Fishing Information North Coast
- Address: 619 2nd St., California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
- Eureka, CA 95501
- Phone: (707) 445-6493
- Visit Website
Oceans, Rivers, Lagoons and Humboldt Bay - If you like to fish, we've got the spot.
You can now get your fishing license online
Ocean, Bay & River Guide Services:
Trinidad:
Trinidad Bay Charters - Jumpin Jack Trinidad Harbor 707-839-4743 Half-day fishing trips, twice daily, with light-tackle rock cod or salmon fishing, and crabbing (gear included).
Northwind Charters - Sport Fishing Trinidad, CA 707-601-0034 or 707-616-5803. Salmon, tuna, rockfish, halibut salt and fresh water sport fishing experts.
Redwood Coast Fishing Salmon & Steehead Fishing on the rivers of Humboldt County, from either Willie, a 21 foot open classic sled or 17 foot drift boat. 707-601-8757
Out of Eureka:
Reel Steel - Woodley Island / Eureka Humboldt Bay Custom fishing charters for groups of four of less. We provide all tackle and bait. With over 30 years experience fishing local waters. 707-499-4925.
River Fishing Guide:
Enjoy world class salmon & steelhead fishing in Humboldt County rivers year 'round. Great scenery, trophy fish, no sea sickness! (707) 601-8757
Gear:
Pacific Outfitters:
Eureka 1600 5th St. 707-443-6328
FISHING PACKAGES or SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Ocean Grove Lodge in Trinidad offers small group fishing adventures & accommodations.
Sylvan Harbor RV Park & Cabins in Trinidad offers boat parking and fish cleaning stations & accommodations.
Klamath River Lodge in Orleans is a fishing resort on the Klamath River.
BOAT RAMPS AND FISHING LOCATIONS
RIVERS
Mattole River
The Mattole is a remote, free flowing river with no dams and a wild population of steelhead. It is located in the Southwest corner of Humboldt county, about 65 miles south of Eureka and 260 miles north of San Francisco. There are approximately 26 miles of fishable water from the mouth to the town of Honeydew. The fish of this river are wild with no hatchery fish being introduced. Catch and Release is asked for these fish.
Eel River
The primary fish of interest for the Eel include steelhead, chinook, coho, and sea-run cutthroat trout. Chinook start coming into the river in August. They tend to hold in the waters below Ferndale Bridge until rains allow them upstream. The run is from August through December, with the peak in late October. The Eel flows through some of the most beautiful redwood groves in the state, including Humboldt Redwood State Park.
Van Duzen River A tributary, entering the Eel at Alton, and like the Eel it’s noted for good runs of salmon and steelhead. The Van Duzen is regularly stocked by the Pacific Lumber Company hatchery located upstream on Yeager Creek. Runs Coincide with the Eel. Mad River The species of the Mad include steelhead, king and silver salmon, and resident trout. The Mad has become known for its excellent winter steelhead, due in large part to the operation of the Mad River Fish Hatchery, which is located one mile southeast of Blue Lake on the south side of the river.
Trinity River
The Trinity River is world-famous for its fine steelhead and salmon fishing, as well as for trophy brown trout. Chinook salmon are the most sought-after gamefish in the Trinity River system. Spring-run salmon begin to enter the river in May and provide trophy fishing through November throughout the river. Although brown trout are not native to the Trinity River, they were heavily stocked until the late 1970s. Today, a wild population continues to the upper river, providing fly and bait fishing for mostly 10- to 14-inch fish, although an occasional trophy to 10 pounds is sometimes landed.
Klamath River
The Klamath River is the largest of the North Coast rivers of California stretching over 200 miles from its mouth to the Oregon border. Its mouth is located 60 miles north of Eureka and 20 miles south of Crescent City off Hwy 101. The fish of the Klamath are king and silver salmon, steelhead, and resident trout. The kings start running in July with the best action near the mouth coming in August and running through September. Summer/Fall steelhead start running from late summer through October. The winter run starts in November and goes through February.
LAGOONS Located between Trinidad & Orick along Hwy 101 is a magical collection of landlocked waters, right on the coast but protected from the Pacific Ocean. The Humboldt Lagoons are a unique ecosystem providing unlimited outdoor recreation! Big Lagoon and Stone Lagoon are brackish because their ocean barriers are breached by storms nearly every winter and are a favorite fishing spot for cutthroat trout. Freshwater Lagoon does not get breached and is open all year featuring rainbow trout and black bass.
HUMBOLDT BAY
Fish and Game code section 7153 provides for sport fishing from public piers without a sport-fishing license. All species, size and limit regulations apply to anyone fishing from these piers. North and South Jetties from the ocean outwards F Street Dock in Eureka Samoa Boat Ramp Fields Landing Boat Ramp Bonnie Gool Guest Dock at the foot of L St. in Eureka Adorni Center Dock Public fishing pier at the foot of Del Norte St. in Eureka SURF FISHING Gold Bluffs Beach* Patrick's Point Luffenholtz Beach Mouth of the Mad River Jetties at the Mouth of Humboldt Bay Centerville Beach PLEASE CONSULT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR CURRENT REGULATIONS; EUREKA OFFICE 707-445-6493 or visit their website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing FISHING REGULATIONS
You can also check an interesting article on inflatable fishing kayaks.
Due to the volume of visitors, California State Parks / National Park Service will require Day Use Permits to access to Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon. Reservations will be required May 15th to September 15th. Reservations are not required September 16th to May 14th. Visitors are still required to pay the day-use fee. Apply for a Permit: https://redwoodparksconservancy.org/fern-canyon-2/