Fall-run Chinook salmon are heading to the Pacific Ocean by the millions as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife completes a massive release. Taking advantage of increased water flows due to this year’s rains, 23-million fall-run salmon have been released into the Feather, the American, the Mokelumne and the Merced rivers in 2023. By tracking some of the fish with acoustic tags, preliminary results suggest high survival for hatchery-raised fish this year. Fall-run Chinook salmon support the bulk of California’s commercial and recreational salmon fishing seasons. Although ocean and in-river salmon fishing seasons have been closed for 2023, fishing seasons will be reevaluated in 2024.
