THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has adopted three options for 2026 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California, which are available for public review. The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its next meeting on April 8-12, 2026. Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open, and catch limits for the three options are available on the Council’s website at www.pcouncil.org.
Forecasts for West Coast Chinook and coho stocks in 2026 are looking largely encouraging coastwide, with forecasts mostly stable or slightly higher than last year. Federal requirements to conserve Fraser River (Canada) coho, Washington coastal coho, lower Columbia River natural coho, lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast natural coho, Klamath River fall Chinook, and California Coastal Chinook will be the main constraints for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries.
“Working closely with our advisors, the Council developed options for commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries that aim to maintain a careful balance across fisheries along the coast,” said Chair Pete Hassemer. “This year brought encouraging signs for both salmon and fishing communities, and we look forward to hearing feedback from the public as we move toward finalizing the 2026 season.
Washington and Northern Oregon (North of Cape Falcon)
Fisheries North of Cape Falcon (in northern Oregon) are limited mainly by the need to constrain catch of Fraser River (Canada) coho, Oregon Coast Natural Coho, lower Columbia River natural coho, and lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook. In encouraging news, Queets River spring/summer Chinook, which was declared overfished in 2023, continues to meet the criteria of “not overfished-rebuilding” (same as in 2025) and no stocks are currently experiencing overfishing.
Tribal ocean fisheries North of Cape Falcon
The Treaty troll fishery North of Cape Falcon includes options that reflect traditional seasons between May and September. Chinook quotas for all areas and times range from 35,000 to 55,000, compared to a range from 35,000 to 55,000 in 2025. Coho quotas range from 30,000 to 50,000, compared to a range of 20,000 to 50,000 in 2025. Under the range of options, seasons would open May 1 with the all-species portion opening July 1, and close no later than September 30. Season structure with regard to the closing date is still under discussion among the tribes.
Commercial season options
The non-Tribal ocean commercial troll fishery North of Cape Falcon includes options that reflect traditional seasons between May and September. Chinook quotas for all areas and times range from 48,750 to 62,000, compared to a range from 46,250 to 63,500 in 2025. Coho quotas range from 14,400 to 20,800 marked coho, compared to a range from 13,600 to 19,200 marked coho in 2025.
Sport season options
The ocean sport fishery North of Cape Falcon includes options with Chinook recreational quotas ranging from 48,750 to 58,000, compared to a range from 46,250 to 59,000 in 2025. For coho, recreational quotas range from 75,600 to 109,200 marked coho, compared to a range from 71,400 to 100,800 marked coho in 2025. Starting dates range from mid- to late June with the season continuing through all of September, or until quotas or guidelines specific to fishing areas are reached. Included options allow for Chinook retention throughout the season and either coho retention throughout the season or coho retention beginning in July. Most seasons would be open seven days per week, with one option having one subarea starting with a five-day opener before shifting to a weeklong schedule.
South of Cape Falcon Overview
Salmon fisheries South of Cape Falcon, covering waters off Oregon and California, are expected to be more robust than recent years. Although still constraining, there is encouraging news for Klamath River fall Chinook. The stock had met the criteria for overfished status since 2018 but now meets the criteria for “not overfished–rebuilding.” No salmon stocks South of Cape Falcon are currently experiencing overfishing.
This year’s management strategies aim to expand fishing opportunities for both Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook. Increased forecasts for both Sacramento and Klamath River fall Chinook compared to recent years has allowed for consideration of broader fishing opportunities relative to prior seasons.
The structure of salmon fisheries occurring prior to May 16 were established in 2025 and may be modified through inseason management actions if needed.
Oregon (Cape Falcon to the California Border)
In Oregon waters, management options reflect slightly increased Chinook forecasts and are structured to provide opportunities for coho retention in both the commercial and recreational fisheries. Coho salmon forecasts for 2026 are generally similar to or somewhat lower compared with 2025. Forecasts are increased for Oregon Production Index hatchery stocks and lower Columbia River natural stocks. However, forecasts for the Oregon Coast natural stock is lower than last year.
Commercial season options
Commercial season options under consideration include several options for Chinook and coho retention.
All three options would allow fishing openings in mid-April and early May. Each option would also allow for Chinook retention from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain from September 1 through October 31. Coho retention would be allowed under all three options during September, or until the coho quota is reached.
The first option additionally includes fishing opportunities from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain during the late summer. Under this option, the area from Cape Falcon to the Heceta Bank line and from the Heceta Bank line to Humbug Mountain would be open during early and mid-summer.
The second option includes fishing opportunities from Cape Falcon to the Heceta Bank line and from the Heceta Bank line to Humbug Mountain during early, mid-, and late summer.
The third option includes fishing opportunities from Cape Falcon to the Heceta Bank line and from the Heceta Bank line to Humbug Mountain during early and mid-summer. It would also allow fishing from Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California border from mid-May through June.
Sport season options
Oregon ocean recreational options from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border include mark-selective coho fishing seasons that start in June and continue through mid- to late August. Quotas range from 40,000 to 50,000 marked coho, compared to 40,000 to 44,000 in 2025. In addition, non-mark-selective coho fisheries are proposed in all options for the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain for the month of September, with quotas ranging from 25,000 to 27,500 coho, compared to 25,000 to 30,000 in 2025.
All three options consider a coastwide fishing opening from mid-March through mid-May. Under Option 1, Chinook retention would be allowed coastwide from mid-May through August, with an additional fall Chinook fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. Options 2 and 3 would allow a Chinook fishery beginning in late May and continuing through the fall from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. Option 2 would allow fishing for all salmon except coho from Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California border from mid-May through August.
California
Options for both the California commercial and sport fishery offer a wide range of opportunities for public consideration. Although caution is still warranted, increased forecasts allow for the consideration of more robust fishing opportunities compared to recent years, during which the California troll fishery remained closed from 2023 through 2025, and the recreational fishery had only limited openings in 2025 following closures in 2023 and 2024.
Commercial season options
Under Option 1, the California ocean commercial troll fishery would have openings in several areas and months. This option would include intermittent openers during the May through August months in Monterey, August, September open periods in San Francisco, and August openers in Fort Bragg. Option 2 would allow fishing in the San Francisco and Monterey areas during May, June, and August, with September openers in the area between 38°02” N. lat. to Pigeon Point. The most limited option, Option 3, would provide fishing opportunities only in May through August within the California Klamath Management Zone, with closures occurring once the monthly quota is reached.
All proposed fishing seasons include vessel-based landing and possession limits during open periods, along with established harvest limits or quotas. Additional requirements specify where fish may be landed and require fishermen to provide biological samples to state biologists upon request. A 24-hour quick-reporting requirement would also be in place to help monitor catch levels as the season progresses.
Sport season options
All options would allow some level of fishing in the California Klamath Management Zone and in the Fort Bragg and San Francisco areas during June, July, and August. In the Monterey area, fishing opportunities would be available from May through August in all options, with the number of open days varying by option. Options also consider including fishing opportunities in San Francisco during May, and a September fishery in the San Francisco and Monterey areas. Under one of those options, the September opening in the San Francisco area would be limited to waters between 38°02′ N. latitude and Pigeon Point. All options include area-specific harvest guidelines meant to ensure that California’s sport fisheries do not exceed preseason projections.
“Increased forecasts this year, particularly of Klamath and Sacramento River fall Chinook, created opportunities to expand fishing options compared with recent years,” said Executive Director Merrick Burden. “The Council’s proposals aim to provide meaningful fishing opportunities while ensuring careful management of salmon populations.”
Management Objectives for Southern Resident Killer Whales
The Council worked collaboratively with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to understand the effects of Council-area fisheries on Southern Resident killer whales, which are listed as endangered. Based in part on information provided by the Council’s ad-hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup, the Council amended the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan in 2021 to address the needs of the whales while providing salmon harvest opportunities. As part of the amendment, the Council adopted a Chinook abundance threshold for the North of Falcon area, below which additional action (management measures) would be required when considering ocean salmon seasons. The threshold value is 623,000 Chinook. The Chinook abundance is projected to be well above this threshold in 2026.
Management Process
The Council has scheduled one public hearing for each coastal state to hear comments on the options. The Washington and California hearings are scheduled for Monday, March 23 in Westport, WA and Santa Rosa, CA (in-person) and the Oregon hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24 in Newport, OR (in-person and online). The public will also be able to comment on the options during the April Council meeting. Materials and instructions for joining online Council meetings and hearings will be posted to the Council website.
The Council will consult with scientists, hear public comment, revise preliminary decisions, and choose a final option at its meeting April 8-12 in Portland, Oregon. The Council will forward its final season recommendations to NMFS for its approval and implementation no later than May 16, 2026. All Council meetings are open to the public.
Council Role
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the U.S. coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
On the Web
• Pacific Fishery Management Council (www.pcouncil.org)
• Draft Options for 2026 salmon management are on the ‘Annual season management process’ page on the Council’s website.
• Final Options and analyses of the biological and socioeconomic impacts will be posted on the Council web page on or about March 27 (look for 2026 Preseason Report II on this page)
• Fact sheet: Salmon
• Fact sheet: Geography of Salmon
• Fact sheet: Common Terms Used in Salmon Management
