Species guide · California
Chinook salmon fishing in California
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, a sea-run species also called king salmon, king and blackmouth. Listed for the Northern California region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge at 68, one of 7 California bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Northern California
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jun to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Sep.
Research notes, Northern California region
Historically Monterey and San Francisco open in April with Fort Bragg and Eureka peaking July and August and San Francisco kings staging off the Golden Gate into September. Ocean sport salmon was closed 2023 to 2025 after Sacramento fall-run collapses; 2026 allowed only Sep 1 to Oct 31 north of Pigeon Point and Sep 1 to 30 south of it. Klamath, Smith and Eel river mouths have closure zones.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 7
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's chinook salmon score this hour.
Best window today 7-10 AM (68) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (69) · 30 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (68) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (69) · 159 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (65) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 AM (65) · 50 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 12 AM (20) · 28 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 12 AM (20) · 27 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 12 AM (20) · 28 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 42°F to 60°F, best between 46°F and 54°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 300 ft of water.
- Structure
- Point, rip, kelp, channel, open water, estuary and bay, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide, high tide and moving water, with moderate current.In Puget Sound and Southeast Alaska, Chinook gather where tidal current runs past points and over underwater ridges, forming rips that stack herring and needlefish. At estuary mouths like Buoy 10 the incoming tide brings cooler ocean water, bait and salmon in, and ODFW names the first hour after high slack as the tide starts out as a prime window. Ocean trolling is less tide driven than inside waters.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 7 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Chinook hold near bait off points, kelp edges and tide rips, usually suspended 20 to 120 feet down and deeper as the sun gets higher. Troll slowly, under 2 mph, with a flasher and herring, hoochie or spoon on a downrigger, or mooch a plug-cut herring at the depth where the sounder shows bait. Winter blackmouth and feeder kings sit within 10 feet of the bottom in 60 to 200 feet.
- Methods
- downrigger trolling, trolling with flasher, mooching, motor mooching, casting from shore
- Lures
- 11-inch flasher with hoochie, trolling spoons, plugs, bucktail flies, large spinners and spoons from shore
- Bait
- plug-cut herring, whole herring, herring strip, anchovy
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 19, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
No retention
Season: Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2026
Salmon may not be possessed on a vessel in this area while it is closed. CDFW expects 2027 season dates in April 2027.
CDFW Current Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations, Northern Region (updated August 31, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2026
CDFW expects 2027 season dates in April 2027.
CDFW Current Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations, Mendocino Region (updated August 10, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Sep 1 to Oct 31, 2026
Closed from Point Arena south to 38°02' N. lat. The fall season is open only from 38°02' N. lat. south to Pigeon Point.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day (2 salmon combined) · Minimum 20 in, total length
Season: Sep 1 to Oct 31, 2026
Changes to closed on Nov 1, 2026
Coho may not be kept. Salmon may not be filleted on a boat. No more than two daily bag limits on land, and one daily bag limit on a vessel. NOAA Fisheries can close open days early when the harvest guideline is near. Any salmon except coho. North of Point Conception: no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks and one rod. Between 40°10' N. lat. and Point Conception, when bait fishing by any means other than trolling, use no more than two barbless circle hooks, hard tied no more than 5 inches apart. The 20,000 Chinook fall harvest guideline is shared with the area south of Pigeon Point.
CDFW 2026 Ocean Salmon Sport Regulations (updated August 19, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day (2 salmon combined) · Minimum 20 in, total length
Season: Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026
Coho may not be kept. Salmon may not be filleted on a boat. No more than two daily bag limits on land, and one daily bag limit on a vessel. NOAA Fisheries can close open days early when the harvest guideline is near. Any salmon except coho. North of Point Conception: no more than two single-point, single-shank barbless hooks and one rod. Between 40°10' N. lat. and Point Conception, when bait fishing by any means other than trolling, use no more than two barbless circle hooks, hard tied no more than 5 inches apart. The 20,000 Chinook fall harvest guideline is shared with the area from 38°02' N. lat. to Pigeon Point.
CDFW 2026 Ocean Salmon Sport Regulations (updated August 19, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026