The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is reminding north state Trinity River anglers to return salmon and steelhead tags in a timely manner.

Tag return information is used each year to calculate harvest and help biologists estimate population size of steelhead and salmon runs. This information feeds into the Klamath basin fall Chinook run-size estimate and informs the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s creation of regulations and quota sizes for the Klamath fishery. The data also allows CDFW to determine if progress is being made toward the goals of the Trinity River Restoration Program.

“We rely on anglers returning tags to us in the same season the fish are caught so that the information can be used in the management of our fisheries,” said Mary Claire Kier, a Trinity River Project environmental scientist. “Timely return of fish tags is a crucial component in making an accurate harvest estimate.”

Only tags returned to CDFW in the same season they are obtained can be used in the harvest estimates.

Please return all Trinity River fish tags to:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
5341 Ericson Way
Arcata, CA 95521

Anglers can obtain a form to accompany the tags at wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/inland/fish-tags or send the tags with:

• Angler’s name and address
• Date and location fish was caught
• Whether the fish was kept or released

Anglers should also cut the knot off tags before sending to ensure they will clear the United States Postal Service sorting machine.