The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced a closure of the spit fishery at the mouth of the Klamath River effective September 2, after anglers met the 15 percent quota for adult fall-run Chinook salmon. The closure will remain in effect for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department urges the public to report illegal fish stocking, which threatens native and sport fish populations, spreads disease and invasive species, and costs millions in removal efforts. Moving fish between Arizona waterways is illegal and subject to criminal citations, civil assessment, and loss of hunting and fishing privileges.
A fishing closure on the Beaverhead River between Clark Canyon Dam and Pipe Organ Fishing Access Site will begin September 1 due to drought conditions and reduced water flows. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks coordinated with dam operators and irrigators to implement the early closure, as low flows create stressful conditions for fish and increase susceptibility to angling mortality.
The Gulf Council held its 50th anniversary meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, addressing federal for-hire data collection, red snapper management including delegation to Gulf States, shrimp permit analysis, and joint amendments with the South Atlantic Council on mutton and yellowtail snapper stock assessments.
Florida's recreational snook harvest season began September 1 across multiple management regions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission uses seven metrics to evaluate the fishery by region, with varying season lengths and slot limits depending on location through November or December.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division will temporarily close Walker County Public Fishing Lake starting September 7, 2026, for major improvements including road and parking lot upgrades, new restrooms, a concession/bait shop, entry gate, and event space. The project is expected to complete in summer 2027.
Idaho fisheries managers have successfully restored Payette Lake's trophy lake trout fishery through selective removal of smaller fish since 2014, resulting in six catch-and-release state records since 2016. Kim Anderson recently set the new state record with a 44-inch lake trout caught on July 8.
FWP Region 4 will lift hoot-owl fishing restrictions on the Smith and Sun Rivers effective Saturday, August 29, as water temperatures have moderated and met criteria for change. The restrictions, which prohibited fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight, were implemented to protect fish during warm water conditions.
Louisiana's recreational Red Snapper season will reopen for two four-day periods: August 27-30, 2026 and September 4-7, 2026, based on creel data showing 35,109 pounds remaining from the state's 882,439-pound annual allocation.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has stocked over 6,000 juvenile alligator gar since 2007 through a multi-state partnership with Mississippi and Oklahoma wildlife agencies. Taylor Bookout, MDC's fisheries biologist, notes that alligator gar play an important ecological role by consuming injured or sick fish, helping maintain healthy waterbodies and sport fish populations.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the proposed 2027–2030 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan for public review. A Region 1 meeting will be held September 3 at 6 p.m. at the Kalispell FWP office, with public comments due September 14.
Fish biologist Jason Marsik with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Dr. Jason Doll at Francis Marion University used acoustic transmitters to track striped bass movements in the Great Pee Dee River, generating nearly 95,000 data points over three years. The research revealed two distinct movement patterns and identified a gap in summer habitat use, directing future Sport Fish Restoration efforts.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a meeting on Aug. 27 in Bozeman to discuss the proposed 2027-30 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan and 2027-28 fishing regulations. The plan, updated every four years, identifies statewide fisheries-management goals and strategies to sustain Montana's fisheries and angling opportunities.
NOAA Fisheries implemented increased bluefin tuna quotas following successful U.S. negotiations at the 2025 ICCAT annual meeting. The baseline annual bluefin tuna quota increased from 1,316.14 to 1,509.58 metric tons, with pelagic longline bycatch set-aside quota rising from 25 to 62.5 metric tons, representing a 17 percent total increase.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding public workshops in August and September to gather input on updating oyster harvest regulations in Dixie, Levy, and Citrus counties. The workshops will cover resource status, fishery history, and potential management changes including harvest seasons, limits, and licensing requirements.
Following six years of litigation, the Wake County (North Carolina) Superior Court has ruled in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina and 86 citizen plaintiffs, finding the State violated its legal duty to protect coastal fisheries under the public-trust doctrine.
Idaho Fish and Game issued a salvage order for Winder Reservoir in Franklin County from August 14 through October 31, 2026. Twin Lakes Canal Company is draining the reservoir for irrigation, with water levels expected to drop by September 4, making a salvage order necessary to maximize public use of the fish.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing updates to fishing regulations, elk hunting rules, and amphibian and reptile collection policies for 2027-28, seeking public feedback through regional advisory council meetings and online comments on the DWR website.
Utah's Blue Ribbon Fisheries program allocated over $446,000 toward 13 projects to enhance 41 designated waterbodies. Key projects include habitat improvements at Jordanelle Reservoir through a partnership with Utah State Parks and Muskies Inc., angler access improvements at Starvation Reservoir, water quality enhancement at Panguitch Lake, and bank restoration on the Duchesne River.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order establishing the 2026 recreational gag grouper season in Gulf state waters from September 1-30, aligning with NOAA's federal waters season to prevent exceeding recreational quotas.