The Eureka fleet enjoyed some of the best salmon fishing it’s seen in years over the past week, as a welcome stretch of fishable weather and manageable ocean conditions gave anglers plenty of opportunity to get offshore. Boats were able to cover some ground and check multiple areas, and the general consensus was encouraging — there are salmon spread throughout the local grounds.

While fish were found in several spots, much of the fleet focused on the four-mile zone between the 44 and 48 lines, where the most consistent action was reported. It wasn’t a wide-open bite every day, but the fishing was steady enough that nearly every charter boat was coming back to the dock with limits on a regular basis, and private boaters were getting in on the action as well.

As expected, a strong week of fishing has also taken a noticeable bite out of the quota. The last official update came on June 30, when 2,397 Chinook remained available to harvest, but that number has almost certainly dropped significantly over the past week and a half.

Now, attention turns to the possibility of an early closure. Rumors on the docks suggest the California Department of Fish and Wildlife could shut the season down after Sunday, though nothing had been announced as of this writing. If a closure is coming, CDFW would need to make that call by Thursday in order to provide the required three-day notice.

For now, anglers are hoping the rumor mill is wrong and that the Eureka fleet will get a little more time on the water. After waiting a long time for salmon fishing like this, no one is quite ready to see it end.

Weekend marine forecast
After a nice stretch of fishable weather, the wind and seas picked up slightly Thursday and Friday. According to Eureka’s National Weather Service, “for the northern outer waters, winds of 20 to 25 knots combined with steep 9-foot waves at short 8-second periods satisfy advisory criteria. All coastal marine zones are currently under a Small Craft Advisory.”

As of Friday afternoon, Saturday’s forecast is calling for north winds 10 to 15 knots. Northwest waves will be 4 feet at 10 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 15 seconds. Winds will be the same Sunday, blowing 10 to 15 knots from the north with waves northwest 5 feet at 10 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 14 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit weather.gov/eureka or windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Eel River Pikeminnow Fishing Derby underway
After another successful Eel River Pikeminnow derby in 2025, CalTrout is back with another derby that runs from July 1 through Aug. 31. The derby, which is put on with the help of CDFW, has increased the prize money available and will now offer $5,000 worth of prizes for:

• Most pikeminnow (greater than 6 inches) caught over the duration of the contest. (1st $550, 2nd $450, 3rd $400)
• Most pikeminnow (greater than 12 inches) caught over the duration of the contest. MUST include tape measure in photo. (1st $800, 2nd $700, 3rd $600)
• Biggest fish (length). MUST include tape measure in photo. (1st $500, 2nd $400, 3rd $300)
• Drawing for kids (under 18) that entered a pikeminnow in the contest. (6 winners – $50/each)

Contest rules

• Online form: submit entries using one email address. All entries at the end of the contest for the “most pikeminnow…” will be tallied by participant email address.
• Mail in Form: mail in forms must be postmarked on or before September 3. Send a copy of your photo(s), minimum size 3”x5” each, along with completed entry form to: CalTrout, 1380 9th St., Arcata, CA 95521
• Individual contestants can win no more than one prize category. In the case of multiple wins, the largest prize amount will be awarded.
• Photos must be geotagged. The link to turn this on for your iPhone or android is located here.
• Cheating or falsification of entries will result in automatic disqualification.
• Photos from poor angles or of bad quality are subject to disqualification.

Contestants will follow all CDFW fishing regulations, including no bait, barbless artificial lures only.

Prohibited actions: Throwing fish on the bank or into the river, any blatant waste of fish.

All waters open to angling on the South Fork Eel River downstream of the Humboldt County line to the confluence with the mainstem. The mainstem Eel from Dos Rios to the mouth of the Van Duzen. The Van Duzen from Grizzly Creek to the mouth of the Van Duzen.

For more information, visit https://tribresearch.org/pikeminnow/

Junior Angler fishing program coming July 12
The Redwood National and State Parks, along with California Fish and Wildlife experts, will be hosting a Junior Angler Fishing Program Sunday, July. 12. The event, which runs from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. will be held at Freshwater Beach with anglers meeting at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center. Address is 119441 Highway 101 N. in Orick. This is a free event, and fishing equipment will be provided. Participants 16 years and older are required to have a fishing license. For more information, call 707-951-5388.

California Halibut Derby on Humboldt Bay coming July 25
The Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association will be holding the second annual California Halibut Derby on Saturday, July 25. The fishing event will be held within the waters of Humboldt Bay. Check-ins, Weigh-ins, and Awards Ceremony will be held at Woodley Island, 601 Startare Drive at the East-I Lot Grass Area.

This is a slot size derby; a measurement will be drawn in the morning before the derby and posted to the event’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Adult payouts will be $500 for 1st place, $300 for 2nd place, and $150 for 3rd place. Youth Payouts – $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place. Youth payouts will be in the form of gift cards. All Youths registered in the Derby will receive a rod and reel combo! Raffle prizes will include fishing trips, rods and reels, fishing tackle and gear, merchandise and more.

Big Fish Prize: entries will be California Halibut 30” and above. ONLY ONE Big Fish can be entered per entrant. In case of a tie, winner will be determined by weight. For the big fish, adult and youth divisions will be combined. Winner to be announced at event.

Entry Fees for adults are $60 (comes with a $30 NCGASA Membership). Youth entry fees are $40, 13 years and under (comes with a $10 NCGASA Membership)

*If you are a current NCGASA member, you will receive $20 in raffle tickets at check-in.

You can register online at https://ncgasa.org/product/california-halibut-derby/. Entrants will need to be signed up and paid for by July 24 at midnight.

The Oceans:
Eureka
“The salmon fishing has been pretty good this past week, with limits coming every trip,” said Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “Some days were wide-open, and some it took a little longer to get limits. We had a nice long stretch of fishable weather, which allowed plenty of boats to get in on the action. The majority of the fish were caught between the 44 to 48 line from 140 to 200 feet, but there seemed to be fish all over. About half of the fish were smaller, and the other half ranged from 8 to 15 pounds. Though most of the focus has been on salmon, there were some halibut caught this week. Boats were focused around the 50-line in 270 to 300 feet of water.”

Shelter Cove
“Salmon fishing was pretty good this past week, but the last couple days was a little tougher”, said Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing. “Some action has been at the Hat and some right out front. The fish have been a nice grade, averaging 12 to 15 pounds. Rock fishing has been solid with the lings a little harder to get.”

Crescent City
|“The salmon bite really improved this week,” said Chuck Blakeslee, of Crescent City’s Englund Marine.” They’ve moved closer to the shore, and they aren’t as deep. The best bite has been between 80 to 200 feet. The rockfish and lingcod bite are still excellent, with the South Reef and the Sisters being a couple top spots. There was also a couple Pacific halibut caught Wednesday out past the South Reef.”

Brookings
Salmon fishing has busted wide open again out of Brookings, but the action has been limited to the first hour or two of daylight reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “Fish are schooled up along the beach and jetties just outside of the Chetco River entrance,” said Martin. “Fish to 25 pounds are being caught. Most boats are catching multiple fish, trolling anchovies or herring.”

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
Spring salmon fishing improved quite a bit for trollers in the Klamath estuary earlier this week. Anchovies rigged with a spinner blade has been the top producer so far, but some are being caught on spinners and Cut Plugs. Best fishing has been on the incoming and a couple hours after the high.

Lower Rogue
According to Martin, the Rogue Bay has improved for salmon, with action still slow, but a handful of fish a day being caught. “Action tends to improve rapidly by mid-July.”