UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Northern California Coast
In Northern California Coast, Chinook (king) salmon peak June–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Trolling bait or hoochies on the 20–40 fathom line off Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove and Trinidad.
Late fish holding off the Smith and Chetco mouths waiting for rain.
Chinook (king) salmon in Northern California Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArrivingFirst kings off Bodega and Fort Bragg when the krill and anchovy show — check the Klamath and Fort Bragg zone dates first.
- JunePeakTrolling bait or hoochies on the 20–40 fathom line off Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove and Trinidad.
- JulyPeakPeak ocean month on the north coast; the Klamath Management Zone closes fast when its quota fills (it did in late July 2026).
- AugustPeakKlamath and Smith fall-run kings gather off the river mouths; the Klamath estuary bite starts on the high tide.
- SeptemberPeakKings in the Klamath estuary and stacked off the Smith; the mouths are terminal fisheries with their own rules.
- OctoberLeavingLate fish holding off the Smith and Chetco mouths waiting for rain.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove
An exposed, wild coast of rocky headlands, pinnacles and a few harbors — Bodega, Noyo, Shelter Cove, Humboldt Bay, Crescent City — with the Eel, Klamath and Smith rivers coming out through sand bars.
Fish Scouter charts 21 lake spots in the The North Coast map area — the kinds Chinook (king) salmon hold on.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Northern California Coast?
Peak season is June–September. Chinook (king) salmon are in Northern California Coast May–October. June: Trolling bait or hoochies on the 20–40 fathom line off Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove and Trinidad.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Northern California Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, channel edge, beach / surf, fishing pier, ledge / hard bottom, river — around Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, Trinidad, Crescent City.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Northern California Coast?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Chinook (king) salmon in Northern California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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