The Crescent City fishing scene is a god-send for anglers looking for a combo of fantastic freshwater and ocean opportunities in one place. You can prowl the Pacific Ocean for your next saltwater record or hit the Klamath and Smith Rivers to target Salmon and Trout. It’s absolutely up to you.
Northern California is known for its prolific Chinook (King) Salmon fishing, and in Crescent City, you can test just how good the action is. You can target Kings while they’re still in the ocean from April to November, or catch them on their upstream swim in the nearby rivers in the summer.
But Salmon is just the cherry on top of the proverbial cake that is Crescent City’s fishery. Productive bottom fishing for Rockfish, Lingcod, and California Halibut is popular year-round, as well as exciting Tuna fishing. Another popular pastime here is crabbing, and Dungeness Crab are all the rave from November through July.
A lot of locals are passionate anglers and you can find a good number of Crescent City fishing charters to take you to all the best secret spots. You can take your pick between private and shared trips, depending on how big your group is and how much time you’d like to spend on the water.
Many charters start their trips from the Citizens Dock, so this is probably where you’ll meet your guide. Whatever charter you choose, chances are, you’re going to have an amazing time – Crescent City fishing action is just that good!
Rules & Regulations
There’s a lot of different species that you can target in Crescent City, and keeping up with all the regulations can be difficult. If you’re fishing with a guide, you’ll need to buy a fishing license before the trip, and if you’re going after Chinook Salmon, you’re also going to need a Salmon Report Card. Your captain will make sure you follow all the rules and limits, so that you don’t have to remember it all.