California Fishing Seasons Guide

California Fishing Seasons

Winter (December - February)

Sturgeon: Great season. Regulations: 0 bag limit statewide (catch-and-release only); no removal over 60" fork length. Requirements: Sturgeon report card (free for 2025-2026 season). Where: San Pablo Bay, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Water Conditions: Moving tides; drift shrimp baits; cooler waters (45-55°F).
Brown Trout: Good season. Regulations: 5 daily bag, no size limit in many lakes; varies by district (e.g., 2 hatchery in some rivers). Where: Upper Sacramento River, Lake Almanor tributaries. Water Conditions: Cold, clear waters; 40-50°F.
Striped Bass: Good season. Regulations: 2 daily bag, 18" min. Where: Los Vaqueros Reservoir, Sacramento Delta. Water Conditions: Brackish estuaries; 50-60°F.
Lake Trout (Mackinaw): Great season. Regulations: 5 daily bag, no size limit. Where: Lake Tahoe. Water Conditions: Deep, cold lakes; below 50°F.
Chinook Salmon: Closed/banned through 2025. Regulations: 0 bag. Where: N/A.

Crab (Dungeness): Great in Dec, good Jan-Feb. Regulations: 10 daily bag, 5.75" min carapace (males only). Requirements: Crab trap validation if using traps. Where: Bodega Bay, San Francisco Bay. Water Conditions: Sheltered bays; cooler coastal waters.
Halibut: Good season. Regulations: 6 daily bag, 22" min. Where: Humboldt Bay, Tomales Bay, Monterey Bay. Water Conditions: Bottom fishing in 20-60 ft; 50-60°F.
California Sheephead: Banned Dec-Feb. Regulations: 5 daily bag, 12" min (when open). Where: N/A.
Lingcod: Banned Dec-Feb. Regulations: 2 daily bag, 22" min (when open). Where: N/A.
Rockfish: Banned Dec-Feb. Regulations: 10 daily bag total, no min for many. Where: N/A.

Largemouth Bass: Good season. Regulations: 5 daily bag, 12" min in lakes. Where: Collins Lake, Lake Berryessa. Water Conditions: Warming lakes (55-65°F); spawning beds.
Brown Trout: Great in Mar, good Apr-May. Regulations: 5 daily bag. Where: Lake Almanor, Upper Hat Creek. Water Conditions: Tailwaters; 45-55°F.
Sturgeon: Great in Mar, good Apr-May. Regulations: 0 bag. Where: San Francisco Bay area. Water Conditions: Tidal flows; 50-60°F.
Smallmouth Bass: Good in Mar, great Apr-May. Regulations: 5 daily bag, 12" min. Where: Diamond Valley Reservoir, Russian River. Water Conditions: Rocky rivers; 55-65°F.
Striped Bass: Great in Mar, good Apr-May. Regulations: 2 daily, 18" min. Where: Sacramento River. Water Conditions: Runs in rivers; 55-65°F.
Lake Trout: Great season. Regulations: 5 daily. Where: Lake Tahoe. Water Conditions: Deep cold; 40-50°F.
Chinook Salmon: Banned. Regulations: 0 bag. Where: N/A.

Yellowtail Amberjack: Good season. Regulations: 10 daily bag, no min. Where: Catalina Island, San Diego. Water Conditions: Offshore; 60-70°F.
Mako Shark: Weak in Mar, good Apr, great May. Regulations: 1 daily bag. Where: Southern California coast. Water Conditions: Deep offshore; 60-70°F.
California Sheephead: Great season. Regulations: 5 daily, 12" min. Where: Southern reefs. Water Conditions: Rocky bottoms; 55-65°F.
Crab: Good season. Regulations: 10 daily, 5.75" min. Where: North coast bays. Water Conditions: Bays; 50-60°F.
Halibut: Good in Mar, great Apr-May. Regulations: 6 daily, 22" min. Where: San Francisco Bay. Water Conditions: 20-60 ft depths; 55-65°F.
Lingcod: Great season. Regulations: 2 daily, 22" min. Where: Central coast. Water Conditions: Rocky structures; 50-60°F.
Rockfish: Great season. Regulations: 10 daily. Where: Offshore reefs. Water Conditions: Depths per RCA (e.g., shoreward of 50 fathoms in some areas).

Largemouth Bass: Great in Jun, good Jul-Aug. Regulations: 5 daily, 12" min. Where: Clear Lake, Lake Perris. Water Conditions: Warm lakes (70-80°F); deep structures.
Brown Trout: Good season. Regulations: 5 daily. Where: Crowley Lake, John Muir Wilderness. Water Conditions: High elevation streams; 55-65°F.
Smallmouth Bass: Great in Jun, good Jul-Aug. Regulations: 5 daily, 12" min. Where: Russian River, Lake Sonoma. Water Conditions: Rivers; 65-75°F.
Striped Bass: Good season. Regulations: 2 daily, 18" min. Where: Sacramento River. Water Conditions: Warm rivers; 65-75°F.
Lake Trout: Great in Jun, good Jul-Aug. Regulations: 5 daily. Where: Lake Tahoe. Water Conditions: Deep; 50-60°F thermocline.
Chinook Salmon: Closed (recreational banned 2025). Regulations: 0 bag. Where: N/A (catch-and-release in some rivers like Sac).

Yellowtail Amberjack: Great season. Regulations: 10 daily. Where: San Diego, Coronado Islands. Water Conditions: Warm offshore (70-80°F).
Mako Shark: Great season. Regulations: 1 daily. Where: Offshore San Diego. Water Conditions: Blue water; 70-80°F.
California Sheephead: Great season. Regulations: 5 daily, 12" min. Where: Catalina Island. Water Conditions: Kelp beds; 65-75°F.
Halibut: Great in Jun, weak Jul-Aug. Regulations: 6 daily, 22" min. Where: Central coast. Water Conditions: Shallow flats; 60-70°F.
Lingcod: Great season. Regulations: 2 daily, 22" min. Where: Fort Bragg. Water Conditions: Rocky depths; 55-65°F.
Rockfish: Great season. Regulations: 10 daily. Where: Offshore. Water Conditions: Per GMA depths (e.g., no limits in Northern Apr-Dec).
Bluefin Tuna: Great in Jun-Jul, good Aug. Regulations: 2 daily (10-30" or over 30"). Where: San Diego. Water Conditions: Offshore; 65-75°F.

Brown Trout: Good season. Regulations: 5 daily. Where: Eastern Sierra streams, Trinity River. Water Conditions: Cooling waters; 50-60°F.
Sturgeon: Weak in Sep, good Oct-Nov. Regulations: 0 bag. Where: Sacramento Delta. Water Conditions: Tidal; 55-65°F.
Striped Bass: Good in Sep, great Oct-Nov. Regulations: 2 daily, 18" min. Where: San Francisco Bay area. Water Conditions: Estuaries; 60-70°F.
Lake Trout: Good season. Regulations: 5 daily. Where: Lake Tahoe. Water Conditions: Deep; 45-55°F.
Chinook Salmon: Open in Sep for some (but banned 2025 overall). Regulations: 0-1 daily in open rivers. Where: N/A (catch-and-release Sac River).

Yellowtail Amberjack: Great in Sep, good Oct-Nov. Regulations: 10 daily. Where: Coronado Islands. Water Conditions: Lingering warm; 65-75°F.
Mako Shark: Great in Sep, good Oct-Nov. Regulations: 1 daily. Where: Southern offshore. Water Conditions: 60-70°F.
California Sheephead: Great season. Regulations: 5 daily, 12" min. Where: Reefs. Water Conditions: Rocky; 55-65°F.
Crab: Weak Sep-Oct, great Nov. Regulations: 10 daily, 5.75" min. Where: Bays. Water Conditions: Cooling bays; 50-60°F.
Halibut: Weak in Sep, good Oct-Nov. Regulations: 6 daily, 22" min. Where: Shelter Cove. Water Conditions: 20-50 ft; 55-65°F.
Lingcod: Great season. Regulations: 2 daily, 22" min. Where: Central coast. Water Conditions: Depths per RCA.
Rockfish: Great season. Regulations: 10 daily. Where: Offshore. Water Conditions: Seaward of 50 fathoms in Southern Oct-Dec.