California fishing reports
215 reports for California — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
NorCal Chinook Bite Improves as Cold Upwelling Returns to the Coast
NOAA buoy 46026 registered 50°F water off San Francisco in the early hours of May 19 — the cold upwelling signal NorCal Chinook anglers have been waiting for. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, told Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that salmon conditions have become "vastly improved" below Pigeon Point after water temperatures dropped from 58°F at the April 11 season opener to 54°F. Davis noted that the four-degree drop "makes a huge difference on the water" and confirmed that bonita, which had been showing in the warmer early-season water, have moved offshore — clearing near-shore zones for salmon. Buoy 46013 near Bodega Bay registered winds of 12 m/s overnight, making offshore runs choppy; morning departures ahead of the afternoon sea breeze are the recommended window. Inside the Gate, Bay halibut and striped bass enter their seasonal spring window, though no charter reports surfaced this week to confirm current bite intensity for either species.
Central Coast Salmon Heat Up as Spring Upwelling Takes Hold
Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, calls conditions below Pigeon Point 'vastly improved' — a meaningful turnaround since the April 11 salmon opener, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. The catalyst is a temperature drop: water near Half Moon Bay has fallen from 58°F to 54°F, which Davis says pushed bonita off the grounds while pulling salmon back into productive form. NOAA buoy 46042 confirms the Central Coast chill at 52°F, with 7.9-ft seas running at the same station. Buoy 46028 to the south reads 59°F with similar swell heights, indicating a 7-degree north-to-south gradient that typically concentrates baitfish along transition zones. Rough surf will sideline smaller private boats this week, but sportfishing operations reaching the grounds south of Pigeon Point are finding the salmon bite. Rockfish offer an accessible fallback for anglers who can work calmer inshore structure.
Late-spring Delta warmup sets up striper and largemouth windows
The USGS gauge at site 11447650 recorded 67°F water and 15,300 cfs on the Sacramento River on the afternoon of May 18 — a temperature that falls squarely in the productive band for both striped bass and largemouth. No Sacramento-Delta-specific reports appeared in this week's regional angler-intel feeds; NorCal Fish Reports was present in the source rotation but returned only site navigation rather than current conditions. With that caveat noted, the seasonal picture is encouraging: at 67°F, striped bass remain active throughout the tidal channels and tributary confluences of the Delta complex, and largemouth are making the post-spawn transition to early-summer structure along tule edges and dock pilings. Flows near 15,300 cfs represent a moderate late-spring level on the Sacramento — enough current to concentrate baitfish on downstream seams without blowing fish off structure. The waxing crescent moon provides low overnight light, which typically sharpens the pre-dawn bite window for topwater presentations.
High Delta Flows Send Stripers and Bass to Slack-Water Edges
USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River is registering 102,000 cfs as of May 18 — a robust late-spring snowmelt pulse pushing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta system. NorCal Fish Reports, which maintains Delta coverage among its regional beats, had no specific catch dispatches available in this feed cycle. With direct angler testimony sparse, current conditions are pieced together from gauge data and seasonal patterns typical of this waterway. At that flow volume, main channels run strong and turbid; striped bass and largemouth bass characteristically retreat to slower backwater sloughs, flooded tule margins, and the downstream lee of riprap where bait concentrates and the current breaks. Channel catfish stage in soft-bottom pockets away from the heavy push. The waxing crescent moon favors low-light ambush windows at first and last light — typically prime for stripers working the slack edges. Check state regulations for current striped bass and sturgeon seasons before launching.
Salmon bite heats up as cool upwelling water settles across the NorCal coast
Water at NOAA buoy 46026 is holding at 50°F off the Farallones as of May 18, and the cooling trend is paying dividends for salmon anglers. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing is seeing 'vastly improved salmon conditions' below Pigeon Point after water temps fell from 58°F to 54°F since the April 11 season opener — and our Farallones buoy now reads colder still. Davis noted that 'the bonita took a hike' with the temperature shift, a clear signal the bite has swung away from warm-water species toward Chinook. Winds are running at 9 m/s on buoy 46013 near Bodega with air temps around 52°F, so skippers should assess conditions before committing to offshore runs. Rockfish and Bay halibut remain productive nearshore alternatives for anyone looking to stay inside during breezy afternoons.
Early Tuna and Yellowtail Push Into SoCal on Warm Water Anomaly
Water temps of 63–64°F across the LA Bight — confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are running markedly above historical norms for mid-May, and the bite is reflecting it. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that bluefin, yellowfin, and an albacore (the first San Diego fleet albacore in years, gaffed April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay) have pushed into day-trip range southwest of San Diego, with yellowtail and early dorado mixed in on 2- and 3-day runs further south. The offshore warmth appears broad and persistent; WON also notes water temps running as much as 10°F above seasonal averages, with El Niño-adjacent conditions driving the anomaly. On the beach, Surf Fishing in So Cal reports that May "has delivered" after a mixed April, with corbina and leopard shark active along SoCal beachfronts and the season's best surf fishing potentially still ahead. Winds are near calm, and swell is running around 4.3 ft per buoy 46221.
Salmon conditions improve below Pigeon Point as Central Coast temps cool
Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay, reported 'vastly improved salmon conditions' below Pigeon Point this week, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater — crediting a four-degree water temperature drop from 58°F to 54°F. NOAA buoys confirm the cool-water trend across the Central Coast: buoy 46042 reads 51°F, buoy 46026 sits at 50°F, while buoy 46028 farther south logs 58°F, confirming a sharp thermal gradient along the coast. Wave heights are running significant at 8.9 feet at buoys 46042 and 46028, so smaller vessels should check bar and harbor conditions carefully before departure. Winds are moderate at 5–9 m/s across the region. Rockfish and nearshore halibut are typical Central Coast targets alongside salmon this time of year, though no direct charter or shop intel on those species came through this cycle — anglers should check local marinas for current deck counts and conditions.
Sacramento-Delta Bass and Stripers Finding Their Late-Spring Stride
Water at 67°F as of early Monday morning at USGS gauge 11447650 (Freeport) puts the Sacramento-Delta squarely in late-spring mode — ideal conditions for multiple resident species. Flow is running at 2,890 cfs, a moderate pace that keeps tidal-influenced channels fishable without the fast-water complications that arrive in higher-runoff years. No specific local charter or shop reports came through in this cycle from NorCal Fish Reports' Delta section, so seasonal and gauge-based context guides most of what follows. At 67 degrees, largemouth bass are wrapping up spawning activity and beginning the post-spawn transition toward deeper adjacent structure. Striped bass, which push through tidal reaches of the Delta each spring, remain opportunistic feeders at this temperature range. Wired 2 Fish's current coverage of tight-lining and finesse techniques for suspended post-spawn fish is directly applicable here — bass are often holding just off primary structure rather than actively chasing on the surface.
Delta stripers and shad in prime May window as New Moon tides surge
USGS gauge 11455420 logged a strong tidal reversal of -94,800 cfs at 12:30 a.m. on May 18, indicating a powerful flood-tide pulse pushing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — the kind of water movement that historically stacks striped bass and American shad at slough mouths and channel junctions. No Delta-specific angler reports were available from our feeds this cycle; NorCal Fish Reports was reachable but no current region text loaded. Working from the tidal data and seasonal context: mid-May is typically the heart of the Delta's striper post-spawn feeding window, with fish scattered across main channels and tributary mouths. The American shad run, which peaks April through June in the Sacramento system, should be in full swing. Largemouth bass are transitioning post-spawn in the backwater sloughs. Tonight's New Moon amplifies tidal swings, creating strong low-light feeding opportunities at dawn and dusk. Water temperature was unavailable from gauge 11455420 at time of publication.
Salmon bite improves off Half Moon Bay as NorCal seas run rough
Captain Jared Davis aboard the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay reports vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Water has cooled to 54°F from the 58°F reading logged at the April 11 season opener — the four-degree drop pushed bonita offshore but firmed up the chinook bite. Unfortunately, NOAA buoy 46013 off Bodega recorded 10.5-foot seas and 10 m/s winds Monday morning, and buoy 46026 showed comparable 9.5-foot swells, keeping most private vessels at the dock. A New Moon phase now underway sharpens tidal swings and can improve low-light bite windows for both offshore and bay-side anglers when conditions allow a run. Inside SF Bay, halibut and striped bass should be in their typical late-spring pattern along channel ledges, though no specific charter or shop reports for bay-side action came through this cycle's feeds. Watch for the next swell window before booking an offshore run.
Tuna Creep Into 1-Day Range as Warm SoCal Waters Come Alive for May
Water temps holding at 65°F across the LA Bight — confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are fueling an early offshore push that SoCal anglers haven't seen in years. Western Outdoor News reports bluefin and yellowfin tuna have already moved into grounds southwest of San Diego, well within 1-day-trip range, and the first albacore in the San Diego fleet in several years was gaffed April 30 aboard the Tribute. Two- and three-day trips are adding yellowtail and early dorado to the mix. Closer in, Surf Fishing in So Cal calls May a turnaround after a mixed April: "things are starting to come together in a big way." Corbina and leopard shark are the go-to surf targets right now, and 65°F water has them active along sandy beaches throughout the region. Wave heights of 4.3–5.2 ft (buoys 46221 and 46025) will add texture to the surf zone — plan your beach entries accordingly.
Salmon push rebounds off Half Moon Bay as Central Coast cools
Cooler water along the CA Central Coast is translating directly to improved salmon fishing, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports that water temperatures have dropped to 54°F — down from 58°F at the start of salmon season in April — and that the change "makes a huge difference on the water." Boats working the zone below Pigeon Point are finding "vastly improved salmon conditions," while bonita that congregated during the warmer early-season water have departed. Buoy readings confirm the temperature story: NOAA buoy 46042 logged 52°F offshore Monday morning, with buoy 46028 recording 55°F. The significant caveat is sea state — all three Central Coast buoys show wave heights between roughly 10 and 14 feet on sustained winds, making offshore runs a rough proposition today. Rockfish and lingcod remain typical mid-May nearshore targets, though no specific bite reports for those species are available from current sources.