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Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen's Association

Salmon Season 3 alternatives proposed by the Pacific Fishery Managament Council

Updated March 11, 2026

SACRAMENTO, CA — Salmon Season dates or alternative proposals were at the council meetings in Sacramento. The alternatives will be discussed each day and revised further during the council process. They are not final. Click links below

• The PFMC makes changes to the Salmon Season dates or three alternatives each day they are discussed as new information and quotas are considered. Find the new dates for each zone on their website under their Briefing Book for the March Meeting. Look for the C.6.a Supplemental STT Report 1: Salmon Technical Team Report Collation of Preliminary Salmon Management Alternatives for 2026 Ocean Fisheries (this is the latest from Sunday and will be reviewed on Monday.
• There are different alternatives for each zone scroll through every page and look at the title on the top of the page to find either your commercial zone or recreational zone.

Sacramento River inland salmon fishing dates

• PFMC Timeline: Preliminary ocean and inland options are reviewed in March, with final, definitive recommendations for the upcoming season made in April.
• State Action: Based on the PFMC recommendations, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recommends specific in-river dates to the Commission at their April meeting, with final adoption in May.
• Season Start: Inland salmon fishing on the Sacramento River and associated Central Valley rivers generally opens or restarts around July 15.
• 2026 Process: The 2026 season process is currently underway, with March and April 2026 meetings scheduled to finalize these decisions. 

Process and Numbers Explained