Pacific Halibut, Rockfish open May 1

Following another tumultuous offseason for saltwater anglers that included far too many meetings, it’s finally time to start fishing. Our Pacific halibut and rockfish seasons are once again angler-friendly, and both will open next Thursday, May 1. And we even managed to sneak in a very abbreviated sport ocean salmon season beginning in June. Let the games begin!

Pacific halibut
The Pacific halibut season will be open until Nov. 15 or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2025 Pacific halibut quota for the California subarea is 4 percent of the yet to be determined allocation by the International Pacific Halibut Commission — with 500 pounds set aside for the area south of Point Arena. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on its Pacific halibut webpage.

The fishery will be open seven days a week, and the limit remains at one with no size restrictions. When angling, no more than one line with two hooks attached may be used. A harpoon, gaff or net may be used to assist in taking a Pacific halibut that has been legally caught by angling. Pacific halibut regulations can be found here.

Rockfish
The inshore boat-based rockfish season in the Northern Management Area, which runs from the California-Oregon border to the 40°10′ North latitude (near Cape Mendocino), will run through Sept. 30, inshore only. Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.

From Oct. 1 to 31 and Dec. 1 to 31, the season will be open for offshore only fishery where take is prohibited shoreward of 50 fathoms (300) feet. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, rockfish will be open again to an inshore fishery only. In the Mendocino Management Area, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, all the seasons are the same as the Northern Management Area. The only change is the daily bag limit is two vermilion rockfish per person.

Regulation changes for 2025
In Oct. 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted proposed changes to the 2025 groundfish regulations so the state recreational fishing regulations matched their federal counterparts. These regulation changes went into effect January 1, 2025 and include the following:

Copper rockfish limit: The copper rockfish sub-limit is one fish within the Rockfish, Cabezon, and Greenling (RCG) Complex 10-fish aggregate limit, statewide. The one fish sub-bag limit is designed to keep catches within established harvest limits. 

Size Limits Eliminated for Some Species
The minimum size limits for cabezon, California scorpionfish (sculpin), kelp greenling, and rock greenling have been eliminated. 

Regulations for Fish Filleted at Sea
Lingcod: When possessed onboard any boat or brought ashore (for example, when filleted at sea), lingcod fillets must have the entire skin attached. Fillets must still be at least 14 inches long.  

California Scorpionfish (sculpin): When possessed onboard any boat or brought ashore (for example, when filleted at sea), California scorpionfish fillets can be of any size, and must have the entire skin attached.  

Cabezon, Kelp Greenling, and Rock Greenling: Cabezon, kelp greenling, and rock greenling may now be filleted at sea. When possessed onboard any boat or brought ashore, cabezon, kelp greenling and rock greenling fillets must have the entire skin attached. 

Daily bag limit
In the Northern Management Area, the RCG complex includes all species of rockfishes, Cabezon and Greenlings. You are allowed 10 fish in combination per person EXCEPT:

• A sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish
• A sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish of four fish

The daily bag limit of lingcod remains at two per person and they must be 22 inches in length. The take and possession of cowcod, bronzespotted rockfish and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited statewide. Petrale sole and starry flounder can be retained year-round at all depths with no size limit. There is no minimum size limit for all rockfish.

Important reminder:
In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas, those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While anchored, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets, Dungeness crab traps, and dip nets. For more information about recreational groundfish regulations within the northern management area, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/GroundfishSummary#north

Weekend marine forecast
As of Thursday afternoon, Friday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 2 feet at six seconds and northwest 4 feet at 11 seconds. Saturday, winds will increase dramatically and will be out of the north 15 to 20 knots with northwest waves 5 feet at 10 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 17 seconds. Sunday, winds will be 15 to 20 knots out of the north with northwest waves 7 feet at nine seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or https://www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Fishing events this Saturday, April 26

Kids’ Fishing Day at Sequoia Park Pond
Kids’ Fishing Day at Sequoia Park Pond will take place this Saturday from 10a.m. to 2p.m. Join Eureka Community Services, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Redwood Community Action Agency for a fun-filled day of free fishing. The pond will be stocked with local Rainbow Trout (with a 5 fish keeper limit per kid). Never fished before? No worries. Experienced staff will teach you how to tie those tricky knots, cast your line, and even lend you a fishing rod & reel. Don’t miss out on this awesome day of fun, fishing, and learning. (15 and under do not need a fishing license, 16+ do need a fishing license) For more information call 707-441-4080.

Perchin’ on the Peninsula
The Samoa Peninsula Fire District will be bringing back their Annual Perchin’ on the Peninsula Surfperch Fishing Tournament and Fish Fry/Oyster BBQ Fundraiser this Saturday. The 11th annual event will be held at the Samoa Women’s Club, 115 Sunset Ave, Samoa. The fish fry fundraiser is open to the public and admission is only $10 for adults and $5 for juniors for just the fish fry. Adult fishing tournament entry is $20 and junior entry (under 16) is $10. Fish fry lunch is included with tournament entry. Lunch begins at noon, weigh-ins end at 2 p.m.
Tournament day registration is available at the Samoa Women’s Club. Entries can be purchased online at www.facebook.com/samoafire or Grundman’s, Pacific Outfitters, Bucksport, Ace Hardware in Fortuna, or A-1 Feed in McKinleyville, or Salty’s Bait in Trinidad. Tournament rules are available at all sign-up locations. For more information, call (707) 599-3383 or email samoafire@gmail.com. All proceeds are a direct donation to the Samoa Peninsula Fire District.

Upcoming kids fishing derbies

On Saturday, May 17, 2025 all kids 15 years old and younger are invited to the Ruth Lake Marina for the Kids Free Fishing Derby. The event will be from 8 a.m. until noon. Kids must bring their own fishing poles and must be accompanied by an adult. There will be a hot dog feed at 11:30. For more information, call the Ruth Lake Community Services District at 707-574-6332 or visit https://www.ruthlakecsd.org/local-events/

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, all kids age 4 to 15 are invited to the Carrville Dredger Pond for the 51st annual Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby. The pond is located five miles north of the Trinity Center. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The fishing derby will last until 11 a.m. Free fishing tackle will be provided to the first 100 kids registered. Kids must bring their own fishing poles, and only bait will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded in many categories, along with a grand prize.  Free hot dogs, chips and drinks for everyone. For more information, call Scott at 408-401-8333.

The Rivers
Main Stem Eel
The main stem is in perfect shape, and has been all week. As of Thursday, flows were 3,800 cfs at Scotia and predicted to rise and fall slightly through Monday as the small storm moves through. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Smith
The Smith River will close to fishing after Wednesday, April 30 from its mouth to the confluence of the Middle and South Forks; Middle Fork Smith River from mouth to Patrick Creek; South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craigs Creek to Jones Creek. It will re-open May 24.

Lower Rogue
Spring salmon fishing has been decent on the lower Rogue, with a mix of hatchery and wild kings moving through each day reports Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The best fishing has been on the lower end of Elephant Rock, but fish are being caught from the tidewater area clear up to Agness,” said Martin. “Salmon have already arrived on the upper Rogue and the Umpqua above Winchester Dam, a sign big numbers of fish moved during high water in late March. Anchovies with spinner blades are working best.

Brookings ocean update
According to Martin, lingcod and rockfish action is good out of Brookings on calm weather days, while surfperch fishing is wide open at Crissy Field, Chetco Point and Lone Ranch a few hours before high tide each day. “Gulp sandworms and raw shrimp are working best. Perch also are being caught from both jetties of the Chetco. Anglers casting sabiki rigs are catching herring, smelt and sardines, which have attracted large numbers of pelicans. Rockfish are throwing up baitfish as well.”

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.