Salmon anglers venturing out on the opening day of fishing in federal waters off the Bay Area coast on May 1 experienced some top-notch trolling action. Previous to May 1, boats fishing ocean waters from Point Arena to Point Sur were restricted to fishing in state waters within three miles of shore.

It wasn’t until late on the afternoon of April 28 that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) announced that it was approving an emergency rule to allow the recreational fishing in federal waters to proceed. These new regulations allowed the ocean salmon fishery to open as scheduled on May 1 and mirror the recommendations made on April 7 by the Pacific Fishery Management Council in Sacramento.

“The boats that fished above N Buoy along the Marin Coast did very well, catching 1-1/2 fish per rod to limits,” said Roger Thomas, captain of the Salty Lady and a member of the PFMC. “The fish were full of feed, mostly anchovies.”

The Emeryville Sportfishing Center sent two boats, the New Seeker and the New Salmon Queen, out on the opener. The 15 anglers board the New Seeker landed 16 salmon to 25 pounds, while the 11 anglers aboard the New Salmon Queen bagged 16 salmon to 18 pounds. “They found the fish late in the morning off N Buoy, about 10 miles off Stinson Beach,” said Craig Stone, manager of the Emeryville Sportfishing Center. “The fish averaged 6 to 9 pounds, with a few in the teens.”

“The weather was snotty – blowing 15 to 25 knots – but fishable,” said Stone. “Now that the fleet has located the fish, the fishing could get very good.”

Berkeley Marina sent out four boats on the opening day – and all did very well while trolling in the N Buoy area. The Flying Fish had 28 salmon to 18 pounds for 15 anglers, while the New Easy Rider took limits of salmon to 20 pounds for 10 anglers. The New Eldorado III had 35 salmon to 20 pounds for 22 anglers, while the New Golden Eye returned with 12 salmon to 20 pounds for 7 anglers.

The fact that we are even able to fish now is a tribute to very hard work by a coalition of recreational fishing groups, commercial fishermen and Klamath Basin Indian Tribes. The recreational fishing groups responsible for the victory include the American Sportfishing Association, Coastside Fishing Club, Recreational Fishing Alliance, United Anglers of California, Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association, United Outdoorsman and others. Local efforts included rallies, appearances at hearings, petitions and letter writing campaigns, as well as meetings with fishery officials.

“The efforts of thousands of anglers and the sportfishing industry that resulted in a recommendation for a recreational salmon season by the Pacific Fishery Management Council has been approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the Department of Commerce,” according to a press release from the American Sportfishing Association. “In a change from their prior position that the season should be closed, NMFS has responded to the near unanimous vote by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) on April 6, 2006, to allow a sportfishing salmon season similar to that of 2005. The California season will run from May 1 through November 12.”

The season’s adoption will moderate the adverse impact on the sportfishing industry in California and parts of Oregon that would have otherwise been extreme. Sportfishing in California alone has a $4.9 billion impact on the state’s economy and is second only to Florida in total angler expenditures. There are 2.4 million sport fishermen in California. Sportfishing supports 43,000 jobs, pays $1.3 billion in salaries and wages, and pays $456 million annually in state and federal taxes.

Unfortunately, the commercial fishing industry has been hit very hard by the season, prompting Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, to say, “Our commercial season this year is not a total closure, but is the next best thing to it.”

ASA coordinated generated over 8,000 letters to garner support from Congress and state and federal policy makers. ASA staff also met with Congressional, administration and federal agency leaders about the issue and its impact on the sportfishing community.

"We are pleased that the Department of Commerce has concurred with the Council and allowed for a season to proceed this year,” Gordon Robertson, ASA VP said. “We must now turn our attention to supporting discussions among all stakeholders in the Klamath River Basin that seek to restore a sustainable salmon population for all uses. We are encouraged by these discussions and urge the administration to support and assist such cooperative conservation efforts.” 

Rather than resting on the laurels of victory, now is the time for recreational anglers to work harder than ever to address the water problems on the Klamath caused by the decision by the Bush administration to divert water to Klamath Basin farmers at the expense of fish and fishermen. We must also join the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, and Klamath tribes and commercial fishing groups in their battle to bring down the obsolete Klamath River dams in order to restore salmon and steelhead to the upper Klamath and its tributaries.

When you are fighting a big chinook on the ocean this year, remember it was because of the many efforts of anglers like yourself, united with commercial fishermen and Indian Tribes, that we even have a recreational salmon season this year!

Note: the federal salmon fishing regulations are posted on www.pcouncil.org

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