Fishing in the Central Valley: Salmon fishing opener exceeds expectations
After weeks of trepidation the ocean lay down in flat, glassy calm, creating safe conditions for the flotilla of boats heading out from every port from Monterey north to Crescent City for the the two-day ocean salmon opener on June 7-8.
It was a throwback to the good old days, as the parking lot at the Half Moon Bay launch ramp was 90% full two days before fishing began.
Captain James Smith of the California Dawn 2 was out with a packed boat of 35 anglers on Saturday.
He said he was unprepared for what happened.“We had 20 in the box by 7:45 am, and it was chaos on the deck with as many as 19 fish on the hook, 72 fish in the box by 9:30 a.m.” The action took place a few miles south of the Farallon Islands down to the Deep Reef south of Half Moon Bay, and once the boats got located, limits were the rule.
The scores were outstanding out of San Francisco Bay, Half Moon Bay, and Santa Cruz/Monterey, For example, on Saturday, Emeryville Sport Fishing returned with 169 limits for 338 salmon, the California Dawn 1 and 2 along with the Pacific Dream out of Berkeley posted 83 limits to 30 pounds, Berkeley Sport Fishing had three boats out for 75 limits, and three Sausalito boats returned with a combined 66 limits. These are just a sampling of limits taken on Saturday from the San Francisco Bay boats.
“We circumnavigated the ocean before heading south to get in on the action for seven limits by 10 a.m.,” Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco said. “We got bit within a couple of minutes of putting the lines in on Saturday once we arrived. It was typical krill fishing with the salmon on top and biting aggressively.”
The action was not as fast or as furious on Sunday, but most San Francisco Bay party boats returned with two-fish limits of salmon to 33 pounds.
After posting 20 quick limits on Saturday morning, the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay took out an all-ladies trip on Sunday with 18 lady anglers and an all-lady crew including Captain Melynda Dodds. Sponsored by the Golden State Salmon Association and organized by the association’s event organizer Cat Kaiser.
“Somehow, they just keep getting better. The friendships, the laughter, the support, the energy, and the way these women lift each other up is something truly special,” he said. “There is nothing quite like it. And yes, these gals can fish! I looked up and down the rail, and I said to myself, ‘These ladies are the best of the best out here.’ It was amazing to see the female deckhands scooping up the fish along with Melynda at the helm working through the fleet with ease. No words can explain how special these trips are.”
The past two days clearly demonstrate the value of salmon to California’s recreational fishery, not to mention the absence of a commercial fishery. The economic shot in the arm to all the coastal communities over the two-day fishery was vital. It’s past time to do whatever it takes to keep California’s salmon population healthy whether it is more salmon released from hatcheries, releases closer to the ocean, and particularly water management designed to enhance fisheries. Support of organizations such as the Golden State Salmon Association are needed more than ever.
The organization’s annual fundraising dinner is June 20 at the Friedman Event Center in Santa Rosa. Information and tickets available through https://goldenstatesalmon.org/.
Dave Hurley is a longtime educator, fishing writer and member of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.
This story was originally published June 19, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fishing in the Central Valley: Salmon fishing opener exceeds expectations."