California fishing reports
214 reports for California — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Early Bluefin Sightings Signal Season Start as June Swells Build Offshore
Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports bluefin tuna showing up near Half Moon Bay, with the Codfather crew trolling south of the weather buoy to connect after a few hours of searching — a promising indicator that the offshore pelagic season is beginning to click along this stretch of coast. Water temps measured by NOAA buoys 46042 and 46028 sit at 54°F and 58°F respectively, consistent with the cool upwelling conditions typical of early June. Seas are rough right now: buoy 46026 logged 10.2-foot swells early Sunday, with winds at 14 m/s across multiple stations — conditions that will keep small-boat anglers close to protected waters until a calmer window opens. On the conservation front, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater notes that CCA California has launched a campaign against invasive Sargassum horneri, nicknamed 'Devil Weed,' which is spreading through the state's native kelp ecosystem and could affect nearshore habitat for rockfish and kelp bass over the longer term. Western Outdoor News also flags expected El Niño-influenced warm water this summer that could eventually push yellowtail and dorado closer to Central Coast waters.
Sacramento-Delta largemouth in post-spawn mode as summer warmth settles in
The USGS gauge at the Sacramento River logged water at 73°F on the evening of June 6 — solidly into the post-spawn transition window for Delta largemouth. While no direct Delta captain or tackle-shop dispatches came through this cycle, the California bass scene elsewhere offers useful signal: at the B.A.S.S. Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series on Clear Lake, Simon Her of Oroville led Day 1 with a 103.75-inch five-bass limit, pointing to aggressive, active feeding across Northern California's warmer stillwaters. Tactical Bassin is pushing hard on June offshore tactics — a wobble-head jig paired with a shaky head worm for post-spawn fish holding on deep structure — and those patterns translate cleanly to the Delta's main channel drops and tule-edge shelves. Elevated river flow should concentrate baitfish and keep resident stripers on the move. Catfish action typically improves as Delta water temperatures crest 70°F. Check current California state regulations before keeping stripers.
Delta post-spawn bass and stripers active as strong June outflows run
USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a net outflow of 81,700 cfs at Cache Slough near Rio Vista on June 2, signaling strong Delta export conditions pushing water seaward through the system. Water temperature was unavailable from the gauge, though the Delta typically reaches the 65–72°F range by early June. With bass largely through their spawn, Tactical Bassin's post-spawn breakdown highlights the chatterbait, neko rig, and dropshot around isolated offshore structure and channel breaks — presentations that translate directly to Delta tule edges and mid-channel humps. NorCal Fish Reports tracks Delta conditions on a weekly cadence, though beat-specific intel wasn't available in this cycle's pull. Striped bass typically scatter widely through the estuary after their spring spawn and should be in active post-spawn mode now. Under the waning gibbous moon, first and last light remain the highest-percentage windows. Anglers should time their casts to outgoing tide transitions, when strong current concentrates bait in the slough mouths and channel cuts.
Springtime Bluefin Showing Near Half Moon Bay as NorCal Pelagic Season Opens
Bluefin tuna are on the board near Half Moon Bay, with the Codfather, a six-pack running out of Alameda, reporting their first fish of the season after trolling south of the Half Moon Bay weather buoy, per Western Outdoor News - Saltwater. Deckhand Joseph Green noted the crew spotted life before connecting, suggesting fish are present but require some searching. Surface water is running 55°F at NOAA buoy 46026, cool but consistent with early-June upwelling conditions along this stretch of coast. Winds are light across both buoys 46026 and 46013, and the waning gibbous moon offers decent pre-dawn light for Bay anglers targeting striped bass on the tide changes. No Bay-specific reports surfaced this cycle for halibut or stripers, though both are typically active in SF Bay by early June as water temperatures gradually tick upward.
Calico and Sand Bass Delivering at Izors; Pelagics Lining Up for SoCal Summer
Water temps at 64–65°F — per NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 — are putting nearshore bass in a cooperative mood off the LA Bight. An angler at Izors reported 16 bass to 21 inches in roughly three hours on June 2, landing three calicos and 13 sand bass on plastics while drifting in water clarity over 12 feet, with bait birds, porpoise, and sea lions working nearby, per BD Outdoors Forums (West Coast). Surf Fishing in So Cal's May 2026 report notes the season has come together 'in a big way' after a mixed April, with the best fishing of the season potentially still ahead. For surf casters, corbina are the prime early-summer target; Surf Fishing in So Cal highlights sand crabs as the top bait in the surf zone right now. Offshore, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports El Nino conditions are expected to drive tuna, yellowtail, and dorado into local waters for late-June charters.
Eastern Sierra Trout Prime for Early June as Midday Hatches Build
Reno Fly Shop (NV) reports the adjacent Truckee drainage running 'a bit higher than historic levels' in mid-May, with reliable midday hatches firing when winds stay down — a strong signal for conditions approaching early June on nearby Eastern Sierra waters. PMDs, caddis, and Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail nymphs have been the go-to presentations, with fish moving into faster water by midday. USGS gauge 10265200 returned no data this cycle, so anglers should verify local flows before heading out. The broader 2026 Western context matters: Hatch Magazine and Cutthroat Anglers (CO) both flag historically low snowpacks across the West this season, typically accelerating runoff completion and leaving high-country streams clearing earlier and running lower into summer. For Eastern Sierra tailwaters and stillwaters, that pattern points to a front-loaded window of clear, wadeable conditions in June — prime trout season for rainbow, brown, and golden trout — before heat builds later in summer.
Chinook Season Gets a Boost as Upwelling Reshapes Central Coast Waters
Water temps at NOAA buoy 46042 hit 59°F off Monterey on June 2, the direct result of an upwelling event that Western Outdoor News — Saltwater says is reshaping the Central Coast salmon picture. Writing from Monterey, WON contributor Allen "Bushy" Bushnell reports the Chinook situation is "looking pretty good" after northwest winds drove water temps down four to five degrees over the past week, pulling cool, nutrient-rich water to the surface. The improvement is confirmed at Half Moon Bay: Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady tells Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that bonito "took a hike" once surface temps dropped to 54°F below Pigeon Point — a reading that matches NOAA buoy 46026 — and that salmon conditions are "vastly improved." The same cooling that pushed bonito off the primary grounds is holding baitfish near the surface, concentrating Chinook along upwelling edges. Nearshore structure from Half Moon Bay south to Monterey is the zone to focus on, with the waning gibbous moon adding favorable low-light windows at dawn and dusk.
Post-spawn bass transition takes hold across the Sacramento-Delta
USGS gauge 11447650 recorded 69°F water and a flow of 13,900 cfs on the Sacramento River as of the morning of June 2 — conditions squarely in the post-spawn transition window for both striped bass and largemouth. No Delta-specific charter or tackle-shop reports were available in this cycle, so the angler picture draws on broader regional technique guidance. Tactical Bassin's post-spawn bass analysis points to isolated offshore structure as the key target right now, with fish spread across shallow, mid-depth, and deep water as they recover from the spawn. Techniques producing in comparable late-spring, warming-water settings include chatterbaits, neko rigs, and drop-shots worked along channel edges. Catfish typically ramp up once water crosses 65°F, and at 69°F the after-dark bite should be solid. Striped bass are seasonally present in the Delta system; check current California regulations before targeting them.
Central Coast Chinook Are Back: Upwelling Sets Up the Salmon Season
Water temps of 54-55°F off Monterey (NOAA buoys 46042 and 46026) are delivering the signal Central Coast salmon anglers have been waiting for. Western Outdoor News - Saltwater correspondent Allen Bushnell reports from Monterey that the Chinook outlook has shifted meaningfully over the past month, driven by northwest winds pushing cold, nutrient-rich upwelling to the surface. 'Many of us almost forgot what it is like to have a real salmon season along the Central Coast,' Bushnell writes. Out of Half Moon Bay, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady confirms the turnaround: a four-degree water-temperature drop below Pigeon Point has moved bonita offshore and drawn in the baitfish that Chinook follow, per Western Outdoor News - Saltwater. The offshore picture carries a significant caveat: swells are running 8 to nearly 11 feet and winds are sustained at 18-27 mph across NOAA monitoring stations. Only capable boats with experienced crews should plan offshore runs until conditions ease.
Delta bass enter post-spawn feeding window as late-May flows run strong
USGS gauge 11455420 clocked 17,900 cfs on the Sacramento system as of late-morning May 31, signaling active Sierra snowmelt throughput into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge. The angler intel feeds this cycle carried no Delta-specific on-the-water reports, which limits direct attribution. Typical for late May, largemouth bass are in or just past the spawn, and post-spawn fish should be stacking on nearby structure to feed aggressively before transitioning to summer holding patterns. Tactical Bassin highlights isolated offshore structure as the key late-May bass target, with chatterbaits, neko rigs, and dropshots pulling the most consistent bites in post-spawn conditions. Striped bass, which push up the Sacramento River to spawn through spring, typically return to Delta channels by late May. Full moon tonight may concentrate feeding activity into low-light windows along tule banks and channel junctions. Verify current striper regulations before targeting them.
SoCal surf bite comes alive as May delivers across the LA Bight
Water temperatures of 64–65°F across the LA Bight signal a healthy late-spring setup. Surf Fishing in So Cal's May 2026 report puts it plainly: 'May has delivered' after a mixed April, with conditions 'starting to come together in a big way here in Southern California' and the best fishing of the season potentially just around the corner. On the beach, corbina and leopard shark are the standout targets, with sand crabs the key bait per Surf Fishing in So Cal. Offshore, Sport Fishing Mag highlights Pacific bluefin tuna ranging from 50 to 300 pounds active in SoCal waters, with surface 'foamers' the prime visual cue for locating schools. NOAA buoy 46221 shows 3.3 ft seas and buoy 46025 reports near-calm winds at 2 m/s — manageable conditions for offshore runs. With the Full Moon peaking this weekend, bite windows are expected to concentrate at first and last light on both the surf and the offshore banks.
Salmon Surge as NorCal Coast Cools Into Prime Conditions
Water temps at NOAA buoy 46026 are sitting at 53°F on May 31, right in the productive zone for Chinook salmon. The clearest on-water signal comes from Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, where Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reports conditions have improved dramatically below Pigeon Point after water temps shed four degrees from the 58°F mark logged at the start of salmon season. That cooling traces directly to northwest winds and upwelling — the same mechanism Allen "Bushy" Bushnell highlights in his WON Central Coast update, describing nutrient-rich water rising toward the surface and drawing salmon into productive range. Buoy 46013 is logging 10 m/s northwest winds, confirming the upwelling engine is still running. Today's full moon adds significant tidal movement throughout the Bay, making early-morning pushes worth timing carefully. Salmon prospects along this coast look as strong as they have all season.