Ray Richardson and other California commercial fishermen are ready to start this year's salmon season, only he faces a shorter window than last year.

"I'm putting the davits on, the gurdies on, and putting the trolling wire on. Then, go to get some ice, put the gear on, and go fishing," Richardson said.

On the Central Coast, the fishing days are limited to protect Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon, an endangered species. The winter-run makeup only about five percent of California's entire salmon population. The other 95 percent is healthy says Marcy Yaremko, the state and federal Program Manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

It's the area south of Point Sur that has her department concerned for both recreational and commercial fishing.

"Based on information that suggests that likelihood of catching winter run in those areas and times is much greater than in other parts of the state," Yaremko said.

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