NORTH COAST, Calif. – At the annual salmon informational meeting held in Santa Rosa on Thursday, state and federal fishery scientists presented encouraging news for sport and commercial salmon anglers.

Forecasts suggest there are 652,000 adult Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon in the ocean this year, along with 423,800 adults from the Klamath River fall run.

Fish from these runs comprise the vast majority of salmon taken in California's ocean and inland fisheries.

These forecasts, which were higher than last year, will be used over the next few months by fishery managers to set sport and commercial fishing season dates, commercial quotas, and size and bag limits.

“The forecasts are encouraging and suggest that California fisheries may see salmon seasons in 2015 that have increased opportunities over last year,” said Melodie Palmer-Zwahlen, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Chinook salmon harvested in ocean fisheries in 2015 hatched two to four years ago and, as a result, have not been highly impacted by California's drought.

Starting next year, it is anticipated that future ocean salmon fishing opportunities may be impacted by the ongoing drought.

Season dates and other regulations will be developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and California Fish and Game Commission over the next few months.

For more information on the salmon season setting process or general ocean salmon fishing information, please visit the Ocean Salmon Project Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/oceansalmon.asp or call the salmon fishing hotline at 707-576-3429.