Recreational Fishing for Ocean Salmon Starts April 2

This year, recreational or sport fishers angling to reel in some salmon will be able to hit the ocean starting April 2.

The approval to start the season -- an emergency measure issued by the Pacific Fishery Management Council -- from April 2 - 30 was announced on April 1 by the California Fish and Game Commission. The agency approved fishing in ocean waters from Horse Mountain in Humboldt County south to the U.S. - Mexico border.

"In this case, the amount of fish earmarked in the May 1, 2010 – April 30, 2011 season still allowed for a lot of salmon to be caught," said Peggy Beckett, owner and operator of Huck Finn Sportfishing located just outside Half Moon Bay at Pillar Point Harbor. Huck Finn Sportfishing books recreational fishing, whalewatching, and tour boats.

Beckett said on April 1 that in light of the approval, she will be opening her business this morning at 5 a.m. despite a weather forecast for this weekend that she described as "bleak" and "windy" with a "large groundswell" not conducive for fishing.

"Money is still really tight for most people," she said, "but private boaters are really excited to get a chance to go," she said, adding that there were a few boats at Pillar Point Harbor she thinks "will take a look at it."

Beckett said that the rest of the California recreational salmon season will be decided upon in the next week or so.

"I'm extremely grateful," she said. "Maybe in the next week we'll go fish. We hope there will be fish out there."

The California Fish and Game Commission nor the Pacific Fishery Management Council  could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

On Jan. 1, 2011, new fishing license requirements were placed into effect throughout California. For more information, read this published on Half Moon Bay Patch on Dec. 31, 2010.