Based upon California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) projections of the recreational fall Chinook salmon catch on the Klamath River, anglers will meet the Lower Klamath River adult fall Chinook salmon quota below the Highway 96 Bridge near Weitchpec for the 2018 season as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12.

This triggers the closure of the adult Chinook salmon fishery on the main stem of the Klamath River from the Highway 96 Bridge to the mouth of the Klamath River at the Pacific Ocean. The fishery at the mouth of the Klamath was closed as of Sept 4, 2018 and will remain closed to all fishing for the rest of the calendar year. The rest of the lower main stem of the Klamath River below the Highway 96 Bridge at Weitchpec will remain open to the harvest of jack (two-year-old) Chinook salmon (22 inches or less). All adult Chinook salmon caught must be immediately released and reported on the angler’s report card.

Anglers may still fish for adult Chinook salmon in other reaches of the Klamath basin, including the main stem of the Klamath River above Weitchpec and the entire Trinity River until the closure of those fisheries.

Salmon fisheries have been seeing low returns on nearly every river in the Northwest.  Oregon and Washington are closing the Columbia River to salmon and steelhead fishing.  Washington also closed the Lower Samish River to chinook retention.  Oregon closed several northern rivers to day fishing due to high water temperatures.  We will continue to follow these closure as they develop.  Recreational fishing is an important source of tourism revenue for coastal communities.

Check out our fishing section or contact your local fish and wildlife office.    Anglers may monitor the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling the information hotline at (800) 564-6479.

For more information regarding Lower Klamath River fishing regulations, please consult the 2018-2019 California Freshwater and Supplemental sport fishing regulations at wildlife.ca.gov/regulations.