Fishing the North Coast

from North Coast Journal 09-16-2021 Edition

by North Coast Journal

On The Cover

Plenty of Kings in the Klamath

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

Since just before Labor Day weekend, the Klamath River has been stu ed 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-fi lled skies and cooler weather fi nally began cooling the water just enough, and the salmon came charging.

For the last three weeks, the fi shing has been nothing short of spectacular. To see the number of fi sh 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 fi shing closure in 2017, adult salmon returns have fallen well short of the 40,700 minimum fl oor 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 fi sh 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 fi sh 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, the Pacifi c Kyliee, left and sister Maycee Jacks of Eureka scored a limit of jack halibut bite salmon Saturday while fishing the Klamath River. was pretty Photo courtesy of Kenny Priest/Fishing the North Coast Guide Service good prior to the latest ocean blowout. “We had fairly excellent, with most boats getting easy easy limits on Friday and Saturday,” he limits of both.” A few tuna were caught said. “There seems to be plenty of fi sh late last week 25 miles from the harbor. around. Most of the action is in roughly The next weather window looks to be 250 feet of water just north of the en- Friday. trance and the fi sh are averaging 15 to 25 pounds. The California halibut bite is still The Rivers: going, too. We fi shed Monday in the bay and landed fi ve keepers. There’s a lot of Lower Klamath smaller fi sh as well, which is good for the There are still quite a few jacks in the future. There’s quite a bit of bait in the lower river, along with some nice adult bay right now.” kings. The fi sh are spread out from the 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 fi shing 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 fi sh per rod and two days we had zero. Read the complete fi shing 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 fi sh around, two ● 36-pounders were caught this week.” Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing the North Coast, a fi shing guide Crescent City service out of Humboldt specializing

A 65-pound Pacifi c 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.fi shingthenorthcoast.com. For of the fi sh are being caught near the up-to-date fi shing reports and North South Reef in 225 to 300 feet of water. Coast river information, email kenny@ The rockfi sh and lingcod action remains fi shingthenorthcoast.com