After a productive, fun-filled five-month season of nearshore rock fishing, the month of October will force anglers back to deeper water. Beginning Oct. 1 within the Northern Management Area, which includes ocean waters between 42°00’ N. latitude (CA-OR Border) and 40°10′ N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino), fishing for rockfish will only be allowed seaward of the 50-fathom boundary line, and only shelf rockfish, slope rockfish and lingcod may be retained. Take and possession of nearshore rockfish, cabezon and greenling are prohibited during the offshore fishery. In the Mendocino Management Area, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, all the seasons are the same as the Northern Management Area.

Divers and shore-based anglers will continue to be exempt from boat-based season restrictions affecting rockfish and other federally managed groundfish, which allows for year-round diving and shore-based angling, in line with current regulations.
Just in time for crab/rockfish/halibut combo trips, the Northern Management Area will once again open to inshore fishing on Nov. 1. where take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.

Weekend marine forecast
Breezy conditions will continue in the outer waters through the weekend. As of Thursday, the forecast out 10 to 60 nautical miles for Friday is calling for winds out of the north 20 to 25 knots with north waves 5 feet at five seconds and northwest 8 feet at 13 seconds. Saturday is calling for winds from the north 20 to 25 knots and north waves 10 feet at eight seconds and northwest 9 feet at 12 seconds. Sunday’s winds will be similar, blowing 25 to 30 knots with gusts to 40 knots and north waves 12 feet at 10 seconds and northwest 5 feet at 11 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.

Low flow river closures in effect since Sept. 1
As Sept. 1, all North Coast rivers subjected to low flow fishing closures, including the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen were closed to fishing. The Department of Fish and Game will make the information available to the public by a telephone recorded message updated, as necessary, no later than 1 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as to whether any stream will be closed to fishing. The rivers can be opened up at any time. The low flow closure hotline for North Coast rivers is 707-822-3164. NOTE: The main stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will be closed until January 1, 2025.

Pacific halibut quota update
As of September 8, California’s share of Area 2A’s quota, which includes Washington and Oregon, is at 47 percent, with just 18,157 net pounds harvested against the 38,220 net pound quota. (500 pounds are set aside for the area south of Point Arena). The Pacific halibut fishery will run through Nov. 15 or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. To view the latest catch projection information, visit wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/pacific-halibut#31670772-in-season-tracking.

The Oceans:
Eureka
According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, boats have been tied up all week due to rough seas. “It looks like it will start to come down by Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Klassen. “The tuna water looks to be long gone, but there are plenty of Pacific halibut left to catch. In the meantime, the California halibut bite in the bay is still pretty good. We ran a trip on Tuesday and caught limits up to 32 inches on live bait.”

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, the rockfish bite has been really good. He said, “The lingcod bite has been good as good as well, and seems to be getting better. The Pacific halibut action is decent, a friend of mine landed a 73-pounder Tuesday.”

Crescent City
According to Dan Moore of Crescent City’s Englund Marine, the weather has been a little iffy, but when the boats can get out the rockfish bite has been good. “Limits are still coming pretty easily,” said Moore. “The lingcod bite has been a little tougher. Ocean conditions the last couple weeks have kept boats from targeting Pacific halibut. The perch bite is excellent when the conditions are right.”

Brookings
Halibut fishing has been slow out of Brookings, while lingcod and rockfish action remains good reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Crabbing also has improved,” said Martin. “Nice weather the middle of this week could boost halibut catches. Even during last week’s strong winds, limits of rockfish were caught close to the harbor.”

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
Water conditions on the lower Klamath continue to be dirty and unfishable due dam removal work upriver. There are fish making their way into the river, but most anglers and guides have moved to other rivers. Hopefully water conditions start to improve at some point, but it remains to be seen if it happens before the king run is over.
The daily bag limit is two hatchery steelhead or hatchery trout per day on both the Klamath and Trinity rivers, with a possession limit of four. Anglers must have a Steelhead Fishing Report and Restoration Card in their possession while fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. The recreational fall salmon fishery is closed to the take of Chinook. More information, can be found here.

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.