{"id":37516,"date":"2022-07-24T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-24T12:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=37516"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:46:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:46:28","slug":"california-fishing-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/california-fishing-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing Season in California: The Complete Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>The &#8220;Golden State&#8217;s&#8221; perfect weather, Hollywood, incredible coastline beaches, and iconic national parks need no introduction. But what does California have to offer for anglers? A healthy dose of fantastic catches all year round, of course! Each <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/state\/us\/CA\/?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">California<\/a> fishing season greets anglers with incredible opportunities, no matter their age or skill level.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/06\/14152403\/Capitola-CA-2-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of the unspoiled vacation spot of Capitola, CA, with a fishing pier stretching into the water and colorful houses in the distance\" class=\"wp-image-8648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/06\/14152403\/Capitola-CA-2-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/06\/14152403\/Capitola-CA-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/06\/14152403\/Capitola-CA-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/06\/14152403\/Capitola-CA-2-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>California is blessed with over 800 miles of coastline, along with beautiful and diverse lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Any angler can go fly fishing in <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/sacramento-river?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">the Sacramento River<\/a> and then explore the prolific deep sea waters off the <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/CA\/san-diego?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">San Diego<\/a> coast. There&#8217;s the mighty Pacific with Tuna, Marlin, and Halibut, Lake Tahoe with Salmon and Trout, and other lakes and streams with Bass and Kokanee.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Month by month, this guide describes the best of California fishing season. It covers the most interesting spots to wet your line, as well as the top catches throughout the year. So without further ado, let&#8217;s talk about what you can expect.<\/p><h2 id=\"what-to-expect-from-californias-fishing-seasons\">What to expect from California&#8217;s fishing seasons?<\/h2><p>So, you want to go fishing in California and are looking to see when&#8217;s the best time. What we mentioned above is perfectly true &mdash; it&#8217;s always a good time to fish in the Golden State. However, your chosen location is always essential when it comes to the best time to fish in California&nbsp;&mdash; or anywhere else for that matter.<\/p><p>For instance, the best time to fish for Salmon and Trout on Lake Tahoe is in early spring and late summer. The high season in San Diego begins in April and lasts until October when Tuna and <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/marlin-blue\/us\/CA?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Marlin<\/a> migrate through the area. However, it doesn&#8217;t mean that there&#8217;s nothing else biting outside of the peak months!<\/p><h3 id=\"california-fishing-calendar-saltwater\">California Fishing Calendar &ndash;&nbsp;Saltwater<\/h3><table class=\"table table-bordered table-hover\">\n   <thead>\n      <tr>\n         <th>Species<\/th>\n         <th>Jan<\/th>\n         <th>Feb<\/th>\n         <th>Mar<\/th>\n         <th>Apr<\/th>\n         <th>May<\/th>\n         <th>Jun<\/th>\n         <th>Jul<\/th>\n         <th>Aug<\/th>\n         <th>Sep<\/th>\n         <th>Oct<\/th>\n         <th>Nov<\/th>\n         <th>Dec<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/thead>\n   <tbody>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Yellowtail Amberjack<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Mako Shark<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>California Sheephead<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Crab<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Halibut<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n\t  <tr>\n         <td><strong>Lingcod<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Rockfish<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Bluefin Tuna<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/tbody>\n<\/table><h3 id=\"california-fishing-calendar-freshwater\">California Fishing Calendar &ndash; Freshwater<\/h3><table class=\"table table-bordered table-hover\">\n   <thead>\n      <tr>\n         <th>Species<\/th>\n         <th>Jan<\/th>\n         <th>Feb<\/th>\n         <th>Mar<\/th>\n         <th>Apr<\/th>\n         <th>May<\/th>\n         <th>Jun<\/th>\n         <th>Jul<\/th>\n         <th>Aug<\/th>\n         <th>Sep<\/th>\n         <th>Oct<\/th>\n         <th>Nov<\/th>\n         <th>Dec<\/th>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/thead>\n   <tbody>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Largemouth Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Brown Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Sturgeon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Chinook Salmon<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Open*<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Open*<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n         <td>Ban<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n\t  <tr>\n         <td><strong>Striped Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Spotted Bass<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n         <td>Weak<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n      <tr>\n         <td><strong>Lake Trout<\/strong><\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Good<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n         <td>Great<\/td>\n      <\/tr>\n   <\/tbody>\n<\/table><p>*Please note that the recreational Chinook (King) Salmon fishing season is closed through the end of 2025.<\/p><p>Every month brings something exciting and different to anglers in California. Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the California fishing season:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#january\">January<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#february\">February<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#march\">March<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#april\">April<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#may\">May<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#june\">June<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#july\">July<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#august\">August<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#september\">September<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#october\">October<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#november\">November<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#december\">December<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>If you&#8217;ve decided where you want to go for your next fishing trip, don&#8217;t forget to check the local regulations for <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Fishing\/Inland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freshwater<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Fishing\/Ocean\/Regulations\/Fishing-Map\/Central\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">saltwater<\/a> fishing. As well as that, you&#8217;ll need to purchase a valid <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/california-fishing-license-quick-guide\/\">California fishing license<\/a>.&nbsp;Now you know that, let&#8217;s dive in. <\/p><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='242' data-destination-title='California' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field=''data-filter-value=''data-headline='Top Fishing Charters in California'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"january\">January<\/h2><p>The winter fishing season in California is as great as it is in the summer &ndash; it&#8217;s as simple as that. While some anglers pack away their rods until next spring, winter anglers rub their hands in excitement.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p>So, what is fishing in California in January like? Your first stop could be hunting for <strong>Sturgeon<\/strong> in <strong>San Pablo Bay<\/strong>. This place has long been known as a &#8220;Mecca for winter Sturgeon&#8221; by locals, and for good reason. There&#8217;s even a spot called the &#8220;Sturgeon triangle&#8221; where anglers drift Shrimp on the moving tide.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"An angler on a boat with a 150 HP Yamaha motor holding a freshly-caught Sturgeon, California\" class=\"wp-image-37681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141140\/0a46a6dade05176dd6e722fd8636ca08-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>If you&#8217;re more of a <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> type of angler, you can head to the <strong>Klamath River<\/strong> to catch their peak winter run. Alternatively, they&#8217;re also cooking in <strong>Lake<\/strong> <strong>Berryessa<\/strong> and the <strong>Smith River<\/strong>, as well as <strong>the Tuolumne <\/strong>and<strong> Merced Rivers<\/strong>. California&#8217;s Central Valley usually opens the Steelhead season in early January, and <strong>Crappie<\/strong> lovers can search for their favorite species in <strong>Lake Havasu<\/strong>. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance, though, since it can greatly influence your success when catching a line.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Don&#8217;t think that we&#8217;ve forgotten about saltwater anglers, though! Bottom fishing for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/halibut-fishing-california\/\">Halibut<\/a><\/strong> and <strong>Flounder<\/strong> can be your first stop in January. Or, you can move on to look for <strong>Calico Bass<\/strong> along <strong>Southern California<\/strong>&#8216;s coast.<\/p><h2 id=\"february\">February<\/h2><p>As we move to the final month of the winter season, there are even more exciting fish species on the menu. <strong>Halibut<\/strong> arrive in sheltered bays all the way from Eureka to San Diego. Some of the hotspots to look for these bottom feeders include:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>San Francisco Bay&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Humboldt Bay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tomales Bay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bodega Head<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oceanside Pier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shelter Cove<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Morro Bay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monterey Bay&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>Of course, Halibut aren&#8217;t the only stars of the February fishing scene. <strong>Calico<\/strong> and <strong>White Seabass<\/strong> are also active in February, along with good <strong>Crabbing<\/strong> opportunities in <strong>Bodega Bay<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141826\/Halibut-fishing-in-California-tackle.jpg\" alt=\"A smiling angler in a cap sitting on the side of the boat, holding a Halibut, with fishing rods around him\" class=\"wp-image-35442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141826\/Halibut-fishing-in-California-tackle.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141826\/Halibut-fishing-in-California-tackle-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141826\/Halibut-fishing-in-California-tackle-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>On the freshwater front, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/sturgeon\/us\/california-delta?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Sturgeon<\/a><\/strong> action is good in<strong> the Delta<\/strong>. You can go for a trolling trip in <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/region\/us\/lake-tahoe?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\"><strong>Lake Tahoe<\/strong><\/a> for <strong>Mackinaw<\/strong> <strong>Trout<\/strong>, or head to the<strong> upper Sac River<\/strong> to fly fish for <strong>Steelhead<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>To top things off, landlocked <strong>Striped Bass <\/strong>and <strong>Catfish<\/strong> can be found in<strong> <\/strong>the<strong> Los Vaqueros Reservoir<\/strong> in northern California.&nbsp;<\/p><div class='reviews-fetcher-container' data-destination-id='7196' data-destination-title='California' data-category-title='' data-category='' data-category-id='' data-trigger='reviews-fetcher' data-viewport-event='view_reviews_fetcher' data-action='In viewport' data-viewport-category='Reviews' data-label=''>\n                    <h3>What anglers said about fishing in California<\/h3>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"march\">March<\/h2><p>March marks the beginning of the California spring fishing season. If you don&#8217;t know where to go first, various lakes throughout the state offer good Bass and Trout fishing.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Largemouth Bass<\/strong> bite well in <strong>Collins Lake<\/strong>, which is based in the foothills of Yuba County. If you&#8217;re more of a <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong> type of angler, consider paying a visit to the <strong>Diamond Valley Reservoir.<\/strong> Some fishermen manage to land Smallies up to 15 pounds in this 4,500-acre lake!<\/p><p>As for the <strong>Rainbow Trout<\/strong> options, the Sacramento River&#8217;s tailwater segment can be pretty productive this time of year. To add to the Trout mix, you can head to <strong>Lake Almanor<\/strong>&#8216;s tributaries for <strong>Brown Trout<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"An angler holding a Rainbow Trout caught on the fly in Putah Creek in Northern California\" class=\"wp-image-37667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141146\/e31a9055949f564eef49e894c7b016ee-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>Saltwater-wise, March can also be pretty productive. <strong>Lobstering<\/strong> is great in <strong>Southern California<\/strong>, while north coast anglers fish for <strong>Halibut<\/strong> and <strong>Crab<\/strong>. If that&#8217;s not enough, look for <strong>White Seabass, Sculpin, Calico Bass, <\/strong>and<strong> Sheephead<\/strong>, too.<\/p><h2 id=\"april\">April<\/h2><p>Come April, saltwater fishing really begins to pick up momentum. First of all, <strong>Barracuda<\/strong> and <strong>Yellowtail<\/strong> start to appear near <strong>Catalina Island<\/strong>. Secondly, the season for <strong>Lingcod<\/strong> and <strong>Rockfish<\/strong> opens.&nbsp;<\/p><p>As schools of anchovies arrive in <strong>San Francisco Bay<\/strong>, they&#8217;re followed by hungry <strong>Striped Bass<\/strong>. You might want to plan your trip around this fishing frenzy and check out spots such as the Vallejo Wall, Candlestick Point, Fort Point, and Sausalito Jetty.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141615\/Catalina-Island-California.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial photo of Two Harbors on Catalina Island.\" class=\"wp-image-35852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141615\/Catalina-Island-California.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141615\/Catalina-Island-California-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/03\/14141615\/Catalina-Island-California-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>April is a good time to explore your freshwater options, too. Here&#8217;s our pick of California lakes to check out in April:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lake Almanor<\/strong>. This picturesque reservoir in northwestern Plumas County offers good Smallmouth Bass fishing opportunities.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lake Sonoma<\/strong>. If you&#8217;re a die-hard Bass angler or just passing the lake on your way to one of the vineyards, consider a quick Largemouth trip.<\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lake Perris<\/strong>. Nestled between Moreno Valley and Perris, this artificial lake offers good chances for landing trophy Largemouth Bass.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lake Tahoe<\/strong>. This premier alpine lake needs no introduction. The main April attractions of Lake Tahoe include Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee, and Mackinaw.<\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><strong>Lake Don Pedro<\/strong>. <\/strong>Finally, Lake Don Pedro is a good spot to practice your angling skills against springtime fish.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 id=\"may\">May<\/h2><p>As we move into May, we can officially say that California&#8217;s big game season is open. <strong>Tuna<\/strong> anglers polish their rods to fish off the coast of <strong>San Diego<\/strong>. And the menu is impressive this time of year with <strong>Albacore<\/strong>, <strong>Bigeye<\/strong>, <strong>Yellowfin<\/strong>, and even <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/tuna-bluefin\/us\/CA?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\"><strong>Bluefin<\/strong><\/a> up for grabs. Our advice is to target the vicinity of <strong>Catalina Island<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Saltwater options aren&#8217;t limited to just Tuna, though. <strong>Mackerel<\/strong>, <strong>Barracuda<\/strong>, <strong>Sheephead<\/strong>, and <strong>Calico Bass <\/strong>are all available pretty close to shore, too.&nbsp;<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"A large group of anglers on a boat with Salmon, California\" class=\"wp-image-37678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/156401ed13136f18f96e126bad79df78-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>If you&#8217;re looking to see what&#8217;s biting inland, while  <strong>the San Fransico Chinook Salmon<\/strong> season no longer opens in May, you can explore various freshwater Salmon destinations. <strong>Lake Berryessa<\/strong> offers good <strong>Kokanee<\/strong> populations, for example.<\/p><p>Anglers in downtown Sacramento can target runs of <strong>Shad<\/strong> in<strong> <\/strong>the<strong> American River<\/strong>, while <strong>Trout<\/strong> lovers can enjoy a fishing trip to <strong>Collins Lake<\/strong>. <strong>Catfish<\/strong> enthusiasts can hit the waters of <strong>Folsom Lake<\/strong> in search of a big catch, while <strong>Rainbow Trout <\/strong>lovers might want to check out the<strong> Upper Hat Creek.<\/strong><\/p><h2 id=\"june\">June<\/h2><p>The first month of summer brings along an absolute big game star &mdash; <strong>Marlin<\/strong>. Striped and Blue are both available in deep waters. <strong>Tuna <\/strong>and <strong>Yellowtail<\/strong> are also around, along with <strong>Mahi Mahi<\/strong>, impressing both local and visiting anglers. <strong>The Coronado Islands<\/strong> and <strong>San<\/strong> <strong>Clemente<\/strong> are among the hottest spots in June.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If the weather cooperates and conditions are good, consider booking an overnight charter for a saltwater mixed bag. <strong>Rockcod<\/strong>, <strong>Calico Bass, Sand Bass, Halibut, Yellowtail, Bluefin Tuna, Marlin, Bonito<\/strong>, and <strong>Barracuda<\/strong> are all among the potential catches in June.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2049\" height=\"1434\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2020\/08\/14145041\/Tuna-fishing-in-Southern-California.jpg\" alt=\"Three lucky fishers on a boat, holding their Tuna catches\" class=\"wp-image-17767\"><\/figure><\/div><p><br>While deep sea fishing off the coast of San Diego, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/CA\/san-francisco?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">San Francisco<\/a>, and many other cities is picking up, freshwater opportunities don&#8217;t disappoint either. <strong>Clear Lake <\/strong>produces good numbers of <strong>Largemouth Bass<\/strong>, <strong>Catfish<\/strong> bite in <strong>Lake Henshaw<\/strong>, and <strong>Lake Nacimiento<\/strong> is a good spot for some <strong>White Bass<\/strong> action.<\/p><h2 id=\"july\">July<\/h2><p>It goes without saying that some of the best fishing in California is in July. <strong>White Seabass<\/strong> is actively biting in the offshore waters of <strong>San Diego<\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/CA\/dana-point?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Dana Point<\/a><\/strong>. If the conditions allow, you can still target the majority of the big game superstars, adding <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/tuna-albacore\/us\/CA?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Albacore<\/a><\/strong> and <strong>Wahoo<\/strong> to the list.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Catalina<\/strong>, <strong>San Clemente<\/strong>, and the <strong>Coronado<\/strong> <strong>Islands<\/strong> offer incredible action. Fort Bragg, Laguna Point, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, and MacKerricher State Park are also on the list.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2020\/09\/14144949\/White-Seabass-1.jpg\" alt=\"A young male angler happily showing off a White Seabass, caught in the waters off the coast of Catalina.\" class=\"wp-image-17695\"><\/figure><\/div><p><br><strong>Salmon<\/strong> fishing is also hot in July. <strong>Lake Tahoe<\/strong> anglers are busy fishing for <strong>Kokanee<\/strong>, while others prepare for the catch-and-release fall Salmon run on <strong>the Sac River<\/strong>. To add a bit of diversity to the freshwater fishing menu, you can target <strong>Yellow Perch<\/strong> along drop-offs and deep waters of <strong>Crowley Lake<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><h2 id=\"august\">August<\/h2><p>Mid to late summer offers excellent chances of catching <strong>a large variety<\/strong> of species. A full-day or an overnight trip may result in many great catches, including <strong>Striped Marlin, Yellowtail, Wahoo, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Calico Bass, Sand Bass, Barracuda<\/strong>, and many more.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"A smiling angler on a boat holding a freshly-caught Yellowtail, near San Clemente Island, California \" class=\"wp-image-37669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141144\/f03360021e3c8d81b9b4fffa2ac617ba-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>Further proof that August is the hottest month of California fishing season is that you can catch four types of Tuna. <strong>Bluefin<\/strong>, <strong>Albacore<\/strong>, <strong>Yellowfin<\/strong>, and <strong>Bigeye<\/strong> all bite well in August.&nbsp;<\/p><p>In August, various California lakes and rivers are crowded with anglers of all ages. They come to the<strong> Sac River <\/strong>and <strong>Bodega Bay<\/strong> hoping to catch and release <strong>King Salmon<\/strong>. Some locals also fish Whistle Buoy, Tomales Point, and Salmon Creek.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Fly fishermen go for <strong>Golden Trout<\/strong> in <strong>John Muir Wilderness<\/strong>, while others fish for <strong>Smallmouth Bass<\/strong> in <strong>the Russian River<\/strong>.<\/p><h2 id=\"september\">September<\/h2><p>Believe it or not, California fishing season doesn&#8217;t end when September comes. <strong>Tuna<\/strong> are still among the main attractions offshore, along with <strong>Bonito<\/strong>, <strong>Mahi Mahi<\/strong>, <strong>Calico Bass<\/strong>, and <strong>Yellowtail<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1281\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2020\/10\/14144839\/calico-bass-1-e1605787796902.jpg\" alt=\"Two anglers holding Calico Bass, with a rocky shoreline behind them\" class=\"wp-image-19665\"><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Bluefin Tuna<\/strong> and <strong>Marlin<\/strong> are leaving, although you can still try your luck offshore. In fact, you can find them closer to shore in <strong>San Diego<\/strong> if the weather is warm enough. <strong>Striped Marlin<\/strong> are also on their way to warmer waters, so you might not want to miss your chance to say goodbye.&nbsp;<\/p><p>You can pack your light tackle and head to bays and estuaries to fish for <strong>Leopard<\/strong> <strong>Shark<\/strong> or troll for <strong>Albacore Tuna<\/strong> in <strong>Shelter Cove<\/strong>. <strong>Mako, Thresher<\/strong>, and <strong>Blue Sharks<\/strong> are also available.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you&#8217;re interested in Salmon, consider a <strong>Kokanee<\/strong> fishing trip to <strong>Don Pedro Reservoir<\/strong>. Some locals say it holds the state&#8217;s largest Kokanees!<\/p><h2 id=\"october\">October<\/h2><p><strong>Surf Perch<\/strong> are available along the entire California coastline, come October, while <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> is active in <strong>Trinity<\/strong> <strong>River<\/strong> just below Lewiston Lake. <strong>Eastern Sierra streams<\/strong> produce good <strong>Brown<\/strong>, <strong>Brook<\/strong>, and <strong>Rainbow<\/strong> <strong>Trout<\/strong>, too.&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Lake Tahoe<\/strong> continues to offer consistent fishing opportunities in October, too, with <strong>Trout<\/strong> fishing picking up. Meanwhile, the<strong> Sac River <\/strong>keeps catch-and-release <strong>Salmon<\/strong> anglers busy.&nbsp;<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141143\/aa5b291a65ea027eedde90f441a4770d-1024x753.png\" alt=\"Four anglers holding Rockfish that they caught in California\" class=\"wp-image-37671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141143\/aa5b291a65ea027eedde90f441a4770d-1024x753.png 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141143\/aa5b291a65ea027eedde90f441a4770d-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141143\/aa5b291a65ea027eedde90f441a4770d-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141143\/aa5b291a65ea027eedde90f441a4770d.png 1469w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p>If the weather allows and you feel adventurous, you can still enjoy some offshore fishing action. There might be some <strong>Yellowfin Tuna <\/strong>available for those who know where to look, along with <strong>Halibut<\/strong>, and <strong>Bonito<\/strong>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/rockfish\/us\/CA?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Rockfish<\/a><\/strong> are on fire in <strong>San Diego<\/strong>, especially <strong>Rock Cod, Corbina, <\/strong>and<strong> Calico Bass<\/strong>.<\/p><h2 id=\"november\">November<\/h2><p>November is a good time to take it easy and enjoy some bottom fishing action for <strong>Groundfish<\/strong> in <strong>San Diego<\/strong>. Lingcod and Halibut, along with Albacore, Sharks, and Rockfish are among the popular November catches in California.&nbsp;<\/p><p>If you&#8217;re not ready to give up on deep sea fishing just yet, consider an overnight trip to Mexican waters. Don&#8217;t forget to pack your passport, though!<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"824\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141139\/5f985a602bbb73750845179e74233f32.jpg\" alt=\"A girl with a Leopard Shark on a boat while fishing in California\" class=\"wp-image-37692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141139\/5f985a602bbb73750845179e74233f32.jpg 824w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141139\/5f985a602bbb73750845179e74233f32-300x237.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141139\/5f985a602bbb73750845179e74233f32-768x608.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 824px) 100vw, 824px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><p><strong>Salmon<\/strong> season is closed in the bay, although you can still practice catch and release in the Sacramento River. Many anglers in <strong>the San Francisco Bay Area<\/strong> switch their attention to fishing the Delta for <strong>Striped Bass<\/strong> and <strong>Sturgeon<\/strong>. Stripers are also active in the Sacramento Delta.&nbsp;<\/p><p>Your other options include some early winter <strong>Steelhead<\/strong> fishing in <strong>the Klamath River<\/strong>. As well as that, you can begin your winter season with a <strong>Spotted Bass <\/strong>trip to <strong>Lake Oroville<\/strong>.<\/p><h2 id=\"december\">December<\/h2><p>By the end of the year, most saltwater anglers divide into two categories. The first category includes adventure-seekers who book trips south all the way to <strong>Coronado Islands<\/strong>. Why? Because even in December, you can find<strong> Mahi Mahi, Bluefin, <\/strong>and<strong> Yellowfin Tuna<\/strong> if you travel far enough.&nbsp;<\/p><p>The second category switches their attention to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/lobster\/us\/CA?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=37516\">Lobster<\/a><\/strong> and <strong>Dungeness Crab<\/strong>, which happen to peak in December. If all else fails, <strong>Halibut<\/strong> are still around, along with Rockfish before the seasonal closure in January.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"869\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/5734f32eb07f4467104397549ddc96fd.jpg\" alt=\"Anglers on a boat with Crab and Rockfish, California\" class=\"wp-image-37679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/5734f32eb07f4467104397549ddc96fd.jpg 869w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/5734f32eb07f4467104397549ddc96fd-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/06\/14141141\/5734f32eb07f4467104397549ddc96fd-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>    <h2 id=\"california-fishing-seasons-faqs\">California Fishing Seasons FAQs<\/h2>\n<div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c\" class=\"fbgb-faq-block aligncenter fbgb-faq-style-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-container\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"0\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-0\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When is the California rock fishing season?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-0\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>With over 100 species of Rockfish in California, you can find them all year round. However, strict regulations are in place in January and February, meaning you can only target them <strong>from March onwards<\/strong>. Make sure you adhere to the strict bag limits, too.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"1\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-1\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When is the Salmon fishing season in California?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-1\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Salmon fishing is currently restricted in California\u2019s saltwater fisheries due to successive poor spawning seasons. In 2025, the season opened for two days in June and is a further four days between September 4 and 7. For freshwater fishing, note that Coho Salmon are always off-limits, while Chinook Salmon face strict restrictions and they can only be targeted in certain bodies of water, which you can check out <a href=\"https:\/\/nrm.dfg.ca.gov\/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=209090&amp;inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>. Meanwhile, you can target Kokanee Salmon year-round in lakes and reservoirs.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"2\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-2\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When is the Trout fishing season in California?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-2\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>While Trout fishing is possible year-round in certain bodies of water, many areas of Northern California are subject to strict seasons, usually running <strong>from late April through November<\/strong> <strong>15<\/strong>.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"3\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-3\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">When is California&#039;s deep sea fishing season? <\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69fc2c3785d2c-item-3\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p>Peak deep sea fishing in California takes place from June through September. However, the further south you are, the longer the season.<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When is the California rock fishing season?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"With over 100 species of Rockfish in California, you can find them all year round. However, strict regulations are in place in January and February, meaning you can only target them from March onwards. Make sure you adhere to the strict bag limits, too.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When is the Salmon fishing season in California?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Salmon fishing is currently restricted in California&#8217;s saltwater fisheries due to successive poor spawning seasons. In 2025, the season opened for two days in June and is a further four days between September 4 and 7. For freshwater fishing, note that Coho Salmon are always off-limits, while Chinook Salmon face strict restrictions and they can only be targeted in certain bodies of water, which you can check out here. Meanwhile, you can target Kokanee Salmon year-round in lakes and reservoirs.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When is the Trout fishing season in California?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"While Trout fishing is possible year-round in certain bodies of water, many areas of Northern California are subject to strict seasons, usually running from late April through November 15.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"When is California's deep sea fishing season? \",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Peak deep sea fishing in California takes place from June through September. However, the further south you are, the longer the season.\"}}]}<\/script><h2 id=\"california-fishing-seasons-a-fishing-buffet-all-year-round\">California Fishing Seasons &ndash; A Fishing Buffet All Year Round<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/05\/14141328\/Mammoth-Lakes-California.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of Lake George, one of the Mammoth Lakes, with mountains in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-37110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/05\/14141328\/Mammoth-Lakes-California.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/05\/14141328\/Mammoth-Lakes-California-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/05\/14141328\/Mammoth-Lakes-California-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>So, there you have it, a breakdown of <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/fishing-in-california\/\">California<\/a>&#8216;s fishing seasons. As you can see from everything we mentioned above, there&#8217;s never a bad time to come fishing in California. There are so many spots and fish species to explore in California, that this blog isn&rsquo;t enough and you should visit our<a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/fishing-in-california\/\"> complete guide <\/a>for more information!<\/p><p><em>Now it&#8217;s over to you. Have you ever been fishing in California? What&#8217;s your favorite fishing time of the year? Let us know in the comments below!&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The &#8220;Golden State&#8217;s&#8221; perfect weather, Hollywood, incredible coastline beaches, and iconic national parks need no introduction. But what does California have to offer for anglers? A healthy dose of fantastic catches all year round, of course! Each California fishing season greets anglers with incredible opportunities, no matter their age or skill level.&nbsp; California is blessed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":69568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1474],"tags":[358,356,421,403,558,581,355,375],"class_list":["post-37516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-licenses-regulations","tag-beginners-advice","tag-big-game-fishing","tag-california","tag-freshwater-fishing","tag-san-diego","tag-san-francisco","tag-travel-advice","tag-yellowfin-tuna"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fishing Season in California: The Complete Guide for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/california-fishing-season\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fishing Season in California: The Complete Guide for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It&#039;s fishing o&#039;clock! Check out what you can catch and where in our ultimate California fishing seasons guide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/california-fishing-season\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"FishingBooker Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FishingBooker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-07-24T12:19:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-08T10:46:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2024\/08\/14191151\/Lake-George.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lisa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lisa\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Fishing Season in California: The Complete Guide for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/california-fishing-season\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Fishing Season in California: The Complete Guide for 2026","og_description":"It's fishing o'clock! 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