Yes, salmon fishing season has opened. But will anglers and commercial fishermen be able to “hook up” with the guests of honor?
The biggest Chinook salmon return from the ocean depths to the waters of inland Northern California waters since the early days of the millennium has been predicted by experts, but fishermen won”t believe it until they feel the mighty tug of a king salmon on the end of the line. So far, there is little sign of the expected plenty, with recreational fishing season having been open a little less than a month. Local fish-oriented businesses are excited to see a few first big pink fish coming in with party boats in North Noyo Harbor and into the private boats that park in the marina in South Noyo Harbor.
“There were some people with fish over the weekend,” said Tommy Ancona at his South Noyo Harbor business, Tommy”s Marine. “We are beginning to see the potential” Ancona said.
Fishing seasons have been limited over the past four years, with most commercial fishing banned. Recreational fishing seasons were open more often, but few fish were caught last year. That doesn”t help with the critter the Coast”s economy likes as much as the fishes — tourists/anglers.
“Going fishing is expensive…when people don”t catch fish, they aren”t happy,” said Ancona.
A couple was fixing up an old boat under sunny skies outside Tommy”s Marine on Monday, getting prepared to hit the water.
“People have to buy bait, equipment, fix up boats, but it”s all worth it when the fish are there,” he said.
Captain Tim Gillespie had all smiles on his party boat the Sea Hawk, returning on Monday, with all five people catching their limits, plus crabs caught too. Two fish were in the 20-pound range on Monday. But when reached aboard the boat on Tuesday, Gillespie reported it was an unnervingly peaceful day for four anglers.
“We haven”t had a bite so far this morning,” said Gillespie. “It”s really been up and down like this early in this season.”
Even in the best bygone years, when salmon populations numbered in the millions, April king salmon fishing could be slim, anglers say. And the anglers know it. Gillespie”s boat holds 20 and is often full in the summer.
“For sure, fishing should pick up as the year goes on. It is always better through July. I would expect more and more fish as the summer goes on,” said Gillespie.
On May 1, commercial salmon season opens from Point Arena south. Ancona said that could result in increased use of Noyo Harbor. Ancona said local boats would be willing to go that far south if indeed the fish are in that area. If catching fish requires going farther and farther south, marinas along the Marin and Sonoma coasts would benefit instead.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council estimates that about 750,000 adult, fall-run chinook salmon will ply the coastal waters this season. Even if the full estimate of 250,000 caught at sea and in the rivers, that would leave nearly half a million spawners.
It is a heartening reversal from 2008 and 2009, when only about 72,000 king salmon total returned to the Sacramento Valley rivers from their three-year ocean sojourn. The terrifying crash in Sacramento River numbers created fears of a total demise of the Bay Delta”s environmental system. The revival of a hatchery program is thought to have had a major impact on this year”s numbers. The same studies that found that also said hatchery fish, being more closely related to each other than wild spawners, are more vulnerable to ups and downs. The 14-member PFMC prohibited commercial salmon fishing in California and Oregon for two consecutive years, shuttering Bay Area processors and bait shops and forcing many fishermen out of business all over California. A short season was approved in 2010, but commercial and recreation fishers alike said the fishing was terrible. Silver or coho salmon are also hooked by fishermen off Fort Bragg, but those must be released before being brought into the boat, as the coho is a protected species in California. All the rivers and streams along the Mendocino Coast once teemed with coho and the occasional king. Now the “local” seagoing salmon species isn”t even considered for fishing, due mostly to the continued destructive effects of legacy logging practices.
Commercial fishing off Fort Bragg will have a limited open in late July then be open in August through October.
