River salmon regulations

The complete salmon fishing closures for both the Feather and Sacramento Rivers went into effect as of July 3, although there will be an abbreviated season for salmon on the Sacramento River from November 1 to December 31 between Knights Landing and Red Bluff.

"At this time, we will be taking enforcement action with anglers who keep a salmon anywhere on the rivers", advised Lt. Sam Castillo, supervising DFG warden for Butte County. "All of the other regulations related to gear restrictions have not changed. As far as the other species go, the rivers will remain open to all other lawful fishing activity. The methods of take will remain the same in all of the river reaches."

A DFG press release also stated that while catch-and-release fishing for salmon is not specifically prohibited, the salmon regulations are purposely structured as a zero-salmon bag limit to keep fishing open for other non-salmon species. The trout, steelhead, shad, sturgeon, striped bass, black bass, sunfish and catfish fisheries are major recreational inland fisheries.

The DFG requests that the public use a very conservative approach toward salmon this year and refrain from any catch-and-release fishing that specifically targets salmon. If the self-regulating conservative approach fails and excessive salmon catch-and-release mortality is observed, additional regulatory measures may be enacted. One of the possible measures could be closure of ALL recreational fisheries in the specific areas where Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon inhabit.