The Pacific Ocean in Humboldt County provides a wide array of recreational activities including fishing, surfing, sailing, diving, abalone harvesting, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming. Some of the best beaches and access points are just to the west of Fortuna…

From Fortuna: approx. 20 miles north via Eureka • Sailing and windsurfing are popular sports in Humboldt Bay. 20 miles north of Fortuna, take Highway 255 at R Street in downtown Eureka to the Woodley Island Marina. Sailboats and other small craft also use the various boat ramps and launches available around the Bay. Further out Highway 255, the North Jetty and other ocean-side beaches are excellent surfing spots.

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From Fortuna: approx. 45 miles north off U.S. 101 • Another popular surfing spot is Patrick's Point, just north of Trinidad. This 640 acre state park has a dramatic shoreline ranging from broad, sandy beaches to sheer, rocky cliffs. In addition to its excellent surfing, there are great opportunities to explore tide pools, search for agates and watch the whales, sea lions and brilliant sunsets.

Extreme  Sport Fishing - Starts Here • Website

With 150 miles of coastline, several major rivers, lagoons, lakes, and bays, Humboldt County has some of the greatest freshwater and ocean fishing in the state. Excellent freshwater fishing can be found on several rivers in and nearby Humboldt County. The Van Duzen, Mattole, Eel, Mad, Klamath, and Trinity Rivers together with all of their tributaries, provide thousands of miles of excellent fishing for: salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout, shad, and sturgeon.

All of the rivers are well known for steelhead and salmon although the Mattole is primarily a steelhead river and has several fishing restrictions. The Klamath River, the 3rd largest river on the west coast behind Washington's Columbia River and the Sacramento River, is known for cutthroat trout, shad, and sturgeon as well as salmon and steelhead.

The lagoons in northern Humboldt — Big Lagoon and Stone Lagoon — are known for cutthroat trout, steelhead and starry flounder. Freshwater Lagoon is stocked with rainbow trout with ocean surf fishing across the highway — a popular catch being redtail perch.

Ocean fishing is popular in early summer for salmon and a variety of bottom fish such as halibut. Charter trips out of Trinidad produce fine catches of salmon and rock cod, and crabbing with gear included. In season, chinook (king) and coho (silver) salmon can be taken from boats and the harbor jetties in Eureka. Fishing from the jetties, piers and boats also yields: kelp bass, snapper, ling cod, perch, redtail perch, halibut, shark and crab. Dungeness and rock crabs can also be taken in the bays as well as clam digging on beaches at King Salmon and Humboldt Bay.

For information on licensing, special closures and other fishing regulations, contact the Department of Fish and Game at 707.445.6493 or contact local fishing or sporting goods stores.