California fishing reports
410 reports for California — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Delta bass and stripers entering post-spawn transition at new moon
USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a strong tidal backflow of roughly −80,300 cfs late on May 16, indicating pronounced tidal cycling across the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — consistent with the new moon's amplified tidal swings. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge. None of this week's citable regional feeds carried Delta-specific angler reports, so conditions here reflect seasonal patterns typical for mid-May in this system. Striped bass are typically winding down their spring spawning push by the third week of May and scattering from spawning reaches back into main channels and tule edges. Largemouth bass are similarly at or just past the spawn, staging near submerged structure in calmer sloughs. New moon transitions — particularly the first strong ebb-to-flood and flood-to-ebb windows each tidal cycle — traditionally concentrate feeding activity along current seams in the Delta, making timing your drift or anchor critical this weekend.
NorCal Chinook Picking Up as Cool Water Returns to the Coast
Water at NOAA buoy 46026 reads 50°F as of early Sunday morning, and Chinook salmon conditions are described as 'vastly improved' below Pigeon Point, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, operating out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports surface temperature dropped to 54°F from 58°F at the April 11 season opener — a shift that pushed bonita off the grounds and brought kings back into favorable range. Heavy offshore swell is the near-term obstacle: NOAA buoy 46013 logged 16.4-foot seas and 16 m/s winds early this morning, conditions that will keep most small-craft operators dockside out of Bodega Bay and the Farallon corridor. New Moon tonight brings darker predawn skies and stronger tidal exchanges — typically concentrating the bite window for those willing to wait for a calmer launch.
Warm Water Opens Early Tuna Window; Surf Species Active Along the Bight
Water temps of 63–65°F—recorded at NOAA buoys 46221 and 46025 on the morning of May 17—are running significantly above seasonal expectations, reshaping the Southern California bite calendar. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports that these unseasonably warm conditions off the California coast have drawn bluefin, yellowfin, and even an albacore into reachable range, with the first San Diego-fleet albacore in years landing on April 30 aboard the Tribute. That warm-water pattern appears to extend toward the Channel Islands and LA Bight, where pelagic action normally builds later in summer. On the surf side, Surf Fishing in So Cal's spring season preview notes a "strange start" to the year but points to corbina and leopard shark as reliable targets from sandy beaches as conditions firm up. Moderate swell of 4.9–5.9 ft (per both buoys) and the new-moon tidal pull add timing variables—work the incoming tide on calmer windows for the best surf action.
Eastern Sierra stillwaters hit prime spring form as runoff peaks
The Reno Fly Shop's late-April field report from the adjacent eastern Sierra Nevada corridor noted that 'area stillwaters are full and fishing well' as spring flows stabilized — a promising indicator heading into the mid-May window. USGS gauge 10265200 returned no live readings at time of publication, so exact stream flow and water temperature remain unconfirmed; verify conditions locally before committing to a river wade. For stillwater fishing, Reno Fly Shop guides pointed to tungsten balanced leeches, micro holo midges, the Yankee Buzzer, and mini jigged leeches as top producers in late April. Stream fishing across Eastern Sierra drainages is likely challenged by snowmelt runoff this time of year, pushing fish toward slower margins and backeddies. Today's new moon (May 17) sets up low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk on both lakes and accessible streams. Check local conditions before heading out.
Salmon Bite Improving Near Pigeon Point as Cooler Water Returns
Water temps on the Central Coast buoy network are ranging from 50–52°F near the Monterey corridor (NOAA buoy 46042) to 59°F farther south at Cape San Martin (NOAA buoy 46028) — a meaningful spread reflecting the region's patchy upwelling signature this May. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater has the headline local intel: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports "vastly improved salmon conditions" developing below Pigeon Point, even after water temperatures eased from 58°F down to roughly 54°F since the April 11 season opener. Davis notes the cooler, visually distinct water is characteristic of productive salmon habitat. Winds are running stiff at 13–15 m/s across the buoy network — small-boat anglers should pull a marine forecast before departure. Tonight's new moon sets up stronger tidal exchanges over the coming week, typically a positive window for bait movement and feeding activity along the coast.
Chinook Salmon Turn On Below Pigeon Point as Half Moon Bay Bite Improves
Water temperatures at NOAA buoy 46026 read 53°F before dawn on May 13 — matching the surface conditions Captain Jared Davis is working through below Pigeon Point. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Davis, running the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports "vastly improved salmon conditions" since the April 11 season opener, when surface temps ran at 58°F. That four-degree cooldown pushed bonito out of range but put Chinook firmly in their preferred temperature window. Winds across both buoys 46026 and 46013 measured 10–11 m/s at observation time — anticipate short-period chop and plan accordingly on offshore runs. No Bodega Bay captain intel was in circulation this cycle, though rockfish and halibut remain seasonally active on offshore reefs and bay structure. With the moon in waning crescent phase, tidal exchanges are modest — bay striper timing should key off peak current rather than lunar pull.
Early tuna and yellowtail arrive as SoCal waters run unseasonably warm
Water readings of 62–64°F across the LA Bight — logged this morning at NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are matching the broader warm-water anomaly that Western Outdoor News — Saltwater has been tracking for weeks. That outlet reports bluefin, yellowfin, and the first fleet albacore in years (gaffed aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay on April 30) pushing into 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with yellowtail and scattered dorado also showing on 2–3 day trips. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater has documented April temperatures running 10°F or more above historical norms, drawing explicit comparisons to the 1983 El Niño. Closer to shore, Surf Fishing in So Cal's April season preview flags corbina and leopard sharks as the primary nearshore targets as the surf warms through spring. Light winds of just 2 m/s at buoy 46025 and modest 2.6 ft swells at buoy 46221 make for comfortable conditions on both the surf and offshore runs heading into the weekend.
Chinook Conditions Surge Near Half Moon Bay as Cool Water Returns
Water temps along the Central Coast are running 53–60°F across our buoy network — and according to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that cool-down is exactly what the Chinook salmon bite needed. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports "vastly improved salmon conditions" below Pigeon Point after water temps slid from 58°F back to 54°F. Davis credits the four-degree drop with transforming conditions: "It makes a huge difference on the water." The warmer early-season pulse that briefly drew bonita into the area has since passed. NOAA buoys 46042, 46028, and 46026 are reading 57°F, 60°F, and 53°F respectively — a spread consistent with the patchy coastal upwelling typical of this coast in May. Swells are building to 5–6 feet with moderate northwest winds, limiting small-boat access on exposed stretches, but the improving salmon report makes those calmer windows well worth pursuing.
Salmon Bite Sharpens Along NorCal Coast as Cooler Upwelling Water Returns
Water at NOAA buoy 46026 is running 52°F off the SF Bay approach — a meaningful cooldown from the early-season warm anomaly. The headline intel comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports vastly improved salmon conditions below Pigeon Point, with temperatures settling near 54°F after opening-day readings of 58°F on April 11. Davis notes the bonita that had been crashing the early bite have "taken a hike" with the cooling trend, leaving cleaner conditions for Chinook. Upwelling continues to push cooler, productive water along the NorCal shelf — a favorable setup for salmon and rockfish alike. Striped bass are in their typical mid-May Bay push, though no captain reports directly addressed that bite this cycle. Rockfish anglers should verify current 2026 bag limits and area closures before heading offshore, as regulations have seen updates heading into this season.
SoCal Tuna Season Ignites Early as Warm Water Pushes Bluefin Into Range
Water temps of 62–63°F at NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — already well above seasonal norms — are fueling one of the most unusual early-season setups Southern California anglers have seen in years. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports bluefin and yellowfin tuna have already surged into 1-day range southwest of San Diego, with 2- and 3-day trips also picking up yellowtail and early dorado. Most striking: the first albacore in years hit the deck on April 30 aboard the Tribute out of Mission Bay, per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater — a species not reliably expected until midsummer. Surf anglers aren't being left out: Surf Fishing in So Cal highlights leopard sharks as a prime inshore target from the beach right now, with corbina beginning their annual push into the surf zone. Swell is modest at 2.6 ft per buoy 46221 and winds are nearly flat at 1 m/s, giving boaters favorable offshore conditions heading into the week.
Central Coast Salmon Bite Improves as Cooler Water Returns Below Pigeon Point
Water temperatures along the California Central Coast are holding 52–59°F across our NOAA buoy network as of May 12, and the recent cooldown is paying dividends for chinook salmon. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reported "vastly improved salmon conditions" below Pigeon Point after temps dropped roughly four degrees from the 58°F mark at the season's April 11 opening. Davis noted the shift to cooler, visually distinct water is significant: "it makes a huge difference on the water." Rockfish and nearshore halibut remain typical mid-May targets on the Central Coast, though no charter or shop sources from those fisheries surfaced in this reporting cycle. The waning crescent moon keeps tidal swings moderate this week, favoring low-light feeding windows at dawn — plan early departures to capitalize on the bite before afternoon winds build.
Post-Spawn Bass Chase Bluegill Beds as Delta Tides Run Hard
USGS gauge 11455420 logged a strong reverse tidal flow of -57,800 cfs in the Delta's early-morning hours on May 12, a signal of robust tidal exchange pushing bait against channel edges and current breaks. No water temperature reading was available at this station. Tactical Bassin reports the bluegill spawn is "in full swing" and big largemouth are on the prowl in shallow heavy cover — frogs over floating mats and topwater on open edges are drawing explosive strikes. Wired 2 Fish reinforces the picture: warming spring conditions continue driving bass shallow, and post-spawn schools have consolidated, meaning one located pod can produce fish after fish for hours. Delta staples like striped bass and catfish are also in their seasonal stride, with stripers completing their post-spawn downstream migration through the main channels. No direct Delta charter or captain reports were available this cycle; striper and catfish observations are based on typical May patterns for this region.