FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Kings Make a Strong Showing on The Klamath By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
E
arly last week we were waiting patiently for the fall run of king salmon to begin their migration upriver. Well, the waiting is over. The water temperatures cooled a couple degrees and the schools of ocean-fresh kings moved their way into the lower river. In fact, so many fish came through the mouth beginning last Tuesday that the spit area quota was filled in only a few days. And the fishing was phenomenal further upriver as well all through the weekend. There were plenty of jacks to be had and some nice adults as well. All of the fish are dime-bright and moving through the river quickly. “As of Tuesday morning, very preliminary estimates indicate only 32 adults have been added to the quota since last week’s count leaving well over half of the 611 fish quota left for harvest,” said Dan Troxel, an environmental scientist on the Klamath River Project. “No expansion estimates have been factored in at this point. Unless the adult catch-rate really takes off, we should be open to keeping adult salmon through the holiday weekend.” As a reminder, the spit area, within 100 yards of the channel through the sand spit formed at the Klamath River mouth, is closed to fishing the remainder of the year. Fishing is open from the estuary upriver to the State Route 96 bridge at Weitchpec. Once the quota have is met, no Chinook salmon greater than 23 inches in length may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 23 inches in length). Anglers may keep track of the Klamath and Trinity river quotas by calling (800) 5646479. For Klamath and Trinity fishing regulations, visit www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler. ashx?DocumentID=169262&inline
Trinity River water release
Beginning Thursday, Sept. 2, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin to increase flows to the Trinity River for the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Ceremonial Boat Dance. Releases will begin to increase above the base summer flow of 450 cubic feet per second at 10 a.m. on Sept. 2, and reach a peak flow of 2,650 cfs between 12 a.m. and noon on Sept. 4. The releases will then gradually decrease back to the base summer flow, reaching 450 cfs at approximately 11 p.m. on Sept. 10. Colder water temperatures and increased turbidity levels are to be expected.
Weekend marine forecast
Ocean conditions will begin to improve on Thursday. Out 10 nautical miles north of the
Klamath resident Kathy DeVol Cunningham landed a nice limit of king cape, Friday’s forecast is calling for north winds salmon on 5 to 10 knots and waves out of the northwest 4 feet at seven seconds. Saturday is calling for Saturday on north winds 5 to 10 knots and waves north 4 the Klamath River. feet at four seconds. Sunday, winds will be out Photo courtesy of of the north 5 to 15 knots and waves north 7 Mike Coopman’s feet at six seconds. These conditions can and Guide Service will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weekend, which should allow us to make it weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureout to Reading Rock.” ka/ or www.windy.com. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa. gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Shelter Cove According to Jake Mitchell, the salmon bite Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on was pretty solid until about Friday and has Woodley Island at 443-6484. slowed considerably since then. “There’s still Saturday is statewide lots of bait but I think the bigger fish might be moving on and heading towards their home free fishing day rivers,” he said. “The majority of the salmon The last chance of the year to fish for free the past couple days have been smaller, but I arrives over the Labor Day holiday weekdid see a 36-pounder caught on Sunday. Rock end. Free Fishing Day is being offered by the fishing was easy limits as usual and we’ve even California Department of Fish and Wildlife had limits of lingcod the last three days. We’ve (CDFW) on Saturday, Sept. 4. While no fishing spent most of our time off the Ranch House license is required on free fishing days, all fishing and the Old Man.” regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, report card requirements, fishing Crescent City The tuna water is sitting about 30 miles hours and stream closures remain in effect. off of Crescent City reports Britt Carson Every angler must have an appropriate report of Crescent City’s Englund Marine. He said, card if they are fishing for steelhead or sturgeon “There’s a few boats going out this weekend, anywhere in the state or salmon in the Smith hopefully the fish are still there. It’s been and Klamath-Trinity river systems. For more really windy this week, but a few boats are information, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/ getting out early and getting limits of rockFishing/Free-Fishing-Days. fish and lingcod. The California halibut bite The Oceans: has really died off.”
Eureka
Not much going on this week out of Eureka due to rough ocean conditions. According to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing, the seas look good for the upcoming weekend. He said, “The warm tuna water is still sitting off our coast and it looks like it’s sliding south, which is good for us. Right now, it’s about 30 miles off of Crescent City and 50 miles from Eureka. I’m hoping for a window mid next week.”
Trinidad
Curt Wilson, of Wind Rose Charters, was on the water Sunday, but the rough water has forced him to the dock for a few days this week. “As it’s been all season, the black rockfish action is excellent,” said Wilson. “It’s pretty easy to go out between the head and Patrick’s Point and catch a limit of 10 fish per person. We’re not seeing much variety right now. The weather looks to improve by the
341 West Harris St., Eureka 707 445-3138
poletskis.com
• Servicing Humboldt County for over 40 years • Largest in stock new & used inventory • Competitive price guarantee • Delivery and Service after the sale
The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
The salmon bite was pretty spectacular over the weekend, with most boats getting limits of adults and jacks. The fish are spread throughout the river now, and more are moving in every day from the ocean. The steelhead bite has slowed as they’ve made their way further upriver, but there are still a few around. Read the complete fishing roundup at www.northcoastjournal.com.●
“LARGEST BRAND SELECTION IN THE COUNTY”
Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast. com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com. northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
19
