California fishing reports
694 reports for California — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Sacramento-Delta fall bite shifts as water holds mild
Gauge readings put Sacramento-area water at 62 to 63°F this morning, with the USGS gauge 11447650 showing 7,670 cfs and a water temperature of 63°F. That is comfortable fall territory for bass and panfish. Tactical Bassin (blog) notes that fall bass are chasing baitfish, and that adding a blade to a swimbait is one of the best ways to catch them. The Tactical Bassin (blog) piece on October fishing also points to shallow water, jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater as overlooked options. Those are general fall patterns, not Delta-specific reports, so treat them as starting points.
Delta fall bite: bass and walleye key on moving baitfish
Water temperatures across the Delta gauges read 63 to 66°F this morning, a comfortable fall range that keeps fish active through the day. Tactical Bassin's October coverage points to bass chasing baitfish in the fall, and says adding a blade to a swimbait is one of the best ways to draw strikes when fish are feeding on the move. The same outlet's shallow-water piece says old-school jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater work around the subtle spots bass use in October.
Warm water fuels a standout fall bite across the Bight
Warm water is setting the tone along the LA Bight and San Diego coast this week. NOAA CO-OPS station 9410170 read 74.5°F this morning, while station 9410230 came in cooler at 70.3°F, a four-degree spread worth noting if you fish between the two. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, the Daily Double out of Point Loma Sportfishing wrapped up a crew trip this past week after crushing the yellowtail, and the same outlet says the offshore bite from the Bight out to the Northern Channel Islands is the best in years. Closer to the beach, a kayak angler writing for Western Outdoor News reports that the El Niño talk has been matched by plenty of fast-moving fish right outside Newport Harbor. He threw 40 to 80 gram metal lures on a heavier rod with 20-pound fluoro for casting distance. Surf Fishing in So Cal is also running a piece on whether warm water helps the surf bite. Its short answer is that it depends on where you fish and what you target.
Central Coast water holds warm as fall pattern settles in
Both NOAA CO-OPS stations are reading warm water this morning, 63.1°F at station 9413450 and 64.2°F at station 9412110, observed at 16:54 UTC. That is comfortable fall temperature for the region, and it matches the tone of recent regional reporting. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater describes a SoCal Bight with marlin in the best numbers in years, plus a Daily Double crew trip out of Point Loma that finished on white seabass after a strong yellowtail season. Those reports come from farther south, so treat them as a regional signal for what warm water is holding, not a Central Coast catch count. Yellowtail remains the species to watch on the warm side of the range. Halibut are a reasonable target for anglers working sandy bottom close to shore.
Delta flows run strong as fall bass pattern settles in
Delta gauges are reading 62 to 64°F this morning, with the Sacramento-area gauge at 11447650 pushing 12,800 cfs at 63°F. That is cool enough to pull bass out of summer holding water and start the fall feeding shift. Tactical Bassin's October coverage points to shallow water as an overlooked option right now, with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater all in play. The same outlet says bass chasing baitfish in fall respond to a bladed swimbait or underspin for the added flash and vibration.
Delta bass turn to fall pattern as water cools into the 60s
Delta water is sitting in the low-to-mid 60s this week, with USGS gauge 381126121554801 and gauge 381142122015801 both reading 65°F and gauge 11447650 at 63°F. That is a comfortable range for largemouth bass, which typically feed more actively as water cools and baitfish move around. Tactical Bassin (blog) is pushing fall approaches right now, noting that bass chasing baitfish respond to a swimbait with a blade for added flash and vibration, and a separate piece points to shallow jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater as overlooked October options. Those are general fall bass tactics from that source, not Delta-specific reports, so treat them as a starting point.
Delta bass and trout settle into a mild October pattern
USGS gauges 11446980 and 11446700 both read 65°F this afternoon, while gauge 11447650 shows 63°F with flow at 10,500 cfs. That is a comfortable fall temperature range for Largemouth Bass, and the cooling trend is what drives fall movement. Tactical Bassin points to shallow October fishing with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, working subtle locations rather than relying on electronics. Field & Stream adds that turnover rarely hits a whole fishery at once, so clean, clear shallow bays and creek arms are the places to start.
Delta water cools into the mid-60s as fall bass pattern sets in
Two USGS gauges on the Delta (381126121554801 and 381142122015801) both read 66°F this afternoon, while the Sacramento-side gauge 11447650 shows 63°F with 11,200 cfs moving through. That is comfortable fall temperature for Largemouth Bass, which tend to leave summer haunts and push toward shallow cover as water cools. Tactical Bassin's October video points to an overlooked shallow approach, working jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater without leaning on electronics. Fishing the Midwest adds that living green weeds hold baitfish and gamefish as other cover dies back, a pattern that transfers to Delta vegetation edges.
Delta anglers can plan around steady, mild fall water
Three Sacramento-area USGS gauges (11446980, 11446700, 11447650) read 62 to 63°F this morning, a mild, stable range for mid-October freshwater. The gauge at 11447650 shows 7,070 cfs, a healthy flow that keeps current moving through the system. Fall turnover advice from Field & Stream applies to any lake or backwater you plan to fish: move to clear shallow bays or creek arms that haven't turned over yet, avoid off-color, debris-filled water, and cover ground with spinnerbaits to find active fish. Tactical Bassin points to an overlooked shallow approach for October bass, using jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater without leaning on electronics. Fishing the Midwest adds that finding living green weeds is a good starting point as fall weed beds die back and baitfish relocate.
Delta fall pattern: cooling water pushes fish toward cover
Gauge readings across the Delta this morning show water in the low-to-mid 60s, with gauge 381126121554801 reading 65°F and gauges 381142122015801 and 11447650 both at 63°F. That is a comfortable, cooling-trend range for a mid-October bite. Per Tactical Bassin (blog), October favors old-school shallow work with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and the same piece stresses that you don't need electronics to find the subtle spots fish use. Field & Stream adds that fall turnover rarely hits a fishery all at once, so clean, clear shallow bays and creek arms are the places to start.
Delta water holds in the low 60s as fall bite builds
Gauge 11446980 reads 63°F and gauge 11446700 reads 62°F, both logged in the early morning of Oct 15. Gauge 11447650 also shows 63°F with flow at 13,700 cfs. That is a steady, moderate-temperature picture for mid-October, with the water cooling off from summer highs but not yet cold. Per Tactical Bassin (blog), October is a good time to work shallow water with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and the fish often sit in subtle spots that anglers overlook. Fishing the Midwest adds that fall bass and other gamefish tend to follow green, living weeds as the rest die back and oxygen drops. Tactical Bassin also notes finesse presentations such as small topwaters, swimbaits and compact jigs can produce on tough days.
Delta fall bite builds as water cools into mid-October
Water temperature on the California Delta gauges sits in the low-to-mid 60s, with one site reading 65°F and the Sacramento-side gauge at 63°F. That is a comfortable fall range, and it matches the shift Tactical Bassin describes this week, where October bass move shallow and respond to jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater. Fishing the Midwest makes a similar point about fall fish following living green weeds as the rest of the cover dies back. Neither piece is specific to the Delta, so treat them as seasonal technique guidance. Flow is strong at the two measured gauges: 13,700 cfs at the Sacramento-side site and 42,800 cfs at the San Joaquin-side site.