California Fishing Reports

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.

2d ago

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.

2d ago

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.

2d ago

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.

2d ago

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.

2d ago

NOAA buoy 46025 logged 65°F surface water in the outer LA Bight late Sunday, with buoy 46221 returning 62°F and 3-foot seas closer to the Santa Monica Bay — a temperature spread that marks classic late-May transition in Southern California. Specific catch counts were limited in this cycle's intel feeds; SoCal Fish Reports is active with regional coverage, but no detailed dock tallies surfaced in the current pull. Drawing on buoy readings and the regional seasonal calendar: calico bass are the reliable near-shore staple, holding kelp edges and rocky structure around the Channel Islands. White seabass are in their spring peak, well-positioned within the 62–65°F spawning-run window. Yellowtail are beginning to filter into the Bight as surface temps approach the mid-60s, though consistent action typically waits for readings to push into the upper 60s. BD Outdoors Forums (West Coast) showed anglers already prepping kite-fishing rigs ahead of the coming season.

2d ago

NOAA buoy 46042 off Monterey is reading 55°F, right in the heart of the salmon temperature zone, and the timing lines up with a meaningful turn in the Central Coast bite. Western Outdoor News — Saltwater correspondent Allen Bushnell reports from Monterey that water temps dropped a critical four to five degrees last week, driven by northwest winds and upwelling that pulled cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface and drew Chinook into fishable range. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, reporting to Western Outdoor News — Saltwater out of Half Moon Bay, says conditions below Pigeon Point went from sluggish to vastly improved as the water cooled from 58°F to 54°F since the season's April opener. Rockfish and halibut are listed as Active based on typical late-May patterns for the region; no direct catch reports for those species were available in current intel. Verify Chinook bag limits and season dates before launching.

2d ago

Water temps at 53°F per NOAA buoy 46026 are sitting squarely in the Chinook sweet spot, and captain reports are confirming it. Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady, working out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, told Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point improved dramatically as surface temps fell from 58°F at the April season opener to the mid-50s. 'The water looks different,' Davis noted. Allen Bushnell, reporting from Monterey for Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, credits a ramp-up in northwest winds with driving strong upwelling, pushing cool, nutrient-rich water toward the surface and drawing in the bait columns Chinook follow. 'Many of us almost forgot what it's like to have a real salmon season along the Central Coast,' Bushnell writes. For SF Bay anglers, late May also opens the prime seasonal window for striped bass and California halibut as bay temperatures settle into comfortable mid-50s ranges.

3d ago

Water temps of 62-64°F across the LA Bight, confirmed by NOAA buoys 46025 and 46221 as of Sunday, mark a meaningful late-spring milestone for surf anglers. Surf Fishing in So Cal's May report characterizes the month as "delivering" after a "mixed April," with conditions now "coming together in a big way" and the best fishing of the season potentially still ahead. The site's core targets for SoCal surf anglers, corbina and leopard sharks, are both in play at current temperatures; the corbina guide highlights sand crab presentations in the wash, while the leopard shark coverage notes the fishery is more approachable than most anglers assume. Seas of 2.6 feet at buoy 46221 are comfortable for wading. No current charter intel has surfaced for the Channel Islands this cycle; anglers planning offshore runs should check SoCal Fish Reports for the latest boat counts before launching.

3d ago

Water at NOAA buoy 46042 has settled to 54°F off Monterey, and the salmon fishing has followed. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, Monterey correspondent Allen "Bushy" Bushnell reports the Central Coast Chinook situation has improved meaningfully after northwest winds triggered upwelling that pulled surface temps down 4 to 5 degrees in roughly a week — cold, nutrient-rich water now concentrating baitfish and drawing salmon into range. At Half Moon Bay, Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady tells Western Outdoor News — Saltwater that conditions below Pigeon Point are "vastly improved" since water temps dropped from 58°F to 54°F — the same shift that pushed bonito out of the picture entirely. Seas are running 3.9 to 4.3 feet per buoys 46042 and 46028 with near-calm winds, workable for most sport boats. First Quarter moon this weekend adds favorable low-light windows in the early morning hours for anglers willing to launch before sunrise.

3d ago

USGS gauge 11455420 recorded a strong reverse flow of 5,270 cfs, running negative toward the Bay, in the early hours of May 24, a tidal condition that typically concentrates baitfish along channel edges and puts predators on the feed across the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. NorCal Fish Reports maintains an active Delta reporting section heading into the Memorial Day stretch, though detailed catch tallies were not available in this cycle's update. On the technique side, Wired 2 Fish spotlights shallow topwater presentations during low-light windows around grass, reeds, and dock structure as a productive approach, a pattern that maps directly onto Delta slough fishing at this stage of the season. Striped bass are likely settling into their post-spawn distribution across main channels and larger sloughs, while largemouth bass are transitioning off beds and beginning to re-engage on the feed. First Quarter moon tides are building tidal push, making current-seam timing the key variable for the days ahead.

3d ago

Captain Jared Davis of the Salty Lady out of Half Moon Bay reports water temperatures dropping to 54°F below Pigeon Point, a full four-degree cooling from the 58°F recorded when salmon season opened in April. Per Western Outdoor News — Saltwater, that shift is already translating to vastly improved Chinook conditions on those grounds. The Central Coast upwelling story is broader: sustained northwest winds are pulling cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface, feeding the baitfish base that Chinook depend on. NOAA buoys 46026 and 46013 are showing 3.6-foot seas across the SF Bay and Bodega zones this morning, with buoy 46013 logging an air temperature of about 51°F and light 3 m/s winds. First Quarter moon keeps tidal swings moderate this weekend. SF Bay striped bass and halibut are approaching their typical late-May window, though no direct local reports surfaced this cycle. Nearshore rockfish remain a consistent option as cooler upwelled water continues to refresh the water column.

3d ago