CDFW News | Important information for California anglers going recreationally fishing for ocean salmon in Oregon: Oregon salmon must be brought to the Oregon shore

Important information for California anglers going recreationally fishing for ocean salmon in Oregon: Oregon salmon must be brought to the Oregon shore

With California’s ocean salmon fishery closed beginning in 2024, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officials are reminding anglers of important rules regarding the transportation of salmon caught from Oregon to California.

In ocean waters, no salmon caught while fishing in Oregon may be washed ashore in California. However, Californians may legally tow their vessels to launch and fish from Oregon ports under applicable Oregon fishing licenses, regulations and reporting requirements. Salmon caught in Oregon may be brought into California by land if it is also accompanied by a California Entry Declaration Form. The declaration must be completed at the latest upon entry. After entry, a copy of the completed application must be submitted to CDFW within 24 hours.

On May 16, 2024, the National Marine Fisheries Service, with advice from the Pacific Fishery Management Council and West Coast fisheries agencies, including CDFW, initiated a seasonal action to implement a landing limit at the Oregon/California border for recreational fishing ocean salmon in Oregon waters north of California. The new requirement states that any salmon caught under Oregon sport fishing regulations in the area between Mount Humbug and the Oregon/California border, also known as Oregon’s Klamath Management Zone, must be landed north of the Oregon/California border during the season fishing season 2024.

The West Coast ocean salmon fishery regulations were published on May 21, 2024, in the Federal Register at 89 FR 44553 and became effective on May 16, 2024. The regulations implement the California ocean salmon fishery closure for the remainder of 2024 recommended last month by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Under Title 14, Section 1.95 of the California Code of Regulations, regulations governing the sport fishing of ocean salmon in state waters automatically comply with federal regulations. More information about ocean salmon season closures and regulations can be found on the CDFW ocean salmon website at Wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon.

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Contact with the media:
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714
Kandice Morgenstern, CDFW Ocean Salmon Project, (707) 494-4621
Brent Chase, Law Enforcement Division, (707) 497-8750