The following is a press release issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:
The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted unanimously this week to close in-river salmon sport fishing in the Klamath River Basin and Central Valley rivers for the second consecutive year.
As part of its annual process for adjusting seasons and bag limits, the Commission voted to:
- Prohibit the take and possession of Chinook salmon in the Sacramento, American, Feather and Mokelumne rivers and their tributaries.
- Prohibit the take and possession of fall-run Chinook salmon in the Klamath and Trinity rivers and their tributaries.
- Adopt emergency closures of the spring Chinook salmon sport fishing seasons on the Klamath and Trinity rivers and their tributaries.
The regulations are expected to take effect no later than July 1, 2024, following approval by the state Office of Administrative Law.
The in-river closures align with the recommended closure of both commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries off the California coast by the Pacific Fishery Management Council due to continued low abundance. Federal fisheries managers have since enacted a full closure of ocean salmon seasons in California. California’s ocean salmon sport fishing seasons and regulations automatically conform to federal regulations unless the Commission acts otherwise.
In other action, the Commission took steps to limit the spread and impacts of chronic wasting disease (CWD) on California deer and elk herds. CWD was confirmed in two California deer for the first time earlier this month. The Commission approved additional changes to regulations governing the importation of cervids (hoofed mammals including deer, elk, moose and reindeer) into California and strengthened disease testing requirements to meet with current U.S. Department of Agriculture standards.
Lastly, the Commission approved regulation changes regarding issuing special hunt permits and drawings. The changes will allow the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to administer and offer the hunts through CDFW’s Automated License Data System (ALDS), ensuring fair and equitable distribution of available permits and reducing barriers to entry into the draw process.
Commission President Samantha Murray along with commissioners Eric Sklar, Darius Anderson and Jacque Hostler-Carmesin participated virtually in the May 15 teleconference meeting. Commission Vice President Erika Zavaleta did not attend.
The meeting agenda, along with supporting documents and background information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for June 19-20, 2024, in Mammoth Lakes and via Zoom and phone. An exact location will be determined and updated on the Commission’s website soon.
Off shore China fishing boats will have a bumper year with all the US restrictions on Oceans and rivers.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Game) along with urban based supporting environmentalists are on track to end all fishing and salmon restoration in this stupid state.
Agreed, although I was actually a little surprised to learn that other than during the low water closure periods that the Smith river will be open for the 2024 fall king season.
And at the same time i’m a little shocked to learn that the Eel river drainage will be open to fish for and I’m guessing to retain kings as well.
All the while the Klamath basin and Trinity river will be closed as well as the Sacramento,American and Feather rivers.
This does not make a whole lot of sense to me and personally I feel that the Tribes on the Klamath should give the California Fish and Game and the ENVIRONMENTALIST the middle finger and go ahead and harvest their share of the Salmon.
In the meantime if one desires ocean caught Chinooks take the five or six hour drive to the Oregon border at Brookings the season is open until the end of August.
Tight Lines.
Alot of the blame is on China and there blatant disrespect in catching the salmon. It is shameful the Chinese so called fishermen are nothing more the a poacher and due to the fact their mothers have taught them no respect for the land or water they shall perish a miserable end…