Looks like we really have a salmon season this year! The Pacific Fisheries Management Council made their recommendation yesterday, late in the afternoon. This decision will be forwarded for approval to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Fish and Game Commission, but it will likely stand as stated. Here is the relevant language from the PFMC-

"Recreational fisheries in California are for Chinook only and run from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends in the Eureka/Crescent City area, and from April 3 to September 6 in areas further south; however, fishing will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday south of Point Arena. The minimum size limit will be 24 inches for Chinook coastwide."

Salmon fishing remains as the main focus for area saltwater anglers. Nasty weather over the weekend kept most boats tied to the dock, and may have scattered the fish somewhat. As the week progressed, more boats made it out with varying degrees of success.

Jim Rubin from Captain Jimmy Charters averaged about a fish per rod last week but says the combination of wind, rain and swells shut fishing down by Saturday. "We couldn't really get out until Wednesday," Rubin said, when they brought at least on fish aboard. Thursday was a bit better, according to Rubin, with two fish in the box, and five fish lost at the net. "We had good bites and a number of good opportunities." Because these salmon are feeding on krill, they are particularly acrobatic. That makes for exciting battles but increases the loss rate. Rubin adds the fish are more scattered than last week, and farther down the water column. He found success fishing deep, in 200-220 feet of water on the west side of the Soquel Hole.

Ed Burrell at Capitola Boat and Bait agrees. "We found the action in deeper water, and with deeper fish." Burrell worked 260-300 feet of water and said they had their downrigger weights "on the bottom." Mooching is a good way to fish deep, as Ken Stagnaro proved yesterday. Working the area west of Soquel Hole, the Velocity put 10 salmon in the box, all caught near the bottom in 300 feet of water. "It was a beautiful day and we had fun. The fish were scattered, not really on bait, but we located a few for our clients."

Private boaters checking into Bayside Marine characterized Wednesday's fishing as "slow," with Thursday being a little better. Owner Todd Fraser fielded a few reports of limits caught in the Soquel Hole area. The "Hole" continues to be the primary location for catching fish, though a few salmon have been reported from the Pajaro Hole, and from the Three Trees area north of Santa Cruz.