July 14, 2026 — Commercial and recreational salmon fishing has resumed off the North Coast after a three-year statewide closure, marking a long-awaited milestone for a troubled industry that has endured historic losses in revenue and resources.
Charter captains are reporting abundant catches out of Bodega Bay, and commercial boats up and down the coast are again unloading hauls of the prized West Coast staple for the first time since 2022.
Still, the reopening is far from a return to normal, industry veterans say.
This year’s season is heavily restricted with staggered openings and closings designed to limit the take on rebounding Chinook salmon returns. And fewer boats may be around to cash in, as some fishermen say years of lost income from curtailed and closed fisheries have driven some away from the water for good.
“We’re at a little less than half throttle right now,” said Capt. Mike Harbarth of Sonoma Coast Adventures. “There is strict management and they’re being conservative this year. We’ve all respected that.”
From his charter boat “Shauna Lee” berthed at the Porto Bodega Marina, Harbarth said sport anglers have managed to reel in their two-fish limits on most trips out. Some of those fish have weighed up to 30 pounds and Harbarth said they are finding “miles and miles of salmon” off the Sonoma Coast.
Harbarth, who has spent most of his life chasing salmon, remembers when California’s season stretched from late winter into the next fall – a far cry from the current reality. But, after three consecutive years of closures, the carefully managed reopening is a welcome start.