[env-trinity] Sacramento River Salmon forecast up Klamath forecast down

[Daniel Bacher]

https://www.recordnet.com/sports/20200303/sacramento-river-salmon-forecast-up-klamath-forecast-down

Sacramento River Salmon forecast up, Klamath forecast down

By Dan Bacher, The Stockton Record Correspondent

State and federal fishery scientists gave presentations on the numbers of salmon that spawned in the Sacramento and Klamath River systems last year, along with the estimated ocean abundance this year, during the annual California Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon information meeting held in Santa Rosa on Feb. 27.

The 2020 ocean abundance projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook, the driver of West Coast salmon fisheries, is estimated at 473,200 adult salmon, higher than the 2019 forecast.

However, the Klamath River fall Chinook abundance forecast of 186,600 adult salmon is lower than the 2019 forecast and will likely result in reduced fishing opportunity in the areas north of Pt. Arena, the CDFW said.

“The outlook for Sacramento River fall Chinook is better than last year, but this season’s fisheries will be tempered by protections needed to conserve low numbers of Klamath River fall Chinook,” said Jennifer Simon, an environmental scientist with the CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Project.

The forecast of 379,600 salmon in 2019 was about 136,000 shy of what was eventually counted after fishing and spawning surveys, according to John McManus, President of the Golden State Salmon Association.

McManus said the predicted 473,183 Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon in the ocean now will be factored into fishery manager decisions about when and where salmon fishing will be allowed this year off the coast.

“It will also be used by the state to almost certainly allow a two-fish daily bag limit for salmon in inland waters,” he stated.

McManus also said the adult Sacramento River winter Chinook return provided “another relatively bright spot” with an estimated 7,569 adult fish returning to spawn, the highest number since 2006.

“Their offspring are being counted downstream in Red Bluff, where special counting traps are moored in the river. These traps have already counted an estimated 3.8 million, the highest number in seven years,” he stated.


The fall Chinook salmon run on the Klamath River did not fare so well in 2019.

“Instead of getting the targeted 40,7000 adult spawners back into the Klamath, only 20,225 returned to spawn,” said McManus. “As a result, fishery managers will take extra precautions in the 2020 ocean fishery to protect the expected low number of Klamath River salmon in the ocean.”

Stakeholder input will be considered when developing three alternatives for this season during the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting held from March 3-9 in Rohnert Park. Final regulations will be adopted at the April 4-10 PFMC meeting in Vancouver, Washington. Information: (707) 576-3429 or www.pcouncil.org <http://www.pcouncil.org/>.

Sacramento River Stripers: Before the wind started blowing on Saturday, boaters were catching limits of keeper stripers while trolling deep-diving Yo-Zuri lures on the west bank of the Sacramento River below Rio Vista, according to Chris Ditter of HeadRush Sportfishing. After three days of wind, the striper action was very slow on Tuesday, but the bite is expected to rebound over the next couple of days. Information: (916) 284-9326.

Pardee Lake Kokanee/Rainbows: Kokanee salmon are hitting from 15 to 40 feet deep in the Mokelumne River arm and front of the dam at Pardee. Trollers are working hoochies and Wedding Rings, tipped with white corn, in the Mokelumne River arm and near the front of the dam. The fish average 10 to 11 inches long, reported Richard Rider at the Rocky Mountain Recreation Company.

Bank anglers are catching rainbow trout off Porcupine Point and Tom Sawyer Island while fishing jigs and chartreuse PowerBait. Weekly trout plants continue. Information: (209) 772-1472.
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