The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has launched new digital tools that allow both commercial and recreational fishers to track in-season harvests of ocean salmon.
“We’re excited to give salmon anglers the data they need to better plan their fishing seasons while at the same time leveraging technology to support in-season management and sustainable fisheries,” CDFW Director Meghan Hertel said in a release.
For commercial fishers, the tracking tool shows how many Chinook salmon have been landed so far in the season, and how many are left before the state hits its harvest limit. The estimates of caught and available salmon is based on weekly landing data. The tool, which was last updated 22 May, estimates that 29,938 salmon have been landed, with 53,062 still available to harvest before reaching the state’s 83,000-salmon limit.
“With recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons underway, anglers may be interested in knowing how much catch has accrued and when fisheries in each area will close,” CDFW said in its release.
The tools arrive as California salmon harvesters partake in their first commercial season in four years. Regulators first closed the fishery in 2023 due to low abundance, and commercial harvests were again canceled in 2024 and 2025 to allow stocks to rebuild. With returns looking stronger last year, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) recommended a limited reopening of the commercial salmon fishery.
“Seeing our salmon populations recover is incredibly heartening and demonstrates what’s possible when we all work together – state and federal partners, Tribes, sport angler and commercial fishing interests, NGOs, and others – to do what’s best for salmon,” Hertel said last month when the commercial fishery was reopened. “Salmon are part of the cultural fabric of California, and I’m delighted more Californians will have the opportunity to enjoy these magnificent fish whether that’s in the water, on the end of their fishing lines, or on their dinner plates.”
