The recreational ocean salmon season between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (ports of Shelter Cove and Fort Bragg) opens Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005. The rest of the California coast south from Point Arena to the California/ Mexico border (ports from Bodega Bay southward) opens on April 2 for recreational salmon fishing.

The ocean salmon season north of Horse Mountain (ports of Crescent City, Trinidad, and Eureka) remains closed until the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) decides on the appropriate level and timing of salmon harvest for the area. Once the PFMC decides the final coast-wide regulations in April, the California Fish and Game Commission will adopt conforming state regulations.

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds anglers that all of the open areas have a daily bag limit of two salmon of any species except Coho salmon (also known as silver salmon). The retention of Coho salmon is prohibited in any California ocean fishery. Salmon may be taken only by angling and a minimum size of 20 inches total length is required. Anglers may not use a weight exceeding 4 pounds unless the weight is attached to a separate line and the fishing line is released automatically by a mechanical device from the weighted line when any fish is hooked.

Anglers shall use only one rod and line and two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks when fishing for salmon north of Point Conception. No more than two single-point, single-shank barbless circle hooks shall be used when not trolling and fishing with bait between Horse Mountain and Point Conception. These requirements apply to each angler fishing for salmon or fishing from a boat or other floating device with salmon on board.

Anglers are reminded that the above regulations are subject to change after May 1 when the ocean salmon fishing regulations are determined by the PFMC and adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission and U.S. Department of Commerce. Anglers may call the Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 576-3429 to hear the latest California ocean salmon sport regulations. The 2005 ocean salmon seasons and a Coho identification poster can be found on the Internet at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceansalmon.html. The web site will be updated as needed.