July 30,2018-
Fish count double earlier estimate
Ready for some good news from California for a change?
California’s commercial salmon fishermen are back and so are the King salmon.
After a mid-season break, Californias’ commercial salmon fishermen began fishing again on July 26. Prior to the scheduled June 30 closure, the catch was more than double the projection for the May-June season in the Monterey management zone says the California Salmon Council.
“There is a larger supply of King Salmon than was anticipated, which is great news for California consumers,” said David Goldenberg, CEO of the California Salmon Council.
Regulators had estimated a smaller catch based on their models explains Goldenberg.But at the end of June fishermen were reporting big hauls, double the earlier estimates.
“I looks like the salmon population has rebounded” says Goldenberg. The season runs May to October but regulators could close sections of the coastal waters for a period to reduce over-harvesting, he explains.
Recreational fishermen are also reporting a better season than anticipated. Press reports earlier in July describe. “ After years of dire forecasts, curtailed seasons and empty fishing nets, the Bay Area’s recreational salmon fishing is booming, two weeks into the new season. Joe Rosato Jr. reports.”
“It’s been an absolutely amazing start to the salmon season this year,” said Jared Davis, skipper of the Sausalito-based Salty Lady sport fishing boat. “Nobody really expected this.”
“Since the opening of the season between Point Arena and Pigeon Point on June 17, recreational skippers have reported packed boats with anglers catching limits of two fish apiece.”
“Epic salmon fishing,” Davis said. “The best we’ve seen in a lotta, lotta years.”
The California Salmon Council in the past few years have reported low abundance of ocean salmon with 2016 Klamath River returns just 21% of average, a continuation of the generally depressed conditions for the industry that started in 2006.
Poor runs last year appeared to spell more doom and gloom in 2018 with ocean conditions not favorable.
Commercial and sport anglers received mixed news March 1 regarding the status of Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook – California’s two largest Chinook salmon populations. While adult returns of both stocks were well below minimum escapement goals in 2017, and projected abundance for both stocks is modest compared to historic averages, state and federal fishery scientists reported an increase in the number of jacks (two-year-old Chinook) that returned to spawn in 2017. Higher jack returns, as seen in 2017, can indicate the potential for increased abundance of adult (three years old or older) Chinook for 2018 fisheries.
Fishery experts at the CDFW’s annual Salmon Information Meeting that day suggested there are 229,400 Sacramento River fall Chinook adults in the ocean this year, along with 359,200 Klamath River fall Chinook adults. In total almost 600,000, that would make salmon more plentiful this year than they were last year, which was hailed by many as the best ocean fishing season in recent memory says Seafood News.
The persistent drought affecting river conditions and poor ocean conditions as well, have worked against the survival of the salmon.
The effects of the recent drought are still impacting California’s salmon populations. Outbound juvenile Chinook suffered unusually high mortality because of low flows and high water temperatures in both the Sacramento and Klamath watersheds in 2014 and 2015. Unsuitable river conditions, coupled with persistently poor ocean conditions during the same period, resulted in very low numbers of adult Chinook returning to spawn in both the Klamath and Sacramento River basins in 2017.
So this year’s ocean abundance is a surprise.
California is traditionally a leading state for providing wild ocean run King salmon, which are caught by dedicated commercial fishermen on barbless hooks from May through October.
Featured at local grocery stores, fish markets and fine restaurants, these fresh, wild salmon are so renowned because of their firm texture and robust flavor – in addition to containing higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than other salmon varieties. Caught locally off California’s coast, California’s King salmon also provide consumers with a sustainable, responsible option.
“Our hardworking fleet of fisherman have just set out into the Pacific to begin fishing during the later part of the season, so we are anticipating fish will begin appearing the marketplace early next week,” said Goldenberg.
For more information about California King salmon, recipes and where it can be purchased, visit www.calkingsalmon.org.