West Coast Salmon Seasons Get Quick Rule Refresh for Balance
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Rule
Summary
The government is making three quick changes to the 2025 salmon fishing rules along the West Coast. These updates affect commercial fishers from the U.S.-Canada border down to Oregon and recreational fishers from Oregon to California. The new rules start soon and aim to balance fishing fun with protecting salmon, without any big cost changes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
California recreational salmon season closed
You (recreational anglers and charter operators) lost the previously scheduled July and August 2025 recreational ocean salmon dates in the area from the Oregon/California border to the U.S./Mexico border. The closure took effect at 12:01 a.m. on July 5, 2025 and remains in effect for the remainder of the summer season after California estimated 9,165 Chinook harvested by 10,505 anglers, exceeding the 7,000 Chinook summer harvest guideline.
Short commercial troll opening with 10-fish limit
The commercial salmon troll fishery north of Cape Falcon (United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR) was opened from 4:00 p.m. on June 23, 2025 until 11:59 p.m. on June 29, 2025 with a landing and possession limit of 10 Chinook salmon per vessel for the open period.
North coast commercial weekly Chinook limits set
For the commercial salmon troll fishery north of Cape Falcon (United States/Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR), NMFS set a landing and possession limit of 60 Chinook per vessel per landing week (Thursday–Wednesday) effective 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2025 until 11:59 p.m. on July 9, 2025, and then reduced the limit to 50 Chinook per vessel per landing week effective 12:01 a.m. on July 10, 2025 until superseded.
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Key Dates
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