Freshly caught salmon fill the deck of Dick Ogg's vessel during a commercial fishing trip off the Northern California coast.
A fter a three-year hiatus, the long-awaited commercial salmon fishing season starts May 1 off the Northern California coast — but with a catch. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a few weeks ago that fishery stakeholders in a working group have agreed to limit Chinook (king) salmon stocks available for the annual harvest to 83,000 fish this summer. Another 20,000 may be caught this fall starting Sept. 4 in the San Francisco and Monterey zones, extending north to Point Arena. The announcement comes on the heels of yet another delay in crabbing, which is off the table for now as humpback whales linger offshore, where they risk becoming entangled in fishing gear. “It’s not quite what we would have liked, but it’s a good supplement,” longtime Bodega Bay fisher Dick Ogg told NorthBay biz regarding the salmon fishing restriction. The California Salmon Council chairman and Bodega Bay Fishing Management Association president calculated that each vessel operating North Coast waters may haul in 160 fish.
Recreational salmon fishers located between San Francisco and Fort Bragg may reel in 34,900 fish during a two-part season spanning June 27 to July 22 and continuing through August. Like farming, the commercial fishing industry faces constant challenges. After years of shutdowns tied to declining fish stocks, market prices now play a critical role in determining whether anglers can stay afloat in today’s economy. “They’ve got to pencil it out — with the price of fuel and the price of food,” said Ogg, who put his boat in the water just weeks ago. “There’s no reason we should be in this predicament. We need to protect the industry as best we can.” Bodega Bay Chamber of Commerce President Shona Campbell agreed, recognizing the Sonoma County coastal town lives and dies by the strength of its fishing industry. “I look forward to this season. My heart goes out to the fishing community. We have to find a way to preserve it,” said Campbell, who also runs two restaurants serving seafood — Rocker Oysterfellers in Bodega Bay and Rocker’s Roadhouse in Valley Ford. Campbell hopes diners consider ordering local salmon as a
44 NorthBaybiz
Where Ideas Are Born 2026
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online