Golden State Salmon Association On Potential Salmon Seasons: “Starting To Take Shape”

As the possibility of an increased ocean salmon season and more inland opportunities could beckon this year following multiple years of closures, the Golden State Salmon Association analyzed some of the potential seasons following the Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings last week, which released its alternatives for seasons that will be determined in April. The PFMC did determine one season set to open on April 11 on the Central California coast. Here’s GSSA with more on Facebook.

The PFMC did determine one season set to open on April 11 on the Central California coast.

California’s 2026 ocean salmon season is starting to take shape!

The Pacific Fishery Management Council has released the alternatives for the recreational salmon season.

If you want to dig into the details, the sections that matter most for California anglers are pages 7–10 of the document.

https://www.pcouncil.org/…/table-2-2026-recreational…

But there’s one important detail that isn’t obvious in the PFMC materials:

The Monterey “Cell” fishery will open on April 11!

That’s the area south of Pigeon Point in southern San Mateo County, which includes all of Monterey Bay and more, and it will be the first ocean salmon opportunity in California this year.

The May 15 date shown in the PFMC March meeting documents doesn’t represent the opener — it simply continues the season that begins April 11.

We’ll continue to share updates as the Council moves toward final-season adoption in April.