California Salmon Is Back in 2026: Where and When to Fish the Reopening

What reopened, and where

After being shut down for several years to protect struggling stocks, California's ocean salmon fishery reopened in 2026. The key area for this opener is the water north of Pigeon Point, which covers three of the state's classic salmon ports: Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, and Bodega Bay. Those northern waters opened June 27, 2026.

If you've fished Northern California before, these names will ring a bell — they're the heart of the Central and Northern coast salmon scene. The reopening puts them back in play after a long absence, and that's why you're seeing salmon trips reappear on the schedules out of those harbors.

When to go

The northern opener landed on June 27, 2026, so the season is live right now as far as those waters are concerned. As always with salmon, the fishing rewards anglers who pay attention to conditions — wind, water temperature, and bait all push the bite around day to day.

Because regulations on a freshly reopened fishery can be adjusted, always confirm the current open dates, zones, and bag limits with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) before you book and again before you depart. A reopening season is the one time you don't want to assume last week's rules still apply.

Where to launch: the three reopened ports

Each of the three northern ports has its own character, but all three are now back on the salmon map. Here's the quick orientation.

• Half Moon Bay — a long-standing Central Coast salmon launch, with trips starting around $170 per person. It also runs rockfish and crab combos when those seasons overlap.
• San Francisco — fishing the waters off the Bay and the coast north of Pigeon Point, a historic hub for the salmon fleet.
• Bodega Bay — a productive North Coast port; open charters run around $325, with private trips (max six) up to about $1,800, and standard seats from roughly $150.

What it costs to fish the reopening

Northern California salmon trips are priced like other full-effort coastal outings. Expect to share a boat for an open-party seat or pay for the whole vessel on a private charter.

Tips for a reopening-season salmon trip

A long-awaited reopening brings crowds, eager captains, and shifting conditions. A little preparation keeps you ahead of the pack.

• Book early — reopening demand fills boats fast, especially on weekends and prime weather windows.
• Confirm regulations with CDFW right before you go; reopened fisheries can change on short notice.
• Be flexible on dates. Salmon fishing follows conditions, so a weekday with the right water can outfish a packed weekend.
• Dress in layers and pack for cold — Northern California mornings on the water are chilly even in summer.
• Watch for last-minute open seats. When a captain has unsold spots on a salmon trip that's already running, those seats often go out at a discount.

How to get on a boat fast

When a fishery this anticipated reopens, the fastest way onto the water is often a last-minute open seat. Captains who have a salmon trip scheduled but a few unsold spots release those seats at a discount rather than leave the dock with empty rails.

That's the model behind Mixed Bag Sportsman: captains submit their unsold seats, our owner reviews and approves each deal so you know it's real, and then it's posted to the site and our social channels. You click through to the charter's own booking page and lock in your spot. For a reopening season that's moving this quickly, setting up deal alerts is the simplest way to catch a salmon seat the moment one opens up.