Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association – October Recap

October was another productive month for the Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association (GGFA).

At the beginning of the month, members were present at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Commission meeting. During this meeting, many important topics regarding our fisheries were discussed, and GGFA board members were actively engaged in lobbying on behalf of our fleet.

Board member Andy Guiliano played a key role in the adoption of surface gear regulations for the sport crab fishery. The Commission approved the use of surface trailer buoys, including an orange trailer buoy marked with a capital “H” to identify it as a hoop net. Regulations also include a maximum trailer length of 12 feet, with 24 inches of solid orange followed by 24 inches of solid purple running consecutively from the trailer buoy down. Without Andy’s efforts, our CPFV crab fleet would not have retained the ability to use surface gear—an important victory for our industry.

GGFA also fought hard, alongside our partners at the Nor Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA), to implement a slot limit for striped bass. While the Commission did not adopt this regulation, we remain optimistic that this important management measure will be revisited in the future.

Additionally, GGFA President Michael Rescino submitted a petition seeking to allow filleting of striped bass on the water. Although this proposal was not adopted due to current resource limitations for identifying minimum fillet size, GGFA will continue to advocate for this regulation and plans to revisit it in future Commission sessions.

Meanwhile, GGFA is thrilled to share encouraging news from the hatcheries. Strong salmon returns are being reported across the system. As of October 25, the Coleman National Fish Hatchery recorded an impressive 21,880,000 eggs collected. With such robust returns, the Bridge Group projects will move forward this year—an extremely positive sign for the future of our salmon fishery. We extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated team at Coleman Hatchery for their tireless work and commitment.

GGFA, together with our partners at NCGASA and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), also submitted a joint letter to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) addressing concerns about water flows at the Mokelumne Hatchery. We are pleased to report that EBMUD responded positively by increasing flows—demonstrating their shared commitment to supporting salmon recovery and the health of our fisheries. GGFA sincerely thanks EBMUD for listening and taking meaningful action.

Finally, GGFA continues preparations for our Crab Feed Fundraiser coming up in March 2026. We are still seeking donations, and tickets remain available online at https://www.ggfa.net. Your support—whether through attending, donating, or spreading the word—helps us continue our mission of protecting and promoting California’s charter fishing fleet.

GGFA would like to thank all of our board members, members, charter customers, and supporters for your continued dedication. Your passion and involvement make everything we do possible.