Following a chaotic offseason that included way too many meetings, it’s finally time to go fishing. Though our ocean sport and commercial salmon seasons are both closed this year, we did manage to come away with a pretty good rockfish season and a Pacific halibut season similar to last year. And both will open next Wednesday, May 1.

Pacific halibut
The Pacific halibut season will be open until Nov. 15 or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2024 Pacific halibut quota for the California subarea is 38,220 pounds — with 500 pounds set aside for the area south of Point Arena. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on its Pacific halibut webpage.

The fishery will be open seven days a week, and the limit remains at one with no size restrictions. When angling, no more than one line with two hooks attached may be used. A harpoon, gaff or net may be used to assist in taking a Pacific halibut that has been legally caught by angling. Pacific halibut regulations can be found here.

Rockfish
The inshore boat-based rockfish season in the Northern Management Area, which runs from the California-Oregon border to the 40°10′ North latitude (near Cape Mendocino), will run through Sept. 30, inshore only. Take is prohibited seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary line.

From Oct. 1 to 31 and Dec. 1 to 31, the season will be open for offshore only fishery where take is prohibited shoreward of 50 fathoms (300) feet. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, rockfish will be open again to an inshore fishery only. In the Mendocino Management Area, which includes Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg, all the seasons are the same as the Northern Management Area. The only change is the daily bag limit is two vermilion rockfish per person.

Regulation changes for 2024
Changes to the sub-bag limits within the 10-fish daily Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling (RCG) complex bag and possession limit include a new statewide ban on possession of quillback rockfish. Also new in 2024 is the mandatory possession of descending devices . No person shall take or possess any federal groundfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a descending device in possession and available for immediate use to assist in releasing rockfish to the depth of capture.

Daily bag limit
In the Northern Management Area, the RCG complex includes all species of rockfishes, Cabezon and Greenlings. You are allowed 10 fish in combination per person EXCEPT:

• A sub-bag limit for copper rockfish of one fish
• A sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish of four fish

Minimum size for Cabezon is 15 inches total length and for Kelp and/or rock greenlings it’s 12 inches.

The daily bag limit of lingcod remains at two per person and they must be 22 inches in length. The take and possession of cowcod, bronzespotted rockfish and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited statewide. Petrale sole and starry flounder can be retained year-round at all depths with no size limit.

Important reminder:
In waters where groundfish species or species groups are closed to take or possession but authorized for take or possession in other areas, those species or species groups may be possessed aboard a vessel that is anchored, drifting, or transiting in or through that closed area. While anchored, drifting, or transiting through an area closed to take or possession of these groundfish species or species groups, no gear may be deployed other than for the take of crustaceans with hoop nets, Dungeness crab traps, and dip nets.

For more information about recreational groundfish regulations within the Northern Management Area, visit wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/GroundfishSummary#north

Humboldt Bay tide
Wednesday May 1: High: 5:44 a.m. (6.3 feet), Low: 12:55 a.m. (-0.3 feet) and High 8:20 p.m. (5.3 feet)

Weekend marine forecast
As of Thursday afternoon, Friday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 6 feet at nine seconds. Saturday, winds will be out of the west 5 to 10 knots with northwest waves 5 feet at nine seconds and west 3 feet at 14 seconds. Sunday, winds will be 5 to 10 knots out of the northwest with northwest waves 6 feet at 12 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or https://www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Upcoming kids fishing derbies
On Saturday, May 18, 2024 all kids 15 years old and younger are invited to the Ruth Lake Marina for the Kids Free Fishing Derby. The event will be from 8 a.m. until noon. Kids must bring their own fishing poles and must be accompanied by an adult. There will be a hot dog feed at noon. For more information, call the Ruth Lake Community Services District at 707-574-6332 or visit https://www.ruthlakecsd.org/local-events/

On Saturday, May 18, 2023, all kids age 4 to 15 are invited to the Carrville Dredger Pond for the 50th annual Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby. The pond is located five miles north of the Trinity Center. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The fishing derby will last until 11 a.m. Free fishing tackle will be provided to the first 100 kids registered. Kids must bring their own fishing poles, and only bait will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded in many categories, along with a grand prize.  Free hot dogs, chips and drinks for everyone. For more information, call Scott at 408-401-8333.

The Rivers
Main Stem Eel
The main stem is still high, but the color is a glacial green. As of Thursday, flows were 6,900 cfs at Scotia and predicted to drop more quickly into next week. It should be down to a fishable height, under 5,000 cfs, by mid next week. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Smith
The Smith River from its mouth to the confluence of the Middle and South Forks; Middle Fork Smith River from mouth to Patrick Creek; South Fork Smith River from the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craigs Creek to Jones Creek, will close after Tuesday, April 30.

Lower Rogue
“Springer fishing has been hit-and-miss on the lower Rogue, as wild and hatchery kings continue to enter the river, but catch rates have dropped from the steady action in early April,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “Conditions remain good, and a shot of rain this week could give action a boost.”

Brookings ocean update
Lingcod and rockfish action continues to be very good out of Brookings on calm weather days reports Martin. “Nice ocean conditions are expected this weekend. Pacific halibut opens May 1. Charters have been encountering salmon during bottom fish trips, and commercial boats working the opener out of Coos Bay and Winchester Bay reported big numbers of kings with a 16-pound averaged for gilled-and-gutted fish. Salmon season opens May 16 out of Brookings.”

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.