Creel Quick answer: Ocean Salmon is open in 2 of the 6 California regions where CDFW regulates it, with a 20-inch minimum. The bag limit is not the same everywhere — the table below has the number for each region. Read on September 7, 2026; seasons change in-season with days of notice.
Ocean Salmon by region
| Region | Status | Bag limit | Size limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | Closed | — | — |
| Mendocino | Closed | — | — |
| San Francisco | Partial | 2 fish daily | 20-inch minimum |
| SF Bay | Partial | 2 fish daily | 20-inch minimum |
| Central | Open | 2 fish daily | 20-inch minimum |
| Southern | Open | 2 fish daily | 20-inch minimum |
Season dates
- Sep 1 – Oct 31, 2026 (or until quota)
- Sep 1 – Sep 30, 2026 (or until quota)
What it costs to get it wrong
An undersize fish or one over the bag limit runs roughly $430 to $485 in total bail as an infraction, plus a further $71 to $82 for every individual fish over the line. Charged as a misdemeanor the base part is about $958 to $1,095, with the same per-fish amount on top. The range is real: two of the assessments are set county by county.
How California fishing fines are actually calculated →
This page is a snapshot taken on September 7, 2026. Creel re-reads every CDFW regional page daily and shows current status for your region, offline. Always confirm with CDFW before fishing.