MONTEREY, Calif.—State wildlife regulators have voted to ban almost all recreational fishing of salmon in California rivers this year to protect declining chinook stocks.

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted the fishing restrictions at its meeting in Monterey on Friday.

But the commission voted to allow limited fishing on the Sacramento River between Red Bluff Diversion Dam and Knight's Landing in November and December.

The rules are aimed at protecting stocks of Sacramento River fall-run chinook, which are expected to hit a record low this year.

The federal governemnt previously closed the California coast and most of the Oregon coast to both recreational and commercial salmon fishing.

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