Tuesday May 26, 2026
Active NorCal —
If you are planning to fish for ocean salmon this summer, CDFW just gave you a new tool that could help you decide when to go.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife launched digital tracking dashboards this week that let recreational and commercial anglers monitor how much of the seasonal salmon harvest has been caught in real time. The trackers are updated twice a month during the season and will increase in frequency as total catch approaches harvest guidelines.
The tools matter because 2026 is the first year CDFW is using in-season management for both the commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries. That means seasons can close early if the catch reaches the guideline before the scheduled end date. For anglers, knowing where the numbers stand could be the difference between planning a trip and showing up to a closed fishery.
The recreational ocean salmon season opened April 11 south of Pigeon Point in San Mateo County and will expand to additional zones through the summer and fall. Commercial fishing is operating under vessel-based trip limits for the first time, designed to spread the harvest across the season rather than letting any single area take too large a share too quickly.