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DFG News Release: For Immediate Release
January 24, 2003
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Recreational Ocean Salmon Season Opens Feb. 15, from Horse Mountain and Point Arena
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Contacts: Scott Barrow, Associate Marine Biologist, (707) 431-4343; Ocean Salmon Project, (707) 431-2951; Troy Swauger, Information Officer, (916) 654-2096
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The recreational ocean salmon season between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (ports of Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg) opens Saturday, Feb. 15. The next recreational ocean salmon opener will be from Pigeon Point to the California-Mexico border (ports from Santa Cruz southward) on March 29, and the coastline between Point Arena and Pigeon Point (ports of Bodega Bay, San Francisco and Half Moon Bay) will open on April 12.
The ocean salmon season north of Horse Mountain (ports of Crescent City, Trinidad, and Eureka) will remain closed until the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) decides on the appropriate level and timing of salmon harvest for that area. Once the PFMC decides the final coast-wide regulations in April, the California Fish and Game Commission will adopt conforming State regulations. Until that point, the existing regulations remain in effect.
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds anglers that all of the open areas have a daily bag limit of two salmon of any species except Coho salmon (also known as silver salmon). The retention of Coho salmon is prohibited in any California ocean fishery. Salmon may be taken only by hook and line. The minimum size limit is 24 inches total length. Anglers may not use weights exceeding 4 pounds unless a mechanical device is used that releases the weight automatically when a fish is hooked. No more than two single point, single shank barbless hooks may be used while fishing for salmon in ocean waters or while salmon are on board north of Point Conception. When fishing for salmon with bait in ocean waters between Horse Mountain and Point Conception by any other means than trolling, no more than 2 single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks may be used. Additionally, there is a single rod restriction for ocean waters north of Point Conception.
"The Department anticipates a good salmon fishing season off the California coast, based on salmon catch and spawning trends since the mid-1990s, and improved river and ocean rearing and feeding conditions during the last few years," said Allen Grover, senior biologist with the Department's Ocean Salmon Project.
Anglers are reminded that the above regulations are subject to change after May 1 when the ocean salmon fishing regulations are determined by the PFMC and adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission and U.S. Department of Commerce. Anglers may call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 431-4341 to hear the latest California ocean salmon sport regulations. The 2003 ocean salmon seasons are also posted at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceansalmon.html and this web site will be updated as needed.
January 24, 2003
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Recreational Ocean Salmon Season Opens Feb. 15, from Horse Mountain and Point Arena
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contacts: Scott Barrow, Associate Marine Biologist, (707) 431-4343; Ocean Salmon Project, (707) 431-2951; Troy Swauger, Information Officer, (916) 654-2096
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The recreational ocean salmon season between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (ports of Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg) opens Saturday, Feb. 15. The next recreational ocean salmon opener will be from Pigeon Point to the California-Mexico border (ports from Santa Cruz southward) on March 29, and the coastline between Point Arena and Pigeon Point (ports of Bodega Bay, San Francisco and Half Moon Bay) will open on April 12.
The ocean salmon season north of Horse Mountain (ports of Crescent City, Trinidad, and Eureka) will remain closed until the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) decides on the appropriate level and timing of salmon harvest for that area. Once the PFMC decides the final coast-wide regulations in April, the California Fish and Game Commission will adopt conforming State regulations. Until that point, the existing regulations remain in effect.
California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds anglers that all of the open areas have a daily bag limit of two salmon of any species except Coho salmon (also known as silver salmon). The retention of Coho salmon is prohibited in any California ocean fishery. Salmon may be taken only by hook and line. The minimum size limit is 24 inches total length. Anglers may not use weights exceeding 4 pounds unless a mechanical device is used that releases the weight automatically when a fish is hooked. No more than two single point, single shank barbless hooks may be used while fishing for salmon in ocean waters or while salmon are on board north of Point Conception. When fishing for salmon with bait in ocean waters between Horse Mountain and Point Conception by any other means than trolling, no more than 2 single point, single shank, barbless circle hooks may be used. Additionally, there is a single rod restriction for ocean waters north of Point Conception.
"The Department anticipates a good salmon fishing season off the California coast, based on salmon catch and spawning trends since the mid-1990s, and improved river and ocean rearing and feeding conditions during the last few years," said Allen Grover, senior biologist with the Department's Ocean Salmon Project.
Anglers are reminded that the above regulations are subject to change after May 1 when the ocean salmon fishing regulations are determined by the PFMC and adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission and U.S. Department of Commerce. Anglers may call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 431-4341 to hear the latest California ocean salmon sport regulations. The 2003 ocean salmon seasons are also posted at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceansalmon.html and this web site will be updated as needed.
