A Placer County man is going to jail after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife busted an illegal fish selling operation. According to the CDFW, their Delta Bay Enhanced Enforcement Program and Special Operations Unit investigated a conspiracy to sell Pacific lamprey, leading to the arrest of Justin D. Lewis. Lewis sourced Pacific lamprey, a California state species of special concern, from the Klamath River in Del Norte County and resold the fish to sellers across Colusa County and beyond. The CDFW said lamprey are often used as bait for sturgeon and other fish, but also are valued highly by the Yurok tribe in Del Norte County as a food source and cultural emblem.  Lewis was sentenced on May 21 to two years — one in the Colusa County Jail, and another on supervised release. He also must pay more than $20,000 in fines and his fishing privileges are suspended.

Other fishery news:

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: News release: 2025 ocean salmon fishing regulations now in effect, state conforms to federal regulations