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Like ocean fishing? How about fishing for steelhead and salmon
as they cruise the rushing rivers during the spawn? Redwood offers
a shocking amount of variety. Anyone over the age of 16 is required
to have a California fishing license. You can purchase a California
fishing license here.
The Smith River: This magnificent 20 mile long river flows
from the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains and into the mighty
Pacific. The Smith is the largest r undeterred river system in
California, flowing freely along its entire course. The Smith
is designated National Wild and Scenic River. The Smith River
has three forks. The North Fork begins in Oregon's Chetco Peak.
The Middle Fork originates 60 miles northeast of Crescent City,
and the South Fork originates 30 miles northeast of Crescent City.
The main branch of the Smith enters the Pacific at the town of
Smith River 10 miles north of Crescent City.
The Smith River is home to steelhead, Chinook salmon, cutthroat
trout and coho salmon. Cohos cannot be kept under any circumstance,
and are protected as a threatened fish. Please release any coho
you may catch. You can read all of the Smith River regulations
at this link.
Redwood Creek: This beautiful, large stream originates
in the Coast Range at 5,000 feet and flows for 50 miles before
entering the Pacific ocean just west of Orick. The fishery of
Redwood Creek has been severely degraded due to roadbuilding and
logging. The Army Corps of Engineers levees, channelized, and
dredged the last 3 miles of the creek, ultimately reducing flow
and thus causing sedimentation problem for cold water species
such as salmon and steelhead. 90% of the upper creek is privately
owned, with most of that timber company land. Continued heavy
logging impacts the quality of the fishery. Despite that, hatchery
trout and steelhead hang on, along with the occasional coho and
Chinook salmon. You cannot take any of these species from Redwood
Creek, and both of these fish are listed as threatened species.
If you happen to accidentally hook one, please release it immediately.
You can read the full Redwood Creek fishing regulations at this
link.
A trout in an unnamed creek.
Freshwater Lagoon: located at the mouth of Redwood Creek
(Orick), Freshwater Lagoon is a popular fishing area for trout
and black bass. Coastal waves created sandy bars which separate
the lagoons from the ocean. The lagoons are open to fishing all
year for trout, bullhead and black bass. You are allowed to fish
for trout between one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunrise
Bullhead can be fished all day and night, as well as black bass.
An angler may only keep 5 trout daily. There are no daily bag
limits foe bullhead. You are allowed to take 5 black bass daily
with a 12 inch minimum size limit.
Klamath River: A gigantic river flowing 263 miles across
northwest California, finally meeting the Pacific at Requa. The
mighty river drains 15,000 square miles including several counties
in southern Oregon while providing an important home for species
such as Chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout and steelhead.
As is the normal case, damn building almost destroyed the fishery,
and it isn't nearly as good as it once was. Even more disturbing
is the massive amount of pesticides which reach the river, and
when released from damns these toxins simply kill salmon as far
as 100 miles downstream. Because of these foolish behaviors, the
Klamath coho salmon is listed as threatened under the Endangered
Species Act. You may be familiar with the disastrous move of former
Secretary Interior Gale Norton, who in 2002 ordered the Klamath
controllers to provide full water resources to irrigators during
an intense drought. The result? 34,000 dead salmon - one of the
largest fish disasters of all time. This is the price of agriculture
where agriculture does not belong.
The Klamath has been called "an upside down river" due
to the unusual nature of being developed in its upper reaches
and relatively wild in its lower reaches in Redwood country. The
Klamath National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, Klamath Wildlife
Refuge complexes are all located in the watershed.
Prairie Creek: Last Saturday in April to September 30th.
In this beautiful creek you can find Chinook salmon, coho salmon,
cutthroat trout and steelhead. You may not keep any of the salmon
and limit is two trout.
Wilson Creek Pond: Last Saturday in April to November 15th.
Steelhead, coho salmon, Chinook salmon. 2 trout limit, no salmon
allowed.
Wilson Creek Beech: Open all year. Littleneck clams, rockfish,
redtail surf perch, surf smelt.
Enderts Beach: Open for razor clams on even years. Limit
is 20.
The Pacific Ocean: Redwood contains 37 miles of pristine
beaches, most of which are open to shore fishing. Species range
from salmon, abalone, Dungeness crab, sea bass, rockfish, mussels,
spiny lobster, surfperch, halibut, numerous species of shark,
spiny dogfish, leopard shark, California scorpionfish, lingcod,
ocean whitefish, California sheephead, Cabezon and rockfish.
Please be sure to view the current California ocean recreational
fishing regulations at this link.
We plan to add more information to this page as conditions and
seasons change.
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