The California Fish and Game Commission adopted ocean and inland salmon fishing regulations for 2012 at its April meetings.

Inland salmon season regulations were adopted for the Central Valley, and Klamath and Trinity rivers.

Longer seasons and increased fishing opportunities are the hallmarks of what is expected to be a banner season for ocean and river anglers.

"We are optimistic that excellent ocean and inland salmon seasons lie ahead for California anglers," said Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Charlton H. Bonham. "This could be one of the best salmon seasons in a decade, supporting both recreational and commercial fishermen and their communities.”

The newly adopted ocean salmon sport fishing regulations conform to those adopted by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

The opening date in the Klamath Management Zone is May 1. All other zones are currently open.

Complete ocean salmon regulations are posted at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp .

On all Central Valley rivers, the daily bag and possession limit is two Chinook salmon. On the Trinity and Klamath rivers the daily bag limit is four Chinook of any size and eight in possession prior to reaching the quota.

All anglers must have Salmon Harvest Cards in their possession when fishing for salmon on the Klamath and Trinity rivers.

Other enhanced salmon fishing opportunities are available on the Mokelumne River and portions of the Feather River from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall down river.

Key elements of the newly adopted inland salmon seasons and regulations for Central Valley rivers and the Klamath and Trinity rivers are listed below.

The full regulations package approved by the commission is available at   www.fgc.ca.gov/regulations/2012/index.aspx .

SACRAMENTO RIVER

Open Aug. 1 through Dec.16 from the Deschutes Road Bridge near Anderson downstream to 500 feet upstream from Red Bluff Diversion Dam.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 150 feet below the Lower Red Bluff (Sycamore) boat ramp to the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Highway 113 Bridge near Knights Landing downstream to the Carquinez Bridge.

FEATHER RIVER

Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from unimproved boat launch ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall downstream to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp. Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from 200 yards above Live Oak boat ramp to the mouth.

AMERICAN RIVER

Open from July 16 through Dec. 31 from Nimbus Dam to Hazel Avenue Bridge.

Open from July 16 through Aug. 15 from Hazel Avenue Bridge to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauging station cable crossing near Nimbus Hatchery.
 
Open July 16 through Oct. 31 from the USGS gauging station cable crossing near Nimbus Hatchery to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) power line crossing the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park.

Open from July 16 through Dec. 16 from the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park to the Jibboom Street Bridge.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16. from the Jibboom Street Bridge to the mouth.

MOKELUMNE RIVER  

Open July 16 through Oct. 15 from Camanche Dam to the Highway 99 Bridge.

Open July 16 through Dec. 31 from the Highway 99 Bridge to the Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam, including Lodi Lake.

Open July 16 through Dec. 16 from the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge to the mouth. (For purposes of this regulation, this river segment is defined as Mokelumne River and its tributary sloughs downstream of the Lower Sacramento Road Bridge, east of Highway 160 and north of Highway 12.)

KLAMATH RIVER

Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Aug. 15 through Dec. 31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size.

The 2012 quota for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22 inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 22 inches).

A weekly DFG status report will be available by calling 1-800-564-6479.

Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14 with a daily bag and possession limit of two salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited on the Klamath River from Iron Gate Dam downstream to Weitchpec from Jan. 1 through Aug. 14.

TRINITY RIVER

Open to fall-run Chinook salmon fishing from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 with a daily bag limit of four Chinook salmon of any size. The possession limit is eight Chinook salmon of any size.

The 2012 quota for the Klamath River basin is 67,600 fall-run salmon more than 22 inches long. Once this quota has been met, no Chinook salmon greater than 22 inches long may be retained (anglers may still retain a limit of Chinook salmon under 22 inches).

A weekly DFG status report will be available by calling 1-800-564-6479.

The Trinity River main stem downstream of the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road Bridge in Hawkins Bar is closed to all fishing Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

Open to spring-run Chinook salmon fishing from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31. The daily bag and possession limit is two Chinook salmon. The take of salmon is prohibited from the confluence of the South Fork Trinity River downstream to the confluence of the Klamath River from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31.

All other regulations for bag and possession limits for trout, salmon and other species, as well as general information about restrictions on fishing methods and gear on the above rivers, are available on the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations .