As Grandma Bushnell used to say, “It’s a long slip between the cup and the lip.” No one knows this better than salmon fishermen in California. Both commercial and recreational salmon anglers have been anxiously holding high hopes for an open 2026 king salmon season. And, all indications point to this will happen in early April, with the season extending at least into August. The yearly decisions for salmon management is dependent on federal, regional and state agencies. For Monterey Bay anglers this includes NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, The Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the California Fish and Game Commission. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife then enforces the regulations, conducts field research and manages state wildlife areas. Their overall task is to establish limits on king salmon harvest from the Canadian to the Mexican borders, balancing commercial, tribal and recreational harvest numbers with the primary concern being conservation and protection of the species.

On March 9, the PFMC released three alternatives for the 2026 salmon season. According to Jeremy Streig who is a part of the PFMC Salmon Advisory Sub-panel this year, the Council first collects and analyses all available data then proposes regulation alternatives, after which a period is set for public comment. Though the season will open for fishing on April 11, final decisions and ratification will come from the Fish and Game Council later in April. We are very grateful to Strieg for donating his time, effort and expertise to the process. He is a local boy, providing the community with healthy seafood via his wholesale seafood business “Simply Wild,” and is also a lifelong member of The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project, of which he is currently the President, Board of Directors. 

The three alternatives for salmon fishing in our area can be located on their www.pcouncil.org website, and the public comments site will be available until April 4 at 5pm. Briefly, alternative I proposes an open season from April 11 through September 30. Bag limits would be two king salmon per angler per day, with a minimum size of of 20 inches for retention. Alternative II proposes two fishing periods, April 11 through August 23 , then September 1 though 13. Alternative III asks for April 11 through August 16. 

Agencies will be keeping a close eye on the number of fish tallied as the season progresses. “Inseason action may be taken to close open days when total

harvest is approaching an area-specific harvest guideline,” is the official language from the PFMC. According to Strieg, the PFMC has determined only 21,000 salmon are available for recreational harvest in the Monterey Bay zone during the 2026 open period. Considering the fact that an estimated 9,000 salmon were caught during the 2025 two day open season last June, it is most likely that “in season actions” will occur this year, so get out there early if you want to be sure and catch some beautiful kings.