California Salmon Fishing to Reopen After Years of Closures

Rebounding fish populations allow limited commercial and recreational fishing to resume off the state's coast.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:41am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a carefully arranged composition of premium, polished objects representing the salmon fishing industry, such as a gleaming metal fish hook, a coil of sturdy rope, and a weathered wooden crate, set against a clean, monochromatic background that uses dramatic lighting and deep shadows to convey a sense of the industry's resilience and the value of this natural resource.The revival of California's commercial salmon fishing industry signals a rebound in the state's iconic fish populations and the resilience of this vital natural resource.Today in Sacramento

Federal fishery managers have voted to open waters off the coast of California to commercial salmon fishing for the first time since 2022, as the salmon population has rebounded after wet winters ended a long drought. The decision by the Pacific Fishery Management Council will also allow some recreational salmon fishing along the coast, which has been closed for the past three years due to dwindling fish stocks.

Why it matters

The reopening of salmon fishing is a major win for California's fishing industry, which has struggled with years of season closures that have had a significant impact on fishermen, bait shops, and equipment manufacturers. Salmon are also an iconic species in California that are critically important to the state's tribal communities and economy.

The details

The council voted to limit commercial fishing to only a few days and set quotas for the number of salmon that can be caught. Recreational fishing along a stretch of the coast spanning about 50 miles south of San Francisco to the Mexican border already began this month, with sportfishing to the north, including in waters off San Francisco, set to begin in June. Biologists say the chinook salmon population declined dramatically after years of drought, but recent wet winters have brought in more cold water, which the fish need to spawn. Salmon populations have also bounced back in areas where they were long absent due to river restoration efforts, including the removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in 2024.

  • The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted on Sunday, April 12, 2026 to open waters off the coast of California to commercial salmon fishing.
  • Recreational fishing along a stretch of the coast spanning about 50 miles south of San Francisco to the Mexican border began in April 2026.
  • Sportfishing to the north, including in waters off San Francisco, will begin in June 2026.
  • Commercial fishing along the coast will begin in May 2026.

The players

Wade Crowfoot

California Natural Resources Secretary.

Vance Staplin

Executive director of the Golden State Salmon Association.

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What they’re saying

“It is great news for everyone — for the fishermen, for seafood lovers and the environment because it means that salmon populations are back to a much healthier state.”

— Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary

“People don't understand how big of an industry salmon is to California.”

— Vance Staplin, Executive director of the Golden State Salmon Association

What’s next

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce will make the final decision on the council's recommendation to open commercial salmon fishing off the California coast, which is expected to be posted in the Federal Register within days.

The takeaway

The reopening of commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the California coast is a significant milestone for the state's fishing industry, which has faced years of closures due to dwindling fish stocks. This decision reflects the resilience of California's salmon populations, which have bounced back thanks to recent wet winters and river restoration efforts, and underscores the importance of this iconic species to the state's environment, economy, and cultural heritage.