California fishing reports
215 reports for California — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Delta Bass Hit Post-Spawn Stride as Stripers Hunt Current Seams
USGS gauge 11447650 on the Sacramento River recorded 69°F and 12,900 cfs this morning, the only direct conditions signal available for the Delta this cycle. At nearly 70 degrees, largemouth bass have largely cleared their beds and are shifting into post-spawn recovery patterns along tule edges and submerged grass lines. Striped bass, which finish their upper-Sacramento spawn earlier in the season, are dispersing back into the Delta's channel network and hunting baitfish wherever the elevated flow creates rip seams and back-eddies. Channel catfish are entering one of their most productive temperature windows of the year at this reading. No specific Delta captain or tackle-shop reports were available from our sources this cycle; conditions here reflect gauge data paired with what is typical for this region at this time of year. The building waxing gibbous moon is amplifying tidal swing in the lower channels — plan around moving water for the best bite windows this week.
Delta largemouth in post-spawn mode as spring striper run winds down
USGS gauge 11447650 logged Sacramento-Delta water at 69°F and 1,650 cfs on the morning of May 26, placing conditions squarely in the late-spring transition zone. NorCal Fish Reports carries a dedicated Delta section in its weekly rundown, though specific on-the-water dispatches from that feed were not captured in this reporting cycle. At 69°F, largemouth bass have typically completed their spawn across the Delta's tule margins and backwater sloughs, and fish are now consolidating on adjacent structure to feed aggressively on shad and hitch ahead of the summer heat. Striped bass, which push into the Delta system through spring, are winding down the run at these temperatures and beginning to stage back toward the Bay. Channel catfish activity typically picks up as water climbs through the upper 60s. Flow at 1,650 cfs is a moderate late-spring level, keeping tidal influence meaningful through the lower channels and creating clean current breaks for staging fish.
Post-spawn bass and Delta stripers active as tidal pulse peaks under waxing moon
USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a strong reverse tidal flow of approximately -101,000 cfs through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta on the evening of May 25, signaling a powerful incoming tidal push running through the channels. No water temperature was available from the gauge, though late May typically carries main-channel readings into the low-to-mid 60s°F across the system. Delta-specific biting reports were sparse in this week's feeds, so the species outlook below reflects seasonal patterns rather than confirmed on-water testimony. The most relevant angler intel comes from Wired 2 Fish, whose current post-spawn bass coverage maps directly onto what Delta largemouth are doing right now: after the spawn, some fish chase shad aggressively near flats and vegetation edges, while others stay shallow and spooky, requiring slower finesse presentations. The waxing gibbous moon is amplifying tidal energy, which typically concentrates both largemouth and striped bass on current seams and channel edges during tidal transitions.
Post-Spawn Largemouth and Shad Run Converge in the Sacramento Delta
USGS gauge 11447650 logged 70°F water and 9,380 cfs on the morning of May 25, placing Sacramento-Delta largemouth bass firmly in post-spawn transition. Wired 2 Fish published a detailed post-spawn breakdown this week noting that fish divide between aggressive open-water feeding on shad spawns and spooky, shallow-holding behavior near their beds. Topwater presentations during low-light windows can produce, with midday fish pulling to deeper channel structure. Forum reports on The Fly Fishing Forum describe a strong shad run developing on the American River upstream, with one angler counting more than 20 fish to the net in a two-hour evening session and landing a bonus Sacramento pikeminnow exceeding 30 inches. Shad movement on the Sacramento system typically peaks through May and draws striped bass into tidal corridors below. Flow at 9,380 cfs is moderate for late May, keeping the system accessible across the Delta.
Delta Shad Run Peaks as High Flows Push Bass Into the Sloughs
The Sacramento River is carrying 71,300 cfs through the Delta system this morning per USGS gauge 11455420, reflecting an elevated late-May snowmelt pulse that is pushing turbid water into the main channels. Angler chatter on The Fly Fishing Forum reports the American shad run firing hard on Delta-tributary rivers: one fly angler tallied more than 20 fish to the net in just two evening hours on the American River, with a bonus 30-inch Sacramento pikeminnow that burned backing twice on a 6-weight. Late May is the classic peak window for shad through this corridor, and high flows tend to extend the run by keeping fish staging longer than in dry years. For bass, Wired 2 Fish's post-spawn breakdown describes the current phase well: some fish are gorging aggressively while others are shallow and spooky. We're seeing the interior sloughs offer the cleanest water and best fish-holding conditions right now. Seek current relief behind island points and tule lines.
Chinook Salmon Improving as NorCal Upwelling Cools the Coast
NOAA buoy 46026 reads 55°F this morning, squarely in the productive range for Chinook salmon along the NorCal coast. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Central Coast guide Allen Bushnell reports that northwest winds and upwelling have knocked water temps down 4-5 degrees over the past week, with the Chinook outlook now looking "pretty good." Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing's Captain Jared Davis confirmed to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that temperatures below Pigeon Point have dropped to 54°F, down from 58°F when salmon season opened April 11, and Davis noted the cooler water has made a significant difference on the bite. Seas are running around 5.6 feet per buoy 46013, so offshore windows will depend on swell easing. Striped bass season is ramping into its late-May stride in the bay, while Pacific halibut typically occupy prime feeding grounds this time of year, though no specific charter or shop intel confirms current bite activity for either species this week.
SoCal surf heating up: corbina and leopard sharks answer the May call
Water temps of 62–64°F across the LA Bight, per NOAA buoys 46221 and 46025, are setting the stage for a strong late-May window in Southern California. Surf Fishing in So Cal reports May has delivered after a mixed April, with the region now settled into a comfortable weather pattern and conditions building toward what could be the best fishing of the season. Corbina are the prime near-term target along sandy surf zones, and leopard shark action from shore is running alongside them — the same source calls leopard sharks more approachable than most anglers assume, with the right bait presentation in sandy-bottomed troughs often making the difference. Wave heights of 3 feet at buoy 46221 are workable for surf casters, and light winds from buoy 46025 point to favorable casting conditions this week. With the First Quarter moon generating building tidal movement, expect action to concentrate around tide pushes in the days ahead.
Eastern Sierra trout active as low snowpack opens early wade-ready windows
With USGS gauge 10265200 (Upper Owens corridor) returning no live readings this week, the clearest on-water signal comes from regional neighbor Reno Fly Shop (NV), whose mid-May Truckee River report describes conditions moving 'into summer': flows running a bit higher than historic levels but still easy to wade, with mid-day hatches firing when wind is calm. Trout are pushing into faster water by midday, and the shop's current fly list centers on Split Case PMDs, OCD Caddis, and Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails. That hatch timing aligns with what Eastern Sierra rivers and spring creeks typically see in late May. Adding regional context, Cutthroat Anglers (CO) notes Western snowpacks are at 'historic lows' across the region this season, a factor that typically pushes cleaner, more fishable flows earlier than normal on Eastern Sierra freestoners and spring-fed reaches.
Chinook Salmon Season Comes Alive Along the Central Coast
Water temp at NOAA buoy 46042 registered 58°F early May 25, and that cool reading is the good news Central Coast salmon anglers have been waiting for. Northwest winds have been driving upwelling, knocking sea surface temps down four to five degrees over the past week, per Western Outdoor News saltwater reporting out of Monterey, and Chinook are responding. The report describes the Chinook situation as "actually looking pretty good," a significant statement after years of suppressed seasons. Down at Half Moon Bay, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, per Western Outdoor News, confirms water temps fell to 54°F below Pigeon Point, with bonito having moved off in response, leaving the field clear for salmon. Offshore swell is running near 6 feet at buoy 46042 and 4.3 feet at buoy 46028, so plan offshore runs accordingly. The First Quarter moon is building tidal exchange through the week ahead, a positive sign for bite windows.
Delta largemouth and striped bass prime for Memorial Day weekend
Water temp at USGS gauge 11447650 on the Sacramento River registered 70°F on May 24, placing the Delta system squarely in late-spring feeding territory. Flow held at 7,290 cfs — moderate and fishable, with enough tidal exchange through the lower sloughs to concentrate baitfish near channel junctions. Our current intel pull from NorCal Fish Reports did not surface a specific Delta weekly breakdown this cycle, so species observations here draw on seasonal patterns rather than direct on-water testimony. That said, Wired 2 Fish notes topwater presentations thrive in early-morning low-light windows around shallow grass and dock cover — a setup that translates directly to Delta tule banks at these temps. Per Tactical Bassin, hollow-body frog presentations over thick vegetation are a productive post-spawn largemouth approach as daytime temperatures climb. Striped bass linger in the Delta through late spring, and moderate flows favor current-seam presentations near channel breaks.
Delta stripers in post-spawn transition as snowmelt push runs high
USGS gauge 11455420 on the Sacramento River logged 56,200 cfs on May 24 — a significant flow that signals an active late-season snowmelt push through the Delta system. No water temperature reading was available at the gauge this cycle. NorCal Fish Reports covers the Delta in its regular rotation but did not surface specific fish-contact detail for this period, so the species picture here draws on typical late-May patterns for the Sacramento-San Joaquin rather than direct captain or shop testimony. In late May, striped bass are typically post-spawn and transitioning toward summer structure in tidal sloughs; largemouth bass in shallow backwaters are wrapping up nesting and beginning to scatter. Elevated river flows like those showing now push baitfish off main-channel banks and into slower backwater cuts, where predators concentrate with less effort against the current. Target protected sloughs and dead-end channels for the best action, and check NorCal Fish Reports for real-time updates before heading out.
NorCal Chinook Surge as Upwelling Cools the Coast for Late-May Run
Water temperature at 55°F per NOAA buoy 46026 aligns with what Western Outdoor News — Saltwater is calling a significant turning point for NorCal Chinook. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, reports water temps have dropped to around 54°F below Pigeon Point, down from 58°F at the April 11 season opener. That four-degree drop, driven by strengthening northwest winds and resultant coastal upwelling, has fundamentally changed the look of the water, per Davis. Allen Bushnell, writing from Monterey for Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, calls the Chinook situation 'actually looking pretty good' after a difficult stretch. With NOAA buoy 46013 logging near-calm winds overnight, conditions appear settled for now. Rockfish and Bay-area striped bass are in their typical late-May window, though no captain or shop intel directly addressed those fisheries this week. Plan accordingly.