The sport salmon ocean fishery opened Saturday April 6 from Pigeon Point in southern San Mateo County, south to the Mexican border.  Sport anglers concentrated their efforts out of the Monterey Bay ports of Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey.  The salmon were there to greet them with many boats reporting back with limits of salmon ranging from five to almost 20 pounds.  Anglers are allowed to keep two salmon per day. 

“We’re glad to see people bringing salmon home and we’re thankful for the good rains and Central Valley runoff in the spring of 2017 that helped these salmon survive,” said GGSA president John McManus.  “The ocean was kind to many of the fishermen who fished the first three days of the season until northwest spring time winds increased on Tuesday.  There’s no doubt that salmon caught off the California coast are the best tasting anywhere since they like to feed on small shrimp-like krill at this time of year.”

In addition, the sport salmon season opens Saturday April 13 north of Pigeon Point all the way to just north of Shelter Cove in southern Humboldt County.

Attached are a few photos of salmon caught last weekend. 

The Golden Gate Salmon Association (www.goldengatesalmon.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fisherman, businesses, restaurants and chefs, a native tribe, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon.

GGSA’s mission is to restore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values.  GGSA serves the sport and commercial anglers, businesses, conservationists and foodies that rely on salmon as a long-term, nutritious, sustainable resource.

Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in annual economic activity in a normal season. The industry employs tens of thousands of people from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This is a huge economic bloc made up of commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen (fresh and salt water), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, tackle shops and marine stores, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and the salmon fishing industry at large.  Salmon are the keystone species that reflect the health of both their fresh and salt water environment.

Media contact: Michael Coats (707) 935-6203 or michael@coatspr.com