Chinook salmon in California
Bag rules, records and waters: Chinook salmon.
- 5 a daydaily bag
- 88 lbs., 0 oz.record
About California Chinook salmon
CDFW groups Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) with its salmon species, on fresh and salt water. Anglers may keep 5 a day (Statewide), size none.
The state record weighed 88 lbs., 0 oz., taken at Sacramento River in 1979. CDFW maps it in 30 lakes and 7 streams. CDFW plans to plant it in 9 waters in 2026.
The CDFW profile of Chinook salmon
“On the west coast of North America, California streams support the southern-most Chinook Salmon runs. Chinook Salmon in California display a wide array of life history patterns that allow them to take advantage of the diverse and variable riverine and ocean environments. Chinook Salmon are “anadromous” fish, migrating upstream as adults to spawn in freshwater streams, and migrating as juveniles downstream to grow and mature in the ocean. The time spent in the ocean and freshwater varies greatly among the various runs. Chinook have been classified into six major groups, or Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) by NOAA Fisheries.”
“The Fisheries Branch Anadromous Assessment Unit compiles annual population estimates of Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Estimates are based on counts of fish entering hatcheries and migrating past dams, carcass surveys, live fish counts, creel census data, and ground and aerial redd counts.”
- RangeFound in the ocean from the Bering Sea, Alaska and Japan to central Baja California, Mexico. Most commonly, Chinook are distributed from San Luis Obispo County, California, north to the Bering Sea, Alaska.
- HabitatChinook Salmon migrate upstream in freshwater streams and rivers as adults to spawn and downstream as juveniles to grow and mature in the open ocean at depths from the surface to 398 meters (1,305 feet). The time spent in the ocean and fres
- Fishing seasonFishing seasons and regulations vary by species, year, and location. Information about ocean salmon fishing seasons can be found on the Department’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information webpage.
Quoted from CDFW, checked October 2026.
Bag limits for Chinook salmon
| Where | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Bucks Lake, New Bullards Bar Reservoir, Pardee Lake, Trinity Lake | 10 a day | none | All year |
| Lower Klamath mainstem (Hwy 96 bridge to mouth); Upper Trinity (250 ft below Trinity River Hatchery to South F | 1 a day | none | Lower Klamath: July 1 – Aug. 14, 2026; Upper Trinity: July 1 – Aug. 31, 2026 |
| Klamath River (I-5 bridge to mouth); Trinity River (250 ft below Trinity River Hatchery to Klamath confluence) | 2 a day | none | Klamath: Aug. 15 – Dec. 31, 2026; Trinity: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Waters listed in §7.40(b) | see rule | none | see rule |
| Klamath Management Zone (OR/CA border to 40°10') | 2 a day | 20 in minimum | 2026 spring/summer: June 13 – July 19 (harvest guideline of 3,900 Chinook attained; August closed) |
| 40°10' line to Point Arena (Fort Bragg) | 2 a day | 20 in minimum | 2026 spring/summer: June 13 – July 19 and August 1-9 |
| Point Arena to Pigeon Point (San Francisco) | 2 a day | 20 in minimum | 2026 spring/summer: June 27 – July 22 and August 1-23 (harvest guideline 34,900 Chinook); fall: September 1 – October 31 from 38°02' N (near Point Reyes) to Pig |
| Pigeon Point to U.S.-Mexico border (Monterey and south) | 2 a day | 20 in minimum | 2026: April 11 – August 31 (harvest guideline 21,800 Chinook); fall: September 1-30 |
CDFW 2026 Freshwater and Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations. All California limits.
The Chinook salmon record
| Category | Method | Weight | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater angling | Lure | 88 lbs., 0 oz. | Sacramento River | 1979 |
CDFW Angling and Diving Records. Angler names left out.
Where CDFW flags Chinook salmon
Lakes flagged for Chinook salmon
- Lake Tahoe123,137 acres
- Shasta Lake29,500 acres
- Lake Almanor28,000 acres
- Trinity Lake16,400 acres
- Lake Oroville15,378 acres
- Lake Berryessa13,000 acres
- Don Pedro Reservoir12,960 acres
- New Melones Lake12,122 acres
- Folsom Lake11,450 acres
- Lake Isabella7,731 acres
- Camanche Reservoir7,700 acres
- Pine Flat Lake5,334 acres
- Bullards Bar Reservoir4,800 acres
- Indian Valley Reservoir4,000 acres
- Stampede Reservoir3,450 acres
- Whiskeytown Lake3,250 acres
- Union Valley Reservoir2,412 acres
- Shaver Lake2,161 acres
- Pardee Reservoir2,100 acres
- Bucks Lake1,827 acres
- Huntington Lake1,435 acres
- Los Vaqueros Reservoir1,425 acres
- Little Grass Valley Reservoir1,400 acres
- Tulloch Lake1,260 acres
Streams flagged for Chinook salmon
- Sacramento RiverShasta
- Klamath RiverSiskiyou
- Eel RiverHumboldt
- Trinity RiverTrinity
- Feather RiverButte
- American RiverSacramento
- Smith RiverDel Norte
CDFW Fishing Guide species flags; largest waters first.
Party boats and Chinook salmon
- Bodega Bay Sportfishing Centersportfishing landing / party boat, Bodega Bay
- Fish Emeryvillesportfishing landing / party boat, Emeryville, (510) 652-3403
- Half Moon Bay Sportfishingsportfishing landing / party boat, Half Moon Bay, (650) 728-3377
- Argo Sportfishingcharter boat operator, San Francisco
- Barbarossa Fishingcharter boat operator, Santa Cruz
- Bass Tub Sportfishingcharter boat operator, San Francisco
- Berkeley Charter Boatscharter boat operator, Berkeley
- Big Cs Charterscharter boat operator, Sausalito
Top species in sportfishingreport.com dock totals, October 2025 to October 2026.
Planned Chinook salmon releases
| Water | County | Size | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Pedro Reservoir | Tuolumne | Fingerling | April-June |
| Folsom Lake | Sacramento | Fingerling | April-June |
| Lake Almanor | Plumas | Fingerling | April-June |
| Lake Berryessa | Napa | Fingerling | April-June |
| Lake Oroville | Butte | Fingerling | April-June |
| McClure Reservoir | Mariposa | Fingerling | April-June |
| Pine Flat Reservoir | Fresno | Fingerling | April-June |
| Shasta Lake | Shasta | Fingerling | April-June |
| Spaulding Reservoir | Nevada | Fingerling | April-June |
CDFW 2026 Provisional Stocking Document; CDFW says plans are not guaranteed.
Other fish like Chinook salmon
- Kokaneesalmon
- Coho salmonsalmon
Chinook salmon in California: what people ask
What are the rules for keeping Chinook salmon?
5 a day (Statewide), size none.
What is the California record Chinook salmon?
88 lbs., 0 oz. from Sacramento River (1979).
Which California lakes hold Chinook salmon?
CDFW flags 37 waters, including Lake Tahoe, Shasta Lake and Lake Almanor.
Does CDFW stock Chinook salmon?
9 waters in the 2026 plan.
What Latin name does CDFW use for Chinook salmon?
Scientific name Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
When is the season for Chinook salmon?
All year
Which license do I buy for Chinook salmon?
License from 16 ($64.54); some species need report cards too.
Which charters catch Chinook salmon?
8 operators list it in their counts, including Bodega Bay Sportfishing Center.