Recreational Fisheries on the West Coast
West Coast Regional Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan Released
This regional implementation plan is being released in conjunction with five other regional recreational fisheries plans. Each plan outlines a set of shared priorities tied to concrete actions to be taken over the next 2 years.
These plans were developed by each of our regions with input from local leaders in the angling community, states, and regional fishery management councils. These are living documents that will continue to be shaped by ongoing conversations and through current regulatory and science processes.
We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the West Coast Region's implementation plan and how best to
implement the actions it contains. Please contact Heidi Taylor, Chief of the West Coast Region's Highly Migratory Species Branch, at Heidi.Taylor@noaa.gov.
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Saltwater recreational fisherman on the West Coast target a diversity of marine resources. These resources include highly migratory species (albacore and other tunas, striped marlin, common thresher and shortfin mako sharks), salmon and steelhead (Chinook, coho, and steelhead), groundfish (rockfish, lingcod, scorpionfish, greenling, flatfish, and sharks), and coastal pelagic species (pacific sardine, northern anchovy, market squid, pacific mackerel). They also include numerous state-managed species like barracuda, bass, bonito, sturgeon, and surfperches. Recreational fisherman also fish for invertebrates such as abalone, lobster, crab, clams, and oysters.
Recreational fisheries are economically, socially, and culturally important. In 2012, roughly 1.6 million anglers took part in an estimated 7.4 million fishing trips on the West Coast. These anglers made over $1.8 billion in fishing trip and equipment expenditures, which supported over 18,800 jobs and approximately $2.5 billion in sales.
On the West Coast, recreational fisheries primarily occur in non-federal waters (zero to three nautical miles off the coast) and are managed by the states of Washington, Oregon, and California. Inter-state coordination is facilitated through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries manage fisheries that occur within federal waters (three to 200 nautical miles off the coast). Management of these fisheries is separated into four fishery management plans: coastal pelagic species, groundfish species, highly migratory species, and salmon species.
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works with anglers and fisheries managers to improve recreational fishing opportunity and stewardship throughout the Pacific states. A Recreational Fisheries Coordinator and region-wide team coordinate recreational fisheries management throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.
LEARN MORE about the Recreational Fisheries Team and who to contact.
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Going Fishing
Potential Deterrence of Pacific Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions 499kb
California Recreational Fisheries Survey
Open Seasons by State
Management & Regulations
Coastal Pelagic Species & Live Bait
California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Ethical Angling
Are You An Ethical Angler? 1.6MB
Ethical Angler Code 62kb
Circle Hooks (English) 774kb
Circle Hooks (Spanish) 799kb
Best Practices for Catch and Release 148kb
Sea Bird Protection and Avoidance 143kb
Green Sturgeon Catch and Release 239kb
Sharks: Best Practices For a Healthy Catch & Release Video
Common Thresher Sharks Catch & Release 2010 Study 523kb
Common Thresher Sharks Catch & Release 2014 Study 1.3MB
Thresher Sharks 114kb
Barotrauma
Descending Devices 133kb
Fish Smart Workshop 33kb
Bring that Rockfish Down 575kb
Research & Data
California Recreational Fisheries Survey
Recreational Catch & Effort Statistics
Fisheries Economies of the U.S.
On the Water Science: California Fisherman & NOAA Scientists
Resources & Actions
2014-2015 West Coast Saltwater Recreational Fishing Action Agenda
NOAA Fisheries' Recreational Fishing Initiative
NOAA Fisheries' National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy