Calif. Salmon Season Prospects Dim; Ore. Limited

SEATTLE — Salmon fishermen who work off the California coast are looking at their second off year in a row.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted three options for this year’s ocean salmon season at a meeting in Seattle. The options virtually shut down sport and commercial fishing off the coast of California to allow salmon to rebound. It offers limited commercial and sport salmon fishing in Oregon.

Fishing seasons in California and Oregon were practically shut down in 2008 after a sudden drop in the fall Sacramento chinook run. Forecasts call for about twice as many salmon overall as last year, but the numbers are still low.

But in Washington state, coho salmon runs appear to be some of the best in years, which could give commercial and sport fisherman a much-needed boost.