FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Plenty of Kings in the Klamath
341 West Harris St., Eureka 707 445-3138
poletskis.com
By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
S
ince just before Labor Day weekend, the Klamath River has been stuffed with salmon. The number of jacks has been amazing and we’re seeing some nice adult kings in the river, as well. The bulk of the run started a little late this year, most likely due to the unusually high water temperatures. Smoke-filled skies and cooler weather finally began cooling the water just enough, and the salmon came charging. For the last three weeks, the fishing has been nothing short of spectacular. To see the number of fish in the river is certainly good news, especially considering the numbers of adult salmon returning in previous years has been so dire. Since the complete salmon fishing closure in 2017, adult salmon returns have fallen well short of the 40,700 minimum floor escapements. In 2019, a return of approximately 87,000 was predicted but the actual returns were only 37,270. In 2020, CDFW forecasted a modest 48,274 natural area spawning salmon would return but only 26,190 were counted. This fall, 31,574 natural area spawning adults are forecasted to return. So, while it’s easy to speculate this year’s returns could be more robust due to the harvest rates, it’s way too early to celebrate. We won’t know the size of the run until sometime early next year. But it does feel good to see the river full of fish again. The lower Klamath adult salmon quota was met Sept. 7. You can still keep two jacks (less than or equal to 23 inches) per angler. Anglers may still fish for adult Chinook salmon in other sections of the Klamath Basin, including the main stem of the Klamath River above Weitchpec and the entire Trinity River, until their quotas are met. Anglers may keep track of the Klamath and Trinity river quotas by calling (800) 564-6479.
The Oceans: Eureka
According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, Kyliee, left and sister Maycee Jacks of Eureka scored a limit of jack the Pacific salmon Saturday while fishing the Klamath River. halibut bite Photo courtesy of Kenny Priest/Fishing the North Coast Guide Service was pretty good prior to excellent, with most boats getting easy the latest ocean blowout. “We had fairly limits of both.” A few tuna were caught easy limits on Friday and Saturday,” he late last week 25 miles from the harbor. said. “There seems to be plenty of fish The next weather window looks to be around. Most of the action is in roughly Friday. 250 feet of water just north of the entrance and the fish are averaging 15 to 25 pounds. The California halibut bite is still going, too. We fished Monday in the bay Lower Klamath and landed five keepers. There’s a lot of There are still quite a few jacks in the smaller fish as well, which is good for the lower river, along with some nice adult future. There’s quite a bit of bait in the kings. The fish are spread out from the bay right now.” Glen to Johnson’s. As a reminder, the Shelter Cove lower river quota has been met and According to Jake Mitchell of Sea salmon longer than 23 inches must be Hawk Sport Fishing, the rock fishing and released. Your adult Chinook releases lingcod bite has been excellent all week. need to be recorded on your North “From the Old man to down below the Coast Salmon Report Card as normal. Hat, that area all seemed to produce The bag limit is two salmon less than equally good results. There are still some or equal to 23 inches and two hatchery salmon around as well. Two days we had steelhead. a fish per rod and two days we had zero. Read the complete fishing roundup at Still lots of bait right below the Cove www.northcoastjournal.com. and that’s where all the action has been. ● There’s still some nice fish around, two Kenny Priest (he/him) operates 36-pounders were caught this week.” Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide Crescent City service out of Humboldt specializing A 65-pound Pacific halibut was caught in salmon and steelhead. Find it on on Friday, according to Britt Carson of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Crescent City’s Englund Marine. “Most www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For of the fish are being caught near the up-to-date fishing reports and North South Reef in 225 to 300 feet of water. Coast river information, email kenny@ The rockfish and lingcod action remains fishingthenorthcoast.com
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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