Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3908 Mar 27- Apr 10 | Page 16

14 Mar 27-Apr 10, 2020 Map Feature VOL.39 • ISS. 8 Rockfish season will open on April 1 in Monterey Bay, followed by the opening day of salmon season on Saturday, April 4. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. Salmon Season to Begin in Monterey Bay Region April 4, Above Pigeon Point April 11 A MOSS LANDING — Anglers will get their chance to catch big, bright Chinook salmon when the ocean recre- ational salmon season opens from Pigeon Pt. in southern San Mateo County south to the Mexican border (Monterey region) on April 4. The season above Pigeon Point, including the ports of Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Berkeley, Emeryville, Fort Bragg and Shelter Cove, will be start a week later on April 11. “Traditionally, fishing in the Monterey area is better early in the season, prompting recreational fishing repre- sentatives to prioritize opening this area ahead of others on the California coast,” according to Harry Morse of the Cali- fornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “Delaying the opener in areas to the north should allow for more fishing opportunity there later in the year, when catch rates are typically better.” Charter boat captains in the Monterey Bay region, including the ports of Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey, as well as some boats out of Half Moon Bay, are looking forward to the opening day on April 4. Below Pigeon Point. “I’m very optimistic about the prospects for this year’s salmon season,” said Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing. “There are a lot of salmon in Monterey Bay at this time. I talked to some commercial fishermen who have hooked and released salmon incidentally while targeting halibut on the bay. There is a lot of bait, including sardines and anchovies, in the bay also.” Traditional spots for anglers to target salmon on the opener include the Pajaro Hole, Soldier’s Club and Mulligan Hill. The charter boats will be mooching with anchovies, while smaller boats will be trolling anchovies and lures with downriggers. At its meeting on March 9, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) adopted three alternatives for 2020 ocean salmon fisheries off of Washington, Oregon and California for public review. The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its meeting in Vancouver, Washington, on April 5-10. The three salmon season alternatives for the Monterey Bay region are as follows: Pigeon Point to Mexican border (Monterey) • April 4-October 4(C.6).  Pigeon Point to Mexican border (Monterey) • April 4-September 27 (C.6).  Pigeon Point to Mexican border (Monterey) • April 4-September 7 (C.6).  The three salmon season alternatives for the San Francisco region are as follows. Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco) • April 11-30; • May 1-November 1. Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco) • April 11-30; • May 1-October 31. Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco) • April 11-30; • May 16-June 30; • July 1-October 30. Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open, and catch limits for all three alternatives is available on the Council’s website at www.pcouncil.org. The CDFW said the delayed opening The last trip of the 2019 salmon season aboard the Kahuna out of Moss Landing produced this quality Chinook. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. above Pigeon Point will “help fishery managers achieve conservation goals for Klamath River fall Chinook, which are projected to return in low numbers this year, while providing anglers with opportunity to catch Sacramento River fall Chinook.’ The Klamath Management Zone (Horse Mountain to the Oregon state line) will remain closed for the month of April. The remaining 2020 season dates will be finalized next month. “Developing the seasons for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries will be challenging for ocean fishermen and managers,” said Council Executive Director Chuck Tracy. “Meeting our conservation objectives continues to be the highest priority for the Council,” said Council Chair Phil Anderson. “In addition, the Council is considering the needs of Southern Resident killer whales as part of its delib- erations. Poor ocean conditions and their effects on salmon productivity continue to make it challenging for the Council to meet its management objectives and sustain healthy fisheries. With five salmon rebuilding plans in place in 2020, the Council will look to adopt seasons designed to meet the requirements of the plans, and provide meaningful commercial Cat Kaiser, fundraising and events coordinator of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), successfully battled this giant king salmon while trolling aboard the Salty Lady during the 2019 season. Photo by DAN BACHER, Fish Sniffer Staff. and recreational fisheries.” The 2020 ocean abundance projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon is 473,200 adult fish, above last year’s estimate, noted John McManus, President of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA). “The forecast for salmon fishing off the California coast is better than at this time last year, due mostly to plentiful rain and runoff during the last several years coupled with improved hatchery release practices,” said McManus, “Adequate runoff in the Central Valley always increases salmon numbers since it provides the ‘conveyor belt’ that moves baby fish from the valley out to the ocean in good shape. Although state and federal scientists expect to see more salmon that origi- nated in the Sacramento Valley this year, McManus noted that the biologists are expecting fewer fall Chinook from the Klamath River, with an ocean abundance forecast of only 186,600 adult salmon. “Instead of getting the targeted 40,7000 adult spawners back into the Klamath, only 20,225 returned to spawn,” said McManus. “As a result, fishery managers will take extra precautions in the 2020 ocean fishery to protect the expected low number of Klamath River salmon in the ocean.” McManus said a 24-inch minimum size limit to protect federally protected winter run salmon in the waters of Monterey Bay and points south will be in place in