[env-trinity] Crescent City Triplicate 8/22/09

[Byron Leydecker]

Ocean salmon season looms 

Recreational season to last just 10 days 

Crescent City Triplicate-8/22/09

By Kurt Madar

 

The North Coast is gearing up for a recreational ocean salmon fishing season
for the first time in two years. 

 

Starting next Saturday, Aug. 29, and running through Monday, Sept. 7,
recreational ocean salmon fishermen will be allowed to catch two salmon
daily of any species other than coho. 

 

According to the California Department of Fish and Game Web site, the
minimum size fish is 24 inches. 

 

Local officials and fishing-related business owners are already seeing a
little more action as the season nears. 

 

"Harbors all along the North Coast are experiencing an increase in calls for
slips," said Crescent City Harbormaster Richard Young. "We are definitely
expecting larger numbers than last year at this time." 

 

Young said the 10-day season is "a lot better than no season." 

 

He can thank a larger-than-average Klamath River chinook run, according to
California Fish and Game biologists. 

"We are predicting 131,000 to 139,000 3-year-olds in the Klamath," said
fisheries biologist Sara BorokBorok. "If you consider that the average for
the last 29 years was 121,000, this is a slightly higher run than normal." 

 

Even the Coast Guard is ramping up for the upcoming short season. 

 

"Group Humboldt Bay is prepared for a large increase in maritime activity in
the area due to the salmon season bringing in many boats from outside the
immediate area," a Coast Guard press release states. 

 

The Coast Guard requests that  boaters file a float plan with a family
member or friend who is ashore. 

 

"A good float plan includes a description of the vessel, names of the crew,
a list of safety equipment on board, your destination and time of arrival at
the fishing grounds and your ultimate destination," the Coast Guard advises.


 

Added to the recreational ocean fishing is a large allocation of adult
salmon for in-river sport fishing. Sport fishermen are allowed to take
3-year-old fish. 

 

"We have a record level allocation for this season on the Klamath," said
Fish and game senior biologist Larry Hanson. "The in-river sport fishery has
been allocated 30,800 fish and the tribes have been allocated 30,900." 

 

According to Leonard Carter of Englund Marine Supply Co, recreational
fishermen have just starting getting salmon in local rivers. 

 

Carter said that river fishing is currently allowed on the whole Klamath
River and just in the mouth of the Smith River.# 

 

 

Byron Leydecker, JcT

Chair, Friends of Trinity River

PO Box 2327

Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327

415 383 4810 land

415 519 4810 cell

 <mailto:bwl3 at comcast.net> bwl3 at comcast.net

 <mailto:bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org> bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org
(secondary)

 <http://fotr.org/> http://www.fotr.org 

 

 

 

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