With the rainstorms of the past few weeks, most of our Monterey Bay creeks and rivers have breached their sandbars. This opens the freshwater stream to the ocean, and creates an opportunity for steelhead trout and salmon to head upriver for spawning.

We have a very small population of silver salmon in the local streams. Efforts by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in cooperation with the Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project have worked to improve the salmon numbers for years. In the meantime, silvers are forbidden to target, catch or possess from the freshwater streams in our area, or anywhere in California excepting a small section of the Feather River/Lake Oroville watershed.

Highly regulated, California steelhead are a prize catch. Often difficult to locate, steelhead require the experience and skill of years to catch on a regular basis. Local regulations for Monterey Bay Rivers and streams are nearly identical. Be sure to check the DFW regulations for exact geographic regulations on these fish. Equipment and take regs are consistent for the streams stretching from San Mateo County (Pecadaro and San Gregorio creeks) down to the Carmel River. DFW states “(Steelhead season is open) Dec. 1 through Mar. 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and opening and closing days. Only barbless hooks may be used. Two hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead**(per day) four hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in possession.”

Until last year, we could fish for steelhead, but no take was allowed. It was strictly a catch and release fishery. As alluring (and tasty) as a fresh ocean-bright steelhead might be, experienced anglers look with favor upon those who continue to practice strict catch and release. Steelhead population are healthy enough, but years of drought and two years of the MBSTP hatchery limited trapping authority have those in the know nervous about the future of steelhead in our watersheds.

A recent pre-dawn hike to the San Lorenzo Gorge showed the river in fine shape, though flows are low. We did not observe any adult steelhead that morning, but were astounded by the number of steelhead smolts biting on our bait. These three to eight-inch smolts are literally the future of steelhead in the San Lorenzo and other Monterey Bay streams. It’s important to try and NOT hook them, and to release them without damage.

Leaving the fish in the water for release is best. These anadromous ocean going trout need to retain the slime on their scales to avoid infection. Using a larger hook can help avoid hooking up these annoying little beauties. A #1 hook is a good bet. Besides being the law, pinching the barbs on your hook helps with an easy quick release. And, while we are legally allowed to keep two hatchery fish per fishing day, I would further urge releasing them all unharmed, especially females who may contain up to 10,000 eggs.