Monday July 13, 2026
ABC 7 News —
After nearly a three-year closure, Bay Area sport salmon fishing is back, and North Bay fishermen are celebrating a season already producing impressive catches.
At Bodega Bay on Friday, the charter boat Surf Scooter returned to the dock with coolers full of king salmon, giving anglers and fishing operators a long-awaited boost after years of restrictions tied to declining salmon populations.
“We’re greeting this with open arms,” said Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing. “Things have been tough the last few years to say the least.”
Powers said fishing conditions have been exceptional since the season reopened.
On Friday, every passenger aboard the Surf Scooter caught the two-fish daily limit allowed under state regulations.
“The catch is about as good as it gets,” Powers said. “We had fantastic fishing today. Big salmon — big huge king salmon.”
Among the anglers was A.J. Cruz, who traveled from Honolulu to fish Northern California waters.
“Amazing,” Cruz said. “Great quality, fat content, and they’re mean. These fish are mean.”