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2020/2021 California Sport Fishing Regulations: Smith River

What You Need to Know The following sport fishing regulations (effective through 2/28/21) aresummarized as a courtesy to anglers in Redwood National & State Parks. All sport fishing must be in accordance with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regulations and requires a California fishing license for anglers 16 years old and older.

For more information, contact CDFW online at www.wildlife.ca.gov, call the North- ern Region Eureka Field Office at 707-445-6493, or inquire at any visitor center.

Open Season & Daily Bag & Body of Water Special Regulations Possession Limit

• 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead.** • 4th Saturday in May-Apr. 30. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in Main stem from the mouth • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be possession. to confluence of Middle and used from the 4th Saturday in May–Aug. 31. • 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches South Forks* • Only barbless hooks may be used from total length. Sept. 1–Apr. 30. • 1 Chinook salmon and no more than 5 wild Chinook salmon** over 22 inches per year.

• 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead.** • 4th Saturday in May–Apr. 30. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be possession. Middle Fork from the mouth used from the 4th Saturday in May–Aug. 31. • 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches to Patrick Creek* • Only barbless hooks may be used from total length. Sept. 1–Apr. 30. • 1 Chinook salmon and no more than 5 wild Chinook salmon** over 22 inches per year.

• 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches • 4th Saturday in May–Oct. 31. total length. Middle Fork above the • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be • 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead ** mouth of Patrick Creek used. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead ** in possession

(continued on reverse side) Open Seasons & Daily Bag & Body of Water Special Regulations Possession Limit

• 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead.** South Fork from the mouth • 4th Saturday in May–Apr. 30 • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in upstream approximately 1,000 • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be possession. feet to the County Road used from the 4th Saturday in May–Aug. 31. • 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches (George Tryon) bridge and • Only barbless hooks may be used from total length. Craigs Creek to Jones Creek.* Sept. 1–Apr. 30. • 1 Chinook salmon and no more than 5 wild Chinook salmon** per year over 22 inches.

South Fork from George Tryon Bridge upstream of • Closed to fishing all year. mouth of Craigs Creek.

• 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches • 4th Saturday in May–Oct. 31. total length. South Fork above the mouth • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be • 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead ** of Jones Creek. used. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead ** in possession

• 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead.** • 4th Saturday in May–Mar. 31. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be possession. North Fork from mouth to used from the 4th Saturday in May–Aug. 31. • 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches Stony Creek* • Only barbless hooks may be used from total length. Sept. 1–Mar. 31. • 1 Chinook salmon and no more than 5 wild Chinook salmon** per year over 22 inches.

• 2 cutthroat trout: minimum size limit 10 inches • 4th Saturday in May–Oct. 31. total length. North Fork above the mouth • Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be • 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead.** of Stony Creek used. • 4 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead** in possession.

* Subject to low flow closure (see “Stream Closures,” below). ** Hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead are those missing an adipose fin with healed scar. Wild fish have an intact adipose fin.

Stream Closures Special Low Flow Conditions the mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet From Oct. 1 through Jan. 31, the following stream to the County Road (George Tryon) Bridge and reaches may be closed to angling for the periods Craigs Creek to its confluence with Jones Creek; Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the North Fork Smith River from the mouth and/or Saturday through Monday when CDFW to its confluence with Stony Creek. determines flow conditions are less than 600 cfs as measured at the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Call CDFW’s low flow closure hotline at 707-822- Park gauging station: The main stem of Smith Riv- 3164 to check if Smith River will be open or closed er from the mouth of Rowdy Creek to the mouth to fishing. The recorded message is updated by of Patrick Creek; the South Fork Smith River from 1:00 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Additional Info. Silver (Coho) Salmon North Coast Salmon Report Card Silver salmon are fully protected at the state and A North Coast Salmon Report Card is required federal level as threatened fish. Coho may not be to fish for salmon on the Smith River and it’s taken from any California waters. Incidentally tributaries. hooked coho must be immediately released un- harmed to the waters where they were hooked. Steelhead Report Card All anglers must have a Steelhead Report Card in Stop Invasive Species: New Zealand Mudsnail their possession while fishing for or taking Please remove / freeze or clean all plant material steelhead on the Smith River and it’s tributaries. from your boat and/or trailer.

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