to the three-year closure. It came as California\u2019s other perennial contender for the most lucrative fishery, Dungeness crab, has been shifted and shortened \u2014 to protect rare marine mammals, but compounding losses for the industry.<\/p>\n

Dick Ogg, a commercial fisherman and president of the Bodega Bay Fishermen\u2019s Marketing Association, said the limited salmon opening isn\u2019t enough for many to rebuild their businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt basically took away what summer income these guys have,\u201d Ogg said of the extended closure. \u201cWithout that, you\u2019re basically waiting until January to get any more money and it\u2019s really hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some boats have been able to pivot to harvesting albacore, rockfish or cod, Ogg said, but not every vessel has the equipment to do so, and retooling can be costly.<\/p>\n

Some, he said, have left the industry entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look at the cost of a vessel, the cost of a permit, the cost of fuel and then trying to maintain crew and insurance, it\u2019s a difficult situation for any young fisherman to get into,\u201d Ogg said.<\/p>\n

\"CommercialCommercial fisherman Dick Ogg, at Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Ogg is the president of the Bodega Bay Fishermen\u2019s Association. (Kent Porter \/ Press Democrat)\u00a0Kent Porter \/ Press Democrat<\/p>\n

Ogg, 73, said his biggest concern is ensuring the industry\u2019s next generation has a pathway into commercial fishing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy personal objective is to figure out, No. 1, how to maintain the access and opportunity and increase it if possible,\u201d Ogg said. \u201cI want to find ways to mitigate issues and find ways to financially support and help develop opportunities for the younger generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The federal government is again stepping in to offer limited support, in the form of disaster aid.<\/p>\n

In June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced $21.3 million in disaster relief for California\u2019s salmon industry following years of advocacy by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, fishermen and industry groups.<\/p>\n

California lawmakers first requested federal assistance in 2023, eventually securing $20.6 million the following year. However, industry representatives argued that amount fell short of their total estimated losses, which state officials put at $90 million in the first two years of closures alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongressman Huffman was fierce in his pursuit of that disaster relief,\u201d McManus said.<\/p>\n

\"Rep.Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, is the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. (CAROLYN KATER \/ Associated Press)\u00a0CAROLYN KATER \/ Associated Press<\/p>\n

But industry leaders say the disaster relief is only a bandage and questions remain \u2014 about both the fishery and fleet\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

While two consecutive wet winters helped rebuild the salmon returns, McManus said the long-term outlook will depend on how the state manages its rivers and water supply going forward.<\/p>\n

Diversions, dam operations and habitat degradation in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems \u2014 the state\u2019s benchmark watershed for salmon production \u2014 continue to threaten the wild and hatchery-supported populations that are vital to the commercial and recreational fisheries, he said.<\/p>\n

Wild salmon hatch in rivers and streams before migrating to the Pacific Ocean where they spend most of their lives before returning to their natal waters. Healthy river flows during the early stages of that life cycle are critical to ensuring enough juvenile fish can survive to adulthood, McManus said.<\/p>\n

\"SalmonSalmon on a dock at Porto Bodega, Friday, July 10, 2026, caught by a sport fishing group off the waters of Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter \/ The Press Democrat)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, for Harbarth, the charter boat captain, the bustle of summer days pursuing salmon is a reminder of what\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n

He is welcoming back customers who spent the intervening years with other hobbies. Now, bleary-eyed, they arrive dockside at dawn and, hours later, disembark for home in the afternoon, hopefully with coolers of Chinook.<\/p>\n

The season is a shadow of what it once was, but Harbarth said witnessing the rebound of stock out in the ocean has given many reason to believe that steps are being taken in the right direction.<\/p>\n

You can reach Staff Writer Anna Armstrong at 707-521-5254 or at anna.armstrong@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @annavarmstrongg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Commercial and recreational salmon fishing has resumed off the North Coast after a three-year statewide closure, marking a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396655,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[184,7,9,8,443,643,17742,181,1338,100,993,4824,2944,420,7662],"class_list":["post-396654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-bay-area","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-climate-change","tag-environment","tag-fishing","tag-latest-headlines","tag-morning-wire","tag-news","tag-north-bay","tag-pets-and-animals","tag-photos-and-videos","tag-things-to-do","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}