Fishing along the Mendocino coast is guaranteed to be something you’ll never forget, whether you catch your first 25 pound salmon, pop your first abalone off the rocks, or spend a day out at sea tossing more than your line overboard! Those brave enough to face the sometimes formidable weather and seas, can pursue an annual round of fisheries that includes salmon (when the season is open), albacore in late summer (when it is within range), abalone (late spring through fall) crab in winter, and rockfish year-round (subject to closure when quotas have been reached).
Fishing regulations can be complex, and they are always changing, so we have tried to simplify some of the information and provide the more important facts in the following table. We will continue to add more page over the next few months. Click on the species name for additional information.
Here are some of the north coast’s most popular recreational fisheries:
Click here to find out what’s open today!
Popular North Coast Recreational Fisheries
| Year Round | Seasonal | |
|---|---|---|
| Chinook (King) Pacific SalmonSalmon | May-Sept | |
| Dungeness CrabDungeness Crab | Nov-June | |
| Red AbaloneRed Abalone | April-Nov | |
| Albacore Tuna | June-Oct | |
| Lingcod | Divers, Shore-based Anglers | Boat-based: May-Sept |
| RockfishRockfish | Divers, Shore-based Anglers | Boat-based: May-Sept |
| Cabazon | Divers, Shore-based Anglers | Boat-based: May-Sept |
| SurfperchSurfperch | all | |
| Mussels | all, except when quarantined by the Dept of Public Health | Typically closed from May-Oct. |
Who Needs a Fishing License?
Anyone 16 years of age or older
How Long is a License Valid?
One calendar year (January 1-December 31)
Where Do You Get a Fishing License?
Hover over the icons on the map below to see where you can purchase a
CA Fishing License in the area.
