SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Despite a historic collapse in the number of salmon returning to the Central Valley last year, federal fisheries regulators are predicting a better 2010.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council forecasts that 245,000 chinook, or king, salmon will return to the Sacramento River this fall. Last year, 122,000 chinook were predicted to return to the river.

While the news on Wednesday gives California's beleaguered commercial anglers some hope, the predictions can be inaccurate.

In 2009, a record-low 39,500 chinook were recorded.

The Sacramento forecast is used to help decide parameters for commercial and sport fishing seasons off the coasts California and Oregon each year.

California's commercial salmon fishing season has been canceled the previous two years.

Copyright 2010 The AP.