California Fish And Game Commission Releases Options For Central Valley, Klamath River Salmon Seasons
Despite some promising reports, the risk of a third consecutive salmon fishing closure is a possibility heading into next month’s Pacific Fishery Marine Council meetings, the state has been compiling potential options for Central Valley and Klamath River fishing seasons if the PFMC decides to stage an ocean season for California coastal waters.
Here are some details from the California Fish and Game Commission. First up is the Central Valley river systems:
Notice – Central Valley Sport Fishing 2025
Each year, the Department recommends new Chinook salmon bag and possession limits for consideration by the Commission to align the fishing limits with up-to-date management goals, as set forth below.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is responsible for adopting recommendations for the management of recreational and commercial ocean salmon fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (three to 200 miles offshore) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. When approved by the Secretary of Commerce, these recommendations are implemented as ocean salmon fishing regulations by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The PFMC will develop the annual Pacific coast ocean salmon fisheries regulatory options for public review at its March 2025 meeting and will adopt its final regulatory recommendations at its April 2025 meeting based on the PFMC salmon abundance estimates and recommendations for ocean harvest for the coming season. Based on the April 2025 recommendation by PFMC, the Department will recommend specific seasons and bag and possession limit regulations to the Commission at its April 16, 2025, meeting. The Commission will then consider adoption of the Central Valley sport fishing regulations at its May 14, 2025, meeting.
Proposed Regulations
Chinook Salmon Bag and Possession Limits
The Department recognizes the uncertainty of SRFC in-river harvest projections. Therefore, for the 2025 Central Valley fishery, the Department is presenting four regulatory options for the Commission’s consideration to tailor 2025 Central Valley fishery management to target 2025 in-river
fisheries harvest projections. The Commission may adopt these options for each river section independently, or in combination to meet PFMC SRFC management objectives.
- American River, subsections 7.40(b)(4)(B), (C) and (D).
- Feather River, subsection 7.40(b)(43)(D) and (E).
- Mokelumne River, subsection 7.40(b)(66)(A), (B) and (D).
- The following options are provided for Commission consideration:
Option 1 – Any Size Chinook Salmon Fishery This option is the Department’s preferred option if the 2025 SRFC stock abundance forecast is sufficiently high to avoid the need to constrain in-river SRFC harvest. Bag limit of [0-4] Chinook salmon. Possession limit – [0-12] Chinook salmon.
Option 2 – Limited Adult and Grilse Salmon Fishery Bag limit of [0-4] Chinook salmon of which no more than [0-4] fish over 27 inches total length may be retained. Possession limit – [0-12] Chinook salmon of which no more than [0–12] fish may be over 27 inches total length.
Option 3 – Grilse Salmon Fishery Only Bag limit of [0-4] Chinook salmon less than or equal to 27 inches total length. Possession limit – [0-12] Chinook salmon less than or equal to 27 inches total length.
Option 4 – No Salmon Fishing in all Central Valley Rivers, Streams, and Tributaries No take or possession of Chinook salmon. Chinook Salmon Fishing Seasons The current open fishing seasons for SRFC in the Central Valley are specific to each river and river section and have start and end dates that encompass the migration periods for salmon to upstream spawning habitat in the American, Feather, Sacramento, and Mokelumne rivers. To provide angling opportunity while minimizing the risk of overharvest due to uncertainty of SRFC in-river harvest projections, the Department is presenting a range of dates within that historic range that spans the open fishing season specific to each river section. This will provide the Commission with the flexibility to start the season later or end the season earlier, per section of river or across the valley.
And some possible options for the Klamath River Basin:
Notice of Proposed Changes to Regulations – Klamath River Basin
Klamath River Fall-Run Chinook Salmon
Adult Klamath River fall-run Chinook Salmon (KRFC) harvest allocations and natural spawning escapement goals are established by PFMC. The KRFC harvest allocation between tribal and non- tribal fisheries is based on court decisions and allocation agreements between the various fishery representatives.
PFMC Overfishing Review
KRFC stocks have been designated as “overfished” by PFMC. This designation is the result of not meeting conservation objectives for these stocks. Management objectives and criteria for KRFC are defined in the PFMC Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The threshold for overfished status of KRFC is a three-year geometric mean less than or equal to 30,525 natural area adult spawners. This overfished-threshold was met for KRFC during the 2015-2017 period. The 30,525 KRFC natural area adult spawners is considered the minimum stock size threshold, per the FMP. The KRFC adult Notice of Proposed Changes to Regulations – Klamath River Basin
natural area spawning escapement for 2023 was 32,834 natural area adult spawners, which is below the one-year conservation threshold of 40,700 natural area adult spawners. The most recent three- year geometric mean of 27,879 is still less than the required 40,700 natural area adult spawners conservation threshold, therefore the KRFC are still considered as an “overfished” stock.
Accordingly, the FMP outlines a process for preparing a “rebuilding plan” that includes assessment of the factors that led to the decline of the stock, including fishing, environmental factors, model errors, etc. The rebuilding plan includes recommendations to address conservation of KRFC, with the goal of achieving rebuilt status. Rebuilt status requires meeting a three-year geometric mean of 40,700 adult natural area KRFC spawner escapement. The plan developed by representatives of NMFS, PFMC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department), and tribal entities, was submitted to PFMC in February 2019, adopted by PFMC in June 2019, and submitted to NMFS in August 2019. Forthcoming recommendations from the rebuilding plan may alter how KRFC are managed in the future, including changing the in-river allocation number, and/or allocating less than the normal target number.
Klamath River Spring Chinook Salmon
The Klamath River Basin also supports Klamath River spring Chinook Salmon (KRSC). Naturally produced KRSC are both temporally and spatially separated from KRFC in most cases. Presently, KRSC stocks are not managed or allocated by PFMC. This in-river sport fishery is managed by general basin seasons, daily bag limit, and possession limit regulations. KRSC harvest is monitored on the Klamath River below the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth of the Klamath River by creel survey. The upper Trinity River, upstream of Junction City, is monitored using tag returns from anglers.
KRFC Allocation Management
The PFMC allocation for the Klamath River Basin sport harvest is normally a minimum of 15 percent of the non-tribal PFMC harvest allocation of KRFC. Preseason stock projections of 2025 adult KRFC abundance will not be available from PFMC until March 2025. The 2025 basin allocation will be recommended by PFMC in April 2025. That allocation will inform the quota that the Department proposes to the Commission for adoption as a quota for the in-river sport harvest at the Commission’s May 2025 teleconference meeting.
The Commission may adopt a KRFC in-river sport harvest quota that is different than the quota proposed by the Department or the PFMC 2025 allocation for that fishery. Commission modifications need to meet biological and fishery allocation goals specified in law or established in the FMP.
The annual KRFC in-river sport harvest quota is specified in subsection 7.40(b)(50)(D)1. The quota is split among four geographic areas with a subquota for each area, expressed as a percentage of the total in-river quota, specified in subsection 7.40(b)(50)(D)2. For angler convenience, the subquotas, expressed as the number of fish, are listed for the affected river segments in subsection 7.40(b)(50)(E).
The in-river sport subquota percentages are as follows:
Notice of Proposed Changes to Regulations – Klamath River Basin
1. Main stem Klamath River from the California-Oregon border to the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec — 17 percent of the in-river sport quota;
2. Main stem Klamath River downstream of the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean — 50 percent of the in-river sport quota;
The spit area (within 100 yards of the channel through the sand spit formed at the Klamath River mouth) closes to all fishing after 15 percent of the total Klamath River Basin quota has been taken downstream of the Highway 101 bridge.
3. Main stem Trinity River downstream of the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat — 16.5 percent of the in-river sport quota; and
4. Main stem Trinity River downstream of the Denny Road bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River — 16.5 percent of the in-river sport fishery quota.
These geographic areas are based upon the historical distribution of angler effort to ensure equitable harvest of adult KRFC in the Klamath River and Trinity River. The subquota system requires the Department to monitor or assess angler harvest of adult KRFC in each geographic area. All areas are monitored on a real time basis, except for the Klamath River upstream of Weitchpec and in the Trinity River. Due to funding and personnel reductions, the Department does not currently conduct real time harvest monitoring in the Klamath River upstream of the Weitchpec and in the Trinity River.
The Department has developed Harvest Predictor Models (HPM), which incorporate historic creel survey data from the Klamath River downstream of Iron Gate Dam to the confluence with the Pacific Ocean, and the Trinity River downstream of Lewiston Dam to the confluence with the Klamath River. Each HPM is driven by the positive relationship between KRFC harvested in the respective lower and upper subquota areas of the Klamath River and the Trinity River. The HPMs will be used by the Department to implement fishing closures to ensure that anglers do not exceed established subquota targets. Using this method, the upper Klamath River subquota area generally closes between 28-30 days after the lower Klamath River subquota is reached. Similarly, the upper Trinity River subquota area generally closes 45 days after the lower Klamath River subquota has been met. The Department also takes into consideration several other factors when implementing closure dates for subquota areas, including angler effort, KRFC run timing, weir counts, and ongoing recreational creel surveys performed by the Hoopa Valley Tribe in the lower Trinity River below Willow Creek.
Sport Fishery Management
The KRFC in-river sport harvest quota is divided into geographic areas, and harvest is monitored under real time subquota management. The KRSC in-river sport harvest is managed by general season, daily bag limit, and possession limit regulations.
The Department presently differentiates the two stocks by the following sport fish season in each sub- area:
Klamath River
July 1 through August 14 – General Season KRSC. 3
For purposes of clarity, daily bag and possession limits apply to that section of the Klamath River downstream of the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth.
August 15 to December 31 – KRFC quota management. Trinity River
July 1 through August 31 – General Season KRSC.
For purposes of clarity, daily bag and possession limits apply to that section of the Trinity River downstream of the Old Lewiston Bridge to the confluence with the South Fork Trinity River.
September 1 through December 31 – KRFC quota management.
The daily bag and possession limits apply to both stocks within the same sub-area and time period. Current regulations in subsections 7.40(b)(50)(E)2.a. through 2.e. specify bag limits for KRFC stocks in the Klamath River. Current regulations in subsections 7.40(b)(50)(E)6.b., e., and f. specify bag limits for KRFC stocks in the Trinity River. Current regulations in subsection 7.40(b)(50)(C)2.a. and 2.b. specify KRSC and KRFC possession limits, respectively.
Proposed Changes
KRFC Adult Stocks (Sport Fishery Quota Management)
Quota: For public notice requirements, the Department recommends the Commission consider a quota range of 0–67,600 adult KRFC in the Klamath River Basin for the in-river sport fishery. This recommended range encompasses the historical range of the Klamath River Basin allocations and allows PFMC and Commission to make adjustments during the 2025 regulatory cycle.
Subquotas: The proposed subquotas for KRFC stocks are as follows:
1. Main stem Klamath River from the California-Oregon border to the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec — 17 percent of the total quota equates to [0-11,492];
2. Main stem Klamath River downstream of the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean — 50 percent of the total quota equates to [0-33,800];
3. Main stem Trinity River downstream of the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat — 16.5 percent of the total quota equates to [0-11,154]; and
4. Main stem Trinity River downstream of the Denny Road bridge at Hawkins Bar to the confluence with the Klamath River — 16.5 percent of the total quota equates to [0-11,154].
Seasons:
- Klamath River – August 15 through December 31
- Trinity River – September 1 through December 31 Bag and Possession Limits 4
Because the PFMC recommendations are not known at this time, ranges are shown in [brackets] below of bag and possession limits which encompass historical quotas. All are proposed for the 2025 KRFC fishery in the Klamath and Trinity rivers.
- Bag Limit – [0-4] Chinook Salmon – of which no more than [0-4] fish over [20-24] inches total length may be retained until the subquota is met, then 0 fish over [20-24] inches total length.
- Possession limit – [0-12] Chinook Salmon of which no more than [0-4] fish over [20-24] inches total length may be retained when the take of salmon over [20-24] inches total length is allowed. The final KRFC bag and possession limits will align with the final federal regulations to meet biological and fishery allocation goals specified in law or established in the FMP. As in previous years, no retention of adult KRFC is proposed once the subquota has been met. Size Limits KRFC are managed based on adult quotas which is the maximum number of adult fish (age three and older) that can be harvested. In 2023, the Department moved away from the fixed standing cutoff size between grilse and adult Chinook Salmon of 23 inches total length to using a range between 20 to 24 inches total length as an annual option for cutoff size. This allows for annual variation in size cutoffs, as informed by previous year(s) data to manage the harvest of the adult KRFC quota more effectively. The Department is currently conducting a post season assessment of KRFC length and age data which will be used to help determine the proposed 2025 size cutoff. The 2025 proposed adult cutoff will be presented at the April Commission meeting. Option 2: KRFC Fishery Closure This option would close salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin as specified by river reach(es) in subsection 7.40(b)(50) to provide protection to KRFC should a reduction in the stock be indicated by PFMC abundance projections. In any year, should the PFMC recommend a complete or near complete closure of the ocean recreational salmon fishery and/or an allocation of 0 (zero) adult KRFC to the in-river fishery, this option would give the Department flexibility to respond to and support any federal action. This option prohibits all methods of targeting KRFC including catch and release fishing. KRSC Sport Fishery The KRSC recreational sport fishery has been closed multiple times in the recent past through the emergency rulemaking process. The current stock status and the need to compensate for large-scale changes in fishery effort have necessitated the Department to consider regulations of this fishery annually. As a result, the management of KRSC has been incorporated into the annual Klamath sport fish rulemaking process. Seasons:
- Klamath River – July 1 through August 14
- Trinity River – July 1 through August 31 5
Option 1 Bag and Possession Limits
Ranges are shown in [brackets] below of bag and possession limits which encompass historical ranges. All are proposed for the 2025 KRSC fishery in the Klamath and Trinity rivers.
- Bag Limit – [0-1] Chinook Salmon
- Possession limit – [0-2] Chinook Salmon. Option 2: KRSC Fishery Closure This option would close salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin as specified by river reach(es) in subsection 7.40(b)(50) to provide protection to KRSC should the Department be concerned with stock status or predicts a large shift in effort due to widespread salmon closures in other areas of the state. In any year, should the PFMC recommend a complete or near complete closure of the ocean recreational salmon fishery and/or an allocation of 0 (zero) adult KRFC to the in-river fishery, this option would give the Department flexibility to respond to potential effort shift. This option prohibits all methods of targeting KRSC including catch and release fishing. Benefit of the Regulations The benefits of the proposed regulations are conformance with federal fishery management goals, sustainable management of Klamath River Basin fish resources, health and welfare of California residents, and promotion of businesses that rely on salmon sport fishing in the Klamath River Basin.
