Ocean Salmon Fishing Banned in California

As noted on the the California Department of Fish and Game website, the California Fish and Game Commission has voted unanimously to prohibit commercial and recreational salmon fishing in state ocean waters, which extend three miles off the coast.

The federal ban approved by the Pacific Fishery Management Council applies to U.S. waters extending from 3 to 200 miles off the coasts of California and Oregon. The area affected by this ban stretches from Cape Falcon in Oregon south to the Mexican border.

The Commission took the unprecedented action because runs of fall-run Sacramento chinook salmon are experiencing a sharp decline.

The Commission will consider the seasons for central valley in-river fisheries on May 9.