Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest

The excellent news is we’re beginning to see a shift within the climate sample, bringing with it the second rainstorm of the season. Unfortunately, it seems to be like it should nonetheless fall in need of what’s wanted to open the coastal rivers to fishing. The one potential exception could possibly be the principle stem Eel River, the place flows are predicted to surpass the 350 cfs threshold at Scotia.

From the Smith right down to the South Fork Eel, roughly three-quarters to an inch of rain is forecast between Friday and Saturday. Another small storm is anticipated Monday, but it surely doesn’t seem sturdy sufficient to make a lot of a distinction. While this rain will assist, our parched rivers will want a number of inches and a sequence of constant storms earlier than they open up. Hopefully that is just the start and the storm door has been pushed open.

As a reminder, the low-flow hotline has been disconnected. River openings and closures can now be tracked in actual time at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast. Low-flow info for all North Coast rivers is out there right here.

In the meantime, the Chetco continues to be the brilliant spot on the coast for fall kings. If you’re on the lookout for massive fish, now’s the time to go — earlier than the rains come and the salmon make their transfer upriver.

Weekend marine forecast
South winds, albeit slight, are within the forecast for Friday and Saturday. As of Thursday afternoon, out 10 nautical miles, Friday’s forecast is asking for winds out of the south 10 to fifteen knots with south waves 4 ft at 5 seconds and northwest 5 ft at 10 seconds. Saturday, winds will probably be out of the south as much as 5 knots with west waves 3 ft at seven seconds and northwest 4 ft at 10 seconds. Sunday, winds will probably be 5 to 10 knots out of the north with northwest waves 2 ft at 5 seconds and northwest 6 ft at 10 seconds. These circumstances can and can change by the weekend. For an up-to-date climate forecast, go to www.weather.gov/eureka/ or https://www.windy.com. You can even name the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the workplace on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Warnings lifted for some shellfish in Humboldt County
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has lifted the shellfish and seafood security notification right this moment associated to sure sport-harvested bivalve shellfish from Humboldt County. The warning now not applies to scallops, oysters and clams (apart from razor clams). An advisory for razor clams in Humboldt County stays in impact.

CDFW Statement:

The security notification for Humboldt County was issued on September 9, 2025, resulting from harmful ranges of domoic acid in mussels. This naturally occurring toxin may cause sickness or demise in people. Recent testing reveals domoic acid has decreased to secure ranges in shellfish apart from razor clams on this space. 

A warning against eating sport-harvested razor clams from Humboldt County stays in impact as razor clams are at excessive threat for long-term elevated ranges of domoic acid. Dangerous ranges of naturally occurring domoic acid, additionally known as amnesic shellfish poisoning, have been detected within the razor clams. Razor clams are identified to retain domoic acid toxin of their meat and tissues for much longer than different species of bivalve shellfish. The annual mussel quarantine additionally stays in impact, which implies that whereas scallops, oysters, and most forms of clams may be harvested from Humboldt County, mussels stay underneath quarantine. The annual quarantine prohibits the sport-harvest of mussels for human consumption and applies to all species of mussels harvested alongside the California coast, in addition to all bays and estuaries, and can proceed by way of not less than October 31.  This warning doesn’t apply to commercially offered mussels, clams, scallops, or oysters from authorized sources. State regulation permits solely state-certified business shellfish harvesters or sellers to promote these merchandise. Shellfish offered by licensed harvesters and sellers are topic to frequent necessary testing to observe for toxins. More info may be discovered here.

The Oceans:
Eureka
“Excellent ocean conditions earlier this week allowed boats to make it down to the Cape for the first time in a while,” stated Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “We fished down there on Tuesday and the bite was excellent. We landed a really good variety of rockfish along with some nice lings. There’s been just a few boats fishing for halibut, and it sounds like they’re still biting. Most of the action has been north of the entrance. Ocean conditions for the weekend don’t look great, with the south wind returning on Friday.”

Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport Fishing, the rock fishing was good as standard. He stated, “It’s been actually fast and straightforward limits. We additionally obtained some good climate Monday and Tuesday and we had been in a position to get again offshore and search for tuna. It was a 45-mile run however the fish had been there and bit fairly good. We ended the day with 36 and the boats that went Tuesday landed between 20 and 30. We fished exterior the Knoll.

Brookings
“Lingcod, rockfish and crab action remains good out of Brookings, with halibut biting on calm weather days,” stated Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. “This weekend looks decent. Lingcod are already staging in shallow water for the winter spawn.”

Low circulate river closures in impact since Sept. 1
As Sept. 1, all North Coast rivers subjected to low circulate fishing closures, together with the Eel, Mad, Redwood Creek, Smith, and Van Duzen had been closed to fishing. The low circulate closure hotline for North Coast rivers is now not in service. You can now discover river openings and closures in actual time on-line at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Low-Flow/North-Coast.

Low-flow info for all North Coast rivers is out there right here.

NOTE: The foremost stem Eel from the South Fork to Cape Horn Dam, the Mad River from the mouth to 200 yards upstream and the Mattole River will probably be closed till January 1, 2026.

The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
The Klamath is again underneath 3,000 cfs as of Thursday, however the mouth reportedly stays plugged or severely restricted. There hasn’t been a lot in the way in which of latest fish getting into the decrease river for fairly a while. Rain is on the way in which, hopefully will probably be sufficient to blow it out. There needs to be fairly just a few extra kings, together with coho, nonetheless ready to make their method into the river. Fishing strain has been very gentle.

The each day bag restrict is 2 hatchery steelhead or hatchery trout per day on each the Klamath and Trinity rivers, with a possession restrict of 4. Anglers will need to have a Steelhead Report/Restoration Card of their possession whereas fishing for steelhead trout in anadromous waters. Both the Klamath and Trinity rivers are open to fishing, however take and possession of Chinook salmon is prohibited. More info, may be discovered here.

Chetco/Rogue
According to Martin. salmon fishing has been good on the mouth of the Chetco, however the estuary is crowded with upwards of 30 boats a day alongside the jetties. “Salmon to 30 pounds are being caught daily, with wild and hatchery adults and lots of jacks. Salmon also are biting bobbers and eggs in the tidewater. 
The Rogue Bay is still a solid bet, with late kings, lots of wild coho and a few hatchery coho. Crowds also have thinned out.”

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing information service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reviews and North Coast river info, e-mail [email protected].