Sacramento River ocean abundance estimate for salmon is up, Klamath abundance still low

SACRAMENTO — The Pacific Fishery Management Council will choose three alternatives for recreational and commercial salmon fishing seasons during its March 8-14 meeting, based on ocean abundance forecasts, stakeholder input and other factors discussed at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s annual salmon Information meeting held virtually on March 2.

The 2022 ocean abundance projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook, the driver of West Coast salmon fisheries, is estimated at 396,500 adult salmon, compared to the revised 2022 forecast of 322,137 fish, reported Jeromy Jording of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The abundance estimate for Sacramento fall Chinook swimming in the ocean now is based largely on the return of two-year-old “jacks” to hatcheries and natural spawning areas last fall. Over 17,000 jacks returned to the river last year, compared to 14,000 the previous year.

However, only an estimated 104,483 hatchery and natural area adult spawners actually returned to the Sacramento River Basin in 2021, well below the conservation goal of 122,000 to 180,000 fish, according to CDFW scientists.

The Klamath River fall Chinook ocean abundance forecast is slightly above the 2021 forecast, with 200,100 adult Klamath River fall Chinook salmon estimated to be in the ocean this year. Unfortunately, this abundance estimate is well below the stock’s historical levels.

Harry Morse of the CDFW said the PFMC may “decide to take a conservative approach when crafting 2022 ocean salmon seasons to provide additional protective measures to this stock.”

After the presentations by biologists, recreational anglers, fishing guides, charter boat captains, commercial salmon trollers and CDFW staff commented and voiced their concerns to a panel of fishery managers, scientists, Tribal and industry representatives.

Commercial salmon fishermen, who harvested 200,419 Chinooks last year off the California coast, said salmon were abundant in the areas where they fished.

In contrast, river recreational anglers and fishing guides said relatively few salmon returned to the Sacramento River and its tributaries and fishing was abysmal. The total estimated harvest for recreational anglers was 14,560 salmon, amounting to only 2.7 salmon per 100 angler hours.

Robert Dunn, a Sacramento River fishing guide for 37 years, said he believes “there is an overharvest of fall fish in the ocean.”

“I couldn’t find one spawning redd (nest) from Deschutes Bridge to Red Bluff during 80 trips from October 2021 to February 2022,” he said. “We need to increase the run to 360,000 fall-run fish. 2021 was the worst salmon season ever for us.”

John McManus, president of the Golden Gate Salmon Association, said the low number of Klamath River salmon “will likely lead to constraints on both commercial and sport ocean fishing this year, especially in north state coastal waters.”

“We are hoping for a decent salmon fishing season this year, and there’s some reason for optimism, but there are several variables yet to be dealt with,” McManus said.

He said more fish actually returned but died of heat related causes including disease prior to spawning due to low, warm-water conditions connected to drought and water management decisions by the Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources on Central Valley rivers.

In the coming weeks, PFMC officials will use ocean abundance forecasts and other data to set times and areas open to both sport and commercial ocean salmon fishing for 2022. The California Fish and Game Commission will then approve the recreational ocean season, along with approving a sport season for the Sacramento, American, Feather and Mokelumne rivers, and the Klamath and Trinity rivers.

Information: www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon/preseason

West Delta sturgeon: Zack Medinas of Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures reported “very good “fishing for sturgeon on a trip March 5. Six anglers, all active or retired military, caught and released seven sturgeon in the legal slot limit size. They used lamprey eel and salmon roe at Seal Island and the deep water off Pittsburg. Information: (925) 497-7171.

Monterey Petrale sole/sand dabs: Until rockfish season opens on April 1, boats out of Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey will be going on petrale sole/sanddab and sanddab/crab fishing adventures. The 13 anglers aboard the Checkmate returned with 60 petrale sole and “lots of sand dabs” on March 3, while the 20 anglers on the Caroline checked in with “lots of sand dabs” and 28 crab on March 6. Information: (831) 375-5951.

Contact Stockton Record Correspondent Dan Bacher at danielbacher53@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Fishing: Sacramento River's ocean abundance estimate for salmon is up