Golden State Salmon Association On Weekend Salmon Opener: “7,000 Fish Isn’t Enough”
The following is courtesy of the Golden State Salmon Association:
California Recreational Ocean Salmon Season Reopens This Weekend After 2-Year Closure
Anglers Hit the Water With Excitement but 7,000 fish just isn’t enough for everyone
Santa Rosa, CA — For the first time in over two years, California’s recreational ocean salmon season officially reopens this weekend, and coastal communities are buzzing with anticipation. After complete closures in 2023 and 2024, and a severely restricted season this year, anglers are preparing to head back out on the water in pursuit of king salmon—an emblem of California’s natural heritage and a lifeline for thousands of fishing families.
“This is more than just a fishing opener—it’s a symbolic return of a cherished tradition and a vital way of life,” said Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA). “But make no mistake, this year’s limited season reflects the ongoing damage caused by failed state water policies that continue to push our salmon runs to the brink of collapse.”
This year’s opener is a moment of long-overdue joy, especially for those who’ve waited patiently for the opportunity to salmon fish again. On June 8, 23 women will be dusting off their salmon rods and jumping aboard the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay for an all-ladies salmon fishing trip. Led by Captain Melynda, one of the few female charter captains on the West Coast, and her all-women crew, the trip is a powerful celebration of resilience, tradition, and the love of fishing.
“When a boatload of passionate fisherwomen come together there is no shortage of smiles, hugs, support and comradery. Hopefully limits of salmon will be added to that list Sunday,” said longtime angler and GSSA Operations and Event Director Cat Kaiser, who organized and will be joining the June 8 trip. “Since the first “Fish Like a Girl” trip in the San Francisco Bay area in 2018, I’ve seen an entire community of women who love to fish, or want to learn to fish, while building strong, lasting friendships. The GSSA ladies’ trips offer a comfortable, welcoming, and high, positive energy to women of all experience levels to leave the men at home and go out and catch dinner.”
While recreational boats will finally get to chase salmon this year, the commercial fishery remains entirely closed for the third straight season, leaving many fishing businesses, deckhands, and seafood markets struggling to stay afloat. Years of excessive water diversions from Central Valley rivers—especially during key spawning and rearing periods—have decimated salmon populations.
“California can’t afford another year of political excuses and environmental neglect,” said Artis. “If the state and feds don’t take urgent action to reform water management and protect salmon habitat, these brief fishing windows will disappear completely.”
A healthy California salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually to the state in a normal season and contributes millions of dollars more to the economy and supports thousands of jobs in Oregon. Salmon workers benefiting from Central Valley salmon stretch from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon.
Golden State Salmon Association (www.goldenstatesalmon.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fishermen and women, businesses, restaurants, Tribes, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon. GSSA’s mission is to restore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values.
Photo and Video Opportunity
On June 7, 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will release approximately 250,000 brood year 2024 Central Valley fall-run Chinook Salmon smolts from the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery into Half Moon Bay at Pillar Point Harbor using the Coastside Fishing Club’s acclimatization net pen. The salmon release will begin approximately at 8:45am.
The San Mateo Harbor District Board of Commissioners will be holding an outdoor meeting at Pillar Point Harbor, 1 Johnson Pier – Pier Terminus, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Representatives from Golden State Salmon Association, Tuolumne River Trust, and Coastside Fishing Club will also be in attendance.
https://www.smharbor.com/files/bfb93212d/2025_06_07_Special+Meeting+-+Salmon+Smolt+Release+FINAL.pdf
