California’s fall ocean salmon season is open from Point Reyes south

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s San Francisco Bay ocean-regulations page, updated Sept. 1, 2026, says recreational ocean salmon is open from 38°02' N. lat. (near Point Reyes) to Pigeon Point through Oct. 31 — or until the 20,000-fish fall harvest guideline is hit. South of Pigeon Point to the U.S.–Mexico border, the same guideline applies through Sept. 30.

Bag limit is two salmon a day of any species except coho, 20 inches minimum. You may not fillet salmon on the boat. On the water, one daily bag per person comes ashore. Two daily bags may be possessed on land. Coho stay off-limits.

This is the fall window after a managed summer. Printed dates are not a promise. In-season closes already shortened the San Francisco spring/summer stretch in August. Check CDFW’s ocean salmon page and the NMFS hotline (800-662-9825) the morning you leave the dock.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Current California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations — SF Bay Region (updated Sept. 1, 2026) and Southern Region (updated Sept. 1, 2026). See also the 2026 Ocean Salmon Sport Regulations — Aug. 19 update (PDF).