Slips and marinas are full again, tackle shops are getting a little extra business, and mouths are watering for fresh-caught local salmon, but 7,000 fish just isn’t enough for everyone.
For the first time in over two years, California’s recreational ocean salmon season officially reopens this weekend, and coastal communities are buzzing with anticipation. After complete closures in 2023 and 2024, and a severely restricted season this year, anglers are buying tackle, rods, and bait, servicing their down-riggers, getting oil changes, and filling trucks and boats with fuel, and coolers with ice. It’s almost like California coastal towns are getting their rhythm back, doing what they do best, and reminded of what they were built on – supporting local fishermen and women in pursuit of the beloved, chrome King salmon. But two days and 7,000 fish just isn’t enough.
“This is more than just a fishing opener—it’s a symbolic return of a cherished tradition and a vital way of life,” said Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA). “But make no mistake: this year’s limited season reflects the ongoing damage caused by failed state water policies that continue to push our salmon runs to the brink of collapse.”
This year’s opener is a moment of long-overdue joy, especially for those who’ve waited patiently for the opportunity to salmon fish again. On June 8, 23 women will be dusting off their salmon rods, grabbing their Xtra-Tuffs, and driving hours through boat trailer traffic at 3am to jump aboard the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay for the annual GSSA all-ladies salmon fishing trip (this will be the first return of the ‘Fish Like a Girl’ trips since 2022). Led by Captain Melynda, one of the few female charter captains on the West Coast, and her all-women crew, the trip is a powerful celebration of resilience, tradition, and the love of fishing.
“When a boatload of passionate fisherwomen come together there is no shortage of smiles, hugs, support and comradery. Hopefully limits of salmon will be added to that list on Sunday,” said longtime angler and GSSA Operations and Event Director Cat Kaiser, who organized and will be joining the June 8 trip. “Since the first ‘Fish Like a Girl’ trip in the San Francisco Bay area in 2018, I’ve seen an entire community of women who love to fish, or want to learn to fish, while building strong, lasting friendships. The GSSA ladies’ trips offer a comfortable, welcoming, and high, positive energy to women of all experience levels to leave the men at home and go out and catch dinner.”
While recreational boats will finally get to chase salmon this year, the commercial fishery remains entirely closed for the third straight season, leaving many fishing businesses, deckhands, and seafood markets struggling to stay afloat. Years of excessive water diversions from Central Valley rivers—especially during key spawning and rearing periods—have decimated salmon populations.
“California can’t afford another year of political excuses and environmental neglect,” said Artis. “If the state and feds don’t take urgent action to reform water management and protect salmon habitat, these brief fishing windows will disappear completely.”
A healthy California salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually to the state in a normal season and contributes millions of dollars more to the economy and supports thousands of jobs in Oregon. Salmon workers benefiting from Central Valley salmon stretch from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon.
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On June 7, 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife will release approximately 250,000 brood year 2024 Central Valley fall-run Chinook Salmon smolts from the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery into Half Moon Bay at Pillar Point Harbor using the Coastside Fishing Club’s acclimatization net pen. The salmon release will begin approximately at 8:45am to 9am.
The San Mateo Harbor District Board of Commissioners will be holding an outdoor meeting at Pillar Point Harbor, 1 Johnson Pier – Pier Terminus, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Representatives from Golden State Salmon Association, Tuolumne River Trust and Coastside Fishing Club will also be in attendance.