Fish Reports

Feather River Anglers Score Salmon Limits on River

OROVILLE – The salmon season closed after September 15 in the Feather River from the unimproved boat ramp above the Thermalito Afterbay Outfall to 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp.

The section from 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp to Highway 99 bridge remains open through October 31. The bag limit is one Chinook salmon: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=202686&inline

Before the closure of the upper section of river, Justin Leonard of Out Cast Guide Service reported solid Chinook salmon action, with some slower days mixed in.

“It was a tough morning,” said Leonard on September 12. “The releases to the river dropped over the last couple of days. But we still ended up with limits of salmon for six people. The fish ranged from 8 to 22 pounds.”

“We caught all of the fish while boondoggling with roe. There are a ton of fish in the river now. Anglers are now finding decent salmon action downriver. We will be fishing the lower river once the closure of the upper river goes into effect,” he concluded.

Folsom Lake Fishing for Black Bass, Trout and Salmon Should Improve With Cooler Weather

FOLSOM – Since the Labor Day weekend brought big crowds of recreational boaters to Folsom Lake, the lake has quieted down. Few anglers have reported on their success at Folsom since the rainbow trout and king salmon bite slowed down.

However, the fishing for trout, salmon and black bass should improve with the arrival of cooler weather.

One local angler reported catching and releasing around a dozen bass while fishing with jigs. The fishermen said the five biggest fish weighed a total of 18 pounds, according to Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing.

“Your top prospect for bass now is to use drop shot rigs with soft plastics and jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water,” advised Paganelli. “Keep your eye on the water level. If the lake begins dropping again, then you should go down to 30 to 40 feet deep.”

The open launch ramps are Granite Bay Stage 2, Brown’s Ravine Main Ramp and Brown’s Ravine Hobie Ramp.

Folsom Lake is holding 468,870 acre feet of water, 47 percent of capacity and 89 percent of average. The water level is 411.87 feet in elevation.

Here are the new boating requirements:

Vessels completing the 30-day quarantine may return to Folsom Lake have the seal removed by authorized staff, and be allowed to launch. Boaters wishing to return to the lake in the future will have the option to have their boat sealed upon exiting the water and will not be required to quarantine thereafter as long as the seal remains intact.

All trailered vessels are subject to the inspection, quarantine and seal program. Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowing shells, outrigger canoes and rowboats are not subject to the inspection, quarantine and decontamination requirements. Hand-launched watercraft with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, are also exempt from these requirements.

DBW maintains a list of contacts at: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/inspections.

Additional information on the golden mussel prevention program including inspection site locations, frequently asked questions and hours can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/FolsomLakeGoldenMussels.

• Dan Bacher

Lake Almanor   Good fishing all over the lake.    The weather returned to pleasant following days that featured afternoon thunderstorms. The conditions are almost identical to the last report, with little changing out on the water. The water level continues its slow decline of about 1/10 of a foot/day and currently sits at 4486. Flows on all the lake’s tributaries are at seasonal norms. Water temperature is at or near 70. Bug hatches continue in many areas of the lake, but a good number of fish, including trout and Smallies, have shifted their attention back to the lake’s pond smelt population. The trout are now spread throughout the entire lake. With localized dense pockets of fish tightly grouped on bait. Find one of these groups and stay on them for some wild bites. Action for trollers is happening at a variety of locations around the lake, from the dam to Big Springs. Both sides of the peninsula have been giving up fish as well. Trout have been caught on a wide variety of offerings recently. Slow trolled worms and plastics along with fast trolled spoons in bright as well as bait fish patterns have both produced fish this week. 35 to 45 feet seems to be holding the bulk of the active fish. The catch continues to be a mix Rainbows and Browns along with a few salmon. Bait fishermen have been netting a few fish at several locations including the dam and east shore around Dorado as well as eastern side of the peninsula. Fly anglers suspending nymphs under indicators are tempting the fish that are keyed in on the aquatic larvae  Bass anglers have been throwing jigs on rocky points and shore lines for smallies keyed in on smelt as their food source. Lots of trout stacked up in Hamilton Branch, enjoying the cooler incoming water. Shore anglers are connecting with some, please pack out what you pack in. Report courtesy of Lake Almanor Fishing Association

Lake Tahoe Kokanee on Fantastic Bite in August

Fishing remains consistent on Lake Tahoe with surface temps in the mid-60s°F. Kokanee are concentrated on the west shore between DL Bliss and Sugar Pine, running 40–60 feet deep and up to 17” long. Mackinaw are deeper—120–300 feet—near the Cal Neva Hole and South Lake, with fish hitting on trolled plugs or jigged minnows. Trout are around 100 feet, hitting Rapalas for boat anglers. Shore anglers are picking up the occasional trout around 30 feet off the bank. Boat traffic has slowed but can still spike with weather; best action is early or late.

The folks at Tahoe Sportfishing gave us this report: “We were pleasantly surprised with August. The kokanee salmon showed up in numbers that we haven’t seen in a year or two. They went from being tightly schooled in one area to being spread out and schooled up thick about 80 feet down all across the South Shore. By the end of the month, we started to see the first signs of them turning, but the fishing remained excellent. We landed over 3800 kokanee for our clients in the month of August. We’re also seeing some nice lake trout underneath the salmon schools and picking up a few each trip.”

The kokanee are averaging 12-14 inches but we are seeing multiple 15-17 inchers daily. There are bigger ones out there as well – our biggest of the season is 20 inches.

We are picking up Mack’s on the kokanee gear almost every trip, but if you want to just target Mack’s we are using live bait bouncing the bottom. We have been strictly using Tahoe Trolling Company flashers number 9’s and 10’s with a wedding ring or hootchie tipped with white corn.

Rio Vista/Delta Trolling, Bait Fishing Produces Striper Limits

RIO VISTA – The striper bite for trollers in the Delta continues to be excellent, according to legendary trolling expert Mark Wilson. Mark tells me that he and his friends have been concentrating on the Sacramento River below Rio Vista.

Mark said he’s been trolling the West Bank from Sandy Beach down river to the Red Barn for 20 to 30 keepers per trip, releasing all but their limits. He’s trolling any green colored Yozuri or P-Line Predator deep diving lures in 12 to 15 feet of water for his best action.

Mark added that when the wind prevents them from trolling the West Bank, he’s been going into Broad or Montezuma Sloughs. Both sloughs are holding stripers averaging 7 pounds similar to the main river. Mark is finding that the incoming tide has been more productive, but he’s also catching stripers on the outgoing tide as well.

There is no sturgeon report this month as sturgeon fishing closed on June 30th from the west side of the Carquinez Bridge east to downstream of the confluence of the Feather River on the Sacramento River and downstream of the I-5 bridge on the San Joaquin River. Sturgeon fishing will resume again on October 1, 2025, so look for a sturgeon report once the fishery opens after October 1st.

Cal Kellogg of fishcalkellogg.com reported catching some quality stripers lately. On his latest solo trip, Kellogg reported catching and releasing a 22 lb. striper and catching and keeping an 8 lb. striper in the Delta.

“The big fish measured 40 inches long,” said Kellogg. “I saw good marks on my fishfinder on the San Joaquin River between the Mokelumne and the mouth of Fisherman’s Cut. I put on a bluegill for bait in 18 feet of water. I turned the reel and I felt pressure. I lifted on the rod – and it almost pulled the rod out of my hands. After I released the 22 pounder, I caught the 8 lb. fish, also on a live bluegill.”

On a guided trip he made to the same area, the striped bass weren’t biting the bluegill, but they were hitting anchovies. “The two anglers fishing with me landed two keepers and released six shaker stripers before the wind came up,” Kellogg added.

In addition, Kellogg reported hooking and releasing a 15 lb. striper while fishing a swimbait from his boat after he saw the fish go under the boat while in his slip at B&W Resort.

• Ken Baccetti, President of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), Isleton-Delta Chapter.

Truckee Area Lakes Donner Kokanee and Mackinaw, Boca Browns Lead Early Fall Angling Parade

TRUCKEE – Donner Lake: Fishing is steady for all species. Kokanee are hanging around 50 feet, while macks are sitting deep at 120 feet and taking large plugs or spoons. Rainbows are the best bet for shore anglers, with China Cove and the west-end ramps producing on worms and PowerBait. Midday boat traffic can slow things down, but evenings pick back up nicely.

Boca Reservoir: The reservoir is fishing consistently for both boat and shore anglers. Surface temps sit in the low 60s°F, with rainbows and browns near the dam hitting worms, eggs, and spoons. Kokanee are around 50 feet. Bank anglers are doing well near the west-end creek, while trollers are connecting with sierra spoons or dodgers tipped with crawlers. Boca Reservoir is 80% full with easy access.

Stampede Reservoir: Surface temps are in the low 60s°F and the bite is still strong. Kokanee are running around 60 feet near the island and dam for boat anglers. Shore anglers chasing trout are finding good success off the dam and drop-offs, especially mornings and evenings.

Prosser Creek Reservoir: Bass and trout are both active at Prosser Creek Reservoir. Surface temps sit in the low 60s°F, with water levels around 80% full. Bass are holding in coves, while trout are 40–60 feet down. Trollers are scoring with Rapalas, while shore anglers at the dam are picking up trout at sunrise and sunset with worms, eggs, or PowerBait.

Jackson Meadows: The boat ramp remains closed, so shore fishing is the only option. Recent stocking near the dam and Pass Creek boat ramp has the bite strong, and with minimal boat traffic, pressure is light. Mornings are especially productive.

• Mountain Hardware, Truckee

Bodega Bay/Tomales Bay Rockfish and Lingcod Bite Continues At Fast Pace

BODEGA BAY – Anglers aboard the New Sea Angler found solid fishing during the four day salmon season from Point Reyes to Point Sur. Now the charter boats are back to targeting rockfish and lingcod with great results.

23 anglers caught 47 salmon to 27 pounds on September 5 while trolling aboard the New Sea Angler south of Point Reyes, reported Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportfishing. The 25 anglers bagged 32 salmon to 26 pounds while trolling anchovies the previous day. The weather conditions were excellent.

On his most recent rockfish adventure, the 14 anglers aboard the New Sea Angler bagged 140 rockfish, full limits, and 10 lingcod up to 14 pounds. “The fish were all quality bottomfish – there were no school fish,” Powers noted.

On his previous rockfish adventure, the 6 anglers fishing with Powers landed 160 rockfish, full limits, and 12 lingcod to 12 pounds.

The anglers have been catching quality canary, brown, copper and vermilion rockfish. Anglers are hooking the fish while using shrimp flies baited with squid strips, bars, jigs, swimbaits and other offerings.

The recreational groundfish regulations in the San Francisco Management Area (from Point Arena to Pigeon Point) are available here: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=185056&inline

In Tomales Bay, Willy Vogler at Lawson’s Landing in Dillon’s Landing reported spotty halibut fishing. He posted a report from “Swampy” that detailed the state of halibut fishing:

“Should have been here yesterday. It was a tough bite today, but plan C and D finally worked. We hit the bar and interior hard for two halibut. Jake, Swampy Jr, scored a 14 pounder and Alex got a clicker. We had a great time as always. She ain’t singing yet,” Swampy stated.

“The fat lady is surely warming up, though,” responded Vogler. “She’s not singing but she’s doing the throat exercises to get ready to sing. It sounds like gargling and wind. Solid work, Swampy family, snatching a few fish from the jaws of … well, the end of halibut season, such as it was.”

“This is one of those reports that I’ve been waiting for,” Vogler continued. “Chris DeTrani moved here from the East Coast a few years ago and bought a boat to go salmon fishing. It was bad timing, as he hasn’t been able to fish decent local salmon water since the purchase. But Saturday last DeTrani reported catching two salmon measuring 35” and 30”: ‘It was worth the ride down. 90’ of water and 40’ down just below Point Reyes,’ De Trani told Vogler.

Vogler fished salmon with Alec Bennett on the last day of the salmon season. “We finished with our four salmon, the largest about 15 pounds, right about where Chris went, just deeper. They finally went on the bite after noon in 160 feet of water,” Vogler concluded.

• Dan Bacher

Fisherman’s Wharf/Berkeley Take Your Pick of Stripers, Halibut or Rockfish

SAN FRANCISCO – Captain Craig Hansen of Argo Sportfishing tells me that he’s been navigating from his berth at Fisherman’s Wharf and drifting live bait with his customers at many locations in the bay and ocean depending on the tides and weather. Capt. Craig told me that he’s been finding stripers at Racoon Strait, and he’s been boating halibut at F-Buoy on the Berkeley Flats and on the North or South Bars out the Golden Gate.

Meanwhile, Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions tells me that he’s been putting his customers on striped bass at Angel Island and Red Rock in the bay drifting live bait. Capt. Ron continued to tell me that he’s been going out the Gate and drifting live bait at Seal Rock near the Cliff House and the North and South bars for halibut for his clients. Capt. Ron also stated that the weather and tides dictate where they are fishing.

Finally, I’d like to tell you about a couple of special days this author spent on the water recently thanks to the Roger Thomas Grant. If some of you may recall, Roger Thomas was the owner and captain of the fishing vessel Salty Lady out of Sausalito. Well, when Captain Thomas passed away his trust included a grant to take children out fishing.

The Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA) manages these funds that are available to children’s organizations to take these youngsters out on the water where they have probably never been before. Since I’ve been a board member of the Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club (SBGC) in San Francisco’s North Beach for more than 22 years, and I did know about this fund managed by GSSA, I’ve been arranging trips for the SBGC for the past 5 years.

This month I was fortunate to help out Captain Don Franklin of SoleMan Sportfishing again on the 2 trips that were scheduled. On these two trips we fished live bait, another first for the children, in San Francisco Bay for halibut, striped bass, and rockfish.

I do have to tell you that the excitement and joy on the children’s faces was priceless when they reeled in a fish and finally when their catches were netted and brought aboard. These trips were truly very special outings for these children thanks to the late Captain Roger Thomas.

Meanwhile, the rockfish and lingcod action off the Marin County Coast has been excellent.

“We experienced an absolutely phenomenal day up the Marin Coast,” reported Aaron Anfinson, Captain of the Bass Tub. “Underground Construction had amazing lingcod fishing as well as Rockfish, scoring limits of both for 12 anglers plus some for the crew! These things were HUNGRY.”

“We had 2 trips out today,” reported James Smith, Captain of the California Dawn. “Both boats got onto some quality reds and lingcod while fishing in the southern waters. They also landed jumbo blues and black rockfish.”

The California Dawn 2 checked in with 19 limits of lingcod (38) to 15 pounds, 19 limits of rockfish (188), and 2 cabezon. The California Dawn 1 had 21 limits of rockfish (210), 8 lingcod and 1 halibut.

If you would like to fish with any of these Captains or Guides, just do a search on the internet for their contact information.

If you would like more information about the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), go to our website (www.striper-csba.org). You will be able to access all the information related to the 4 CSBA Chapters. New members only pay $25, that includes a one-time $5 initiation fee. After the first year of membership the annual dues are only $20.

Your membership helps to strengthen our mission to protect striped bass and our fisheries. Some Chapters will give you a free gift just for joining. The Isleton-Delta Chapter gives all new members two free Isleton Chapter decals and a Chapter hat as a thank you for joining our Chapter. Membership forms are available for each Chapter on the website. Just click on your Chapter of choice and go to the membership page, fill out the application, print it and send your application and payment to the address listed on the application.

The Isleton Chapter accepts credit cards online on the website for new memberships, membership renewals as well as our chapter’s events. The website also has Chapters’ newsletters, photos, interesting articles, and useful links that will help you plan your next fishing trip.

• Ken Baccetti, President of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), Isleton-Delta Chapter.

Half Moon Bay Rockfish Limits The Rule Off San Mateo County Coast

EL GRANADA – If you want to catch a limit of colorful rockfish, along with getting the chance to battle a big lingcod or halibut, the San Mateo County coast is a superb prospect at this time. The new groundfish regulations allow anglers to target rockfish and lingcod at all depths in state water.

The Queen of Hearts reported in with 120 rockfish and 2 lingcod for 12 anglers on their latest trip out of the harbor. The boat came back with 228 rockfish, 2 lingcod and 2 cabezon for 23 people on their previous trip, reported Wallace Klughers, Captain of the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sportfishing and Tackle. Another trip yielded 240 rockfish, 5 lingcod and 2 halibut for the 24 anglers aboard the boat.

Recreational Dungeness crab season is closed until the first Saturday in November, but the rock crab season is open all year using either hoop nets or snares. Anglers interested in catching rock crab can fish off the fishing pier inside the harbor as well as on the jetty.

If you’re interested in monkeyface eel, there are plenty of them available hidden in the jetty rocks for poke-pole anglers.

Groundfish Regulations Summary Update: Effective August 28, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths for state waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025.

There are temporarily different regulations for rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in federal waters in these Management Areas. Regulations in federal waters may vary by management area. Before fishing, anglers should verify if their planned fishing location is in state or federal waters and what regulations apply in each water area. The state waters boundary line can be viewed on the Ocean Sport Fishing Map: https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c00c82e1f32a49e99c747e2411e3439e

• Dan Bacher

Monterey Bay Boats Target Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish

SANTA CRUZ – Now that the four-day fall salmon season is over, anglers are back to concentrating on rockfish, lingcod and halibut in the Monterey Bay region. Limits of rockfish are the rule for anglers boarding party boats.

“The rockfish were on the bite up the coast near 3 Mile and 4 Mile Beaches,” reported Todd Fraser of Bayside Marine on September 13. “The halibut were a little more elusive today. There was some wind chop up the coast, which didn’t help the anglers drifting. There were a few halibut caught in Capitola and near Pajaro.”

On the previous day, Fraser said, “The anglers fished up the coast early for rockfish and lingcod. The lingcod were on the bite near Davenport. There were a few halibut caught near Davenport. The wind was up by mid-morning, making it bumpy near Davenport. The anglers who fished from Capitola to Pajaro found a few halibut and sanddabs.”

Charter boats out of Chris’ Fishing Trips in Monterey reported top-notch fishing for rockfish on trips. The boats are returning with daily limits of rockfish, along with a few lingcod. Anglers are using shrimp flies baited with squid strips, jigs, bars, swimbaits and other offerings to nail the bottomfish.

The Checkmate checked in with limits of rockfish (230), 3 lingcod, 1/4 limits of chilipeppers and 10 petrale sole for 23 anglers on Saturday, Sept. 13. On the same day, the Caroline tied up at the dock with limits of rockfish (230) and 8 lingcod for 19 anglers. The Checkmate returned with limits of rockfish (230) and 3 lingcod on September 12.

Salmon fishing for the charter boats was tough during the four-day salmon season, with 0 to 2 salmon reported per boat. The anglers were mooching with anchovies for the Chinooks.

UPDATE – Effective August 28, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths for state waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Groundfish-Summary

Check out the new Issue of The Fish Sniffer magazine for September 19, 2025

In this issue of The Fish Sniffer, we are looking forward to Fall, the best season of the year for some of us. The Fall is the time when all beings start to prepare for the tough winter season. For Fishing in Northern Californi, that means the trout, salmon, bass, panfish, stripers, catfish and all other species go on the bite to fatten up for the lean winter season Lakes like Eagle, Shasta, New Melones, Folsom and Berryessa and most others will feature some of the best fishing of the year. Striped bass fishing in the Delta will take off for stripers and the Bay and Ocean will see halibut, rockfish and lingcod go on the bite.

The golden mussel problem is still impacting boaters all over the state and has caused major boat launch closures and strict new inspection and quarantine rules several lakes in our area. These rules are starting to change, and some lakes like Oroville and Bullards bar are allowing boaters to launch the same day after an inspection. Be sure to check out the regulations at any lake you want to fish before you go.

All you need to know about fresh and saltwater fishing in Northern California is now available in the new issue of The Fish Sniffer Magazine!

Fishing this fall is still going strong up and down the Bay Area coastline! All the usual suspects (halibut, lingcod, rockfish) are readily available. Sandy areas are producing halibut and rocky reefs are good places to target lingcod/rockfish. All can be caught on artificials but I prefer live bait for the best results. Any baitfish in the 6-9” range should get the job done! Targeting depths of 30-70 feet of water will give you a good chance at a nice halibut or lingcod. For anglers with offshore capabilities, albacore and the occasional bluefin tuna have also been caught. However, all those were seemingly on hold for the 4 day salmon season we had in the first week of September. I fished the first day in Half Moon Bay and the fishing was tough. Some got skunked and a few lucky anglers went home with limits. I was lucky enough to get a keeper just inside the green can trolling a Watermelon Apex at 27 pulls with a deep six diver. Video is live on youtube!

The beaches have been alive with action lately! Surf perch are showing up just about everywhere. Most are palm-sized, which makes for some fun on light gear, but we’re still waiting on those bigger models to move in. Bait has been scattered throughout the surf, yet the halibut bite has slowed down with fewer quality fish being caught. Corbina have been stealing the spotlight. Anglers are hooking into fish in the 16 to 20 inch range, especially when working sand crab beds with a Carolina rig and 10 lb test. Mussel has also been effective, but it comes with a tradeoff. It will get the attention of Corbina, Croaker, Bass and Sargo, but it also attracts plenty of bycatch like guitarfish, bat rays, and other surprise catches that can turn your session into an unexpected battle. Sand bass and spotted bay bass, better known as spotties, have also been biting hard. These fish are putting up a solid fight and adding even more variety to the SoCal bite right now. The one pictured here is a beautiful 17-inch sand bass, proof that there are quality fish in the mix if you put in the time. Here’s a tip to keep in mind: target those transition zones where rocks meet sand. Fish are more concentrated in these spots, and there are still some nice spotfin croakers being caught too. After a stretch of hot days in the high 70s and 80s, the coast has started to cool down. With that shift, more Corbina are sliding into the skinny water during tide swings. Keep your eyes on the shallows from low to high tide and you might see them cruising right at your feet. Stay safe, keep fishing, and enjoy what the SoCal surf has to offer. Tight lines, anglers! For more fishing reports, surf action, and tips, check out our page @vividsnares

On September 2nd, I decided to go to Santa Ana River Lakes again in the afternoon to fish for catfish and test my luck. I went for the midday session and that ranges from midday up until 11 PM. It was really hot that day. The sun was super hot out with the temperature being in the 90s, but that didn’t stop me from going up there. The water was still kind of cool to the touch even with the heat, it wasn’t enough to warm up the water as much. From midday up until 7 PM. When it was close to 8 PM, I decided to rebait again using nightcrawlers with marshmallow dipped in hogwild cheese dip bait. I cast as far as I can near the boat dock of the lake and no less than 15 minutes, the rod bent down crazy. The fight was about 5 to 6 minutes, and I managed to land a 5 1/2 pound catfish. After that, the bite kept going for the next three hours. I managed to catch four total that day on a Carolina rig with a 2/0 Circle hook and about a 12-inch leader. The other bait of choice was also shrimp with marshmallow showered in the magic fish water fish attractant, which managed to catch 2 cats that day. Safe to say, as the weather is getting hotter the kitties come out to play at night.

Huge Half Moon Bay Sea Bass   By Joseph Gonzalez     I live in Pacifica and have been fishing for many years out of Half Moon Bay. This year my buddy and I had a fantastic day catching huge white sea bass! Squid showed up a few weeks prior to the catch and there were seiner boats netting them. A few local boats were out trying to catch sea bass during this time with no luck, so everyone left the spot alone for a period of time. What everyone didn’t realize is that these fish primarily feed during the full moon, and the time wasn’t right yet. My boat, a 22 foot Boston Whaler Guardian, had some mechanical issues but was ready 3 days before the full moon,. I started buying all the right tackle to catch these fish at my local tackle shop, but they discouraged me from trying, saying that It was too late and the squid had moved on., I told them I was going to try anyway because I know these fish feed on the moon phase. I invited my buddy Pauly Christiansen who is the only local guy I know who has caught a sea bass in the past. We launched my Whaler and headed out in search of bait. We found the squid out of the mouth of Half Moon Bay, and 5 minutes after we pinned the first live squid on we were hooked up! I fought the fish for 10 minutes on 30lb line and it ended up breaking me off. We weren’t 100% sure it was a White Sea bass but we were still hopeful. 2 hours later another bite, and this one we landed it turned out to be the 67 pounder. It was an epic day of fishing, and Pauly and I caught 4 huge sea bass of 67, 72, 78, and 90 pounds! All caught on live squid and hooked in halfmoon bay. A trip of a lifetime!   Editor’s note: Joseph Gonzalez added that it was a great honor to be in The Fish Sniffer, following up on his grandfather’s cover photo on The Fish Sniffer in November of 1984

Jigging for Late Season Kokanee by Jack Naves In the middle of summer, kokanee roam like grazing cattle over open water feeding on plankton.  Catching them can be as easy as showing up and trolling popular lures like spinners or squids. As summer progresses, the bite gets tougher. Late summer and fall, when kokanee start to resemble miniature crocodiles, most folks give up on chasing them and switch to other pastimes. These pre-spawners can be finicky - catching them on trolling gear can be unpredictable. They will typically form tight schools and stage outside of creeks or rivers where they will spawn later in the fall. So how do you get them to bite? Jigging, or ‘spooning’, is an old school technique that few Northern California anglers employ for kokanee. If you search the web, you will find lots of information from other states like Washington and Oregon, but not much from California. Kokanee are kokanee, so why not try it here? Back in September of 2011, I decided to challenge myself and imposed self-declared a no-trolling rule on a solo trip to Pardee Lake. Though it took me a while, I was able to knock out a limit of smoker-quality kokes and was back on the road before lunchtime. Let’s look at the gear you’ll need to jig up a kokanee limit of your own. Downrigger trolling rods won’t work great for jigging, as they are too limber. Instead, use a fairly stiff medium graphite bass-fishing-type rod that’s six to seven feet long with a fast tip. Spinning reels make it easier to quickly descend the lightweight jigs, while a line-counter baitcasting reel can help to figure out the depth at which you are fishing. I normally just look at my jig on the sonar screen to determine my depth, so spinning gear is my preference. Whether you prefer spinning or casting reels, spool up with 20-pound test braided line. It’s crucial that you use braid so there is no stretch in the line. You need to be able to feel the slightest bite and drive the hook home within a split second! Tie your braid to a swivel and then run a four-foot long 20-pound test fluorocarbon leader to your jig. The stiff leader will help to keep your jig vertical. Tie the leader direct to the lure – using a snap may cause the jig to pivot upside down and snag on the leader line. If you feel an odd flutter on the upstroke, this most likely happened, and it’s time to reel up and fix it. Kokanee jigs are solid lead lures that go by the names of P-Line Laser Minnow, Gibbs Minnow, Crippled Herring, P-Line Kokanantor, and Buzz Bomb. I personally like the two-ounce Buzz Bombs the best. However, it’s a good idea to have a range of sizes so you can switch to a heavier jig if the wind creates too much of a drift. The color of the jig will be your preference. Hot pink, glow-in-the-dark, fluorescent orange, chartreuse, and pearl are popular choices. Once you have your rig tied up, it’s time to hit the lake! Once you are on the water, electronics play a crucial role in finding fish. Look for huge schools of kokanee holding in deep water. I’m not talking about a few scattered fish here and there. You want to see schools that look like giant bait-balls. Usually, they are close to the bottom, but other times they will suspend higher up. It seems like the big schools form better in the late morning or early afternoon. Once you find the fish, it’s bombs away! I’ve found that tipping the hooks with corn is pretty useless, as it rips off immediately when I start jigging. I like to start by smearing some crayfish gel onto the lure – a natural predator of kokanee eggs! Next, I’ll add some kind of target to the hook. I like to cut a small, round, corn-sized section of glow-in-the-dark plastic from a Gitzit or Senko and add it to the hook. Alternatively, you could add a Gulp! Maggot or some kind of commercially available target that won’t come off while jigging. For starters, lower your jig to the top of the kokanee school. You can use a line counter, or what I usually do is just watch the jig going down on the sonar unit. The cool thing about this method is that you can actually see fish rising out of the school to nail your jig! If a fish doesn’t grab it on the way down, stop your lure at the top of the school and start jigging. Jigging employs a yo-yo motion that makes the lure jump up and flutter down in the water column. Start by placing your rod tip a few inches above the waterline. Pop the rod tip up six to twelve inches and then follow the jig back down with your rod tip. It is crucial that you stay in controlled contact with the jig as it falls – don’t let the line go totally slack on the way down. The up motion gets their attention, but they almost always hit the jig on the way down. The strike will be exceptionally light – almost undetectable to beginners. Set the hook at the slightest tick, tap, bump, slack line, or change in feel as the jig falls. You need a fast trigger – at first you will miss a lot of fish. After a few hours of jigging you will start to figure out what a bite feels like. If you don’t get hit, try progressing through the school in five-foot intervals. The fish at the top of the school are usually the more aggressive fish, but the deeper fish will bite as well. One of the toughest parts about jigging is controlling the boat in the wind. An electric motor is almost mandatory, and having a motor that automatically holds your position with ‘spot lock’ is helpful. You need to keep your jigs vertical, so if your lines start drifting out to the side you need to get back on track with your electric motor. If you can’t stay vertical, switch to a heavier jig. When it gets too windy, it’s time to pack away the jigging outfits and start trolling. I recently had the opportunity to fish at New Melones Lake on August 24 with Rj Sanchez of Pine Grove. We located a huge school of kokanee trolling between eighty and ninety feet deep. After boating several nice kokanee, I relayed to Rj it was time to reel up the trolling gear and start jigging. I had marked the school on my GPS, so I proceeded to the location. It suddenly appeared on the sonar screen, so I quickly relayed to Rj to drop his jig while I threw the boat into reverse. By the time I had the boat stopped and started to deploy my jig, Rj was already hooked up! As the boat drifted off the school, I would do a spiral pattern out from the starting point until I found the school again. Within no time, we were limited out and headed back to the dock! This fall when the trolling bite gets tough and the kokanee develop lockjaw, have a couple of jigging rods in your arsenal. When you see big schools on your sonar, try dropping lead to see if they are interested. You’ll be surprised at how addictive it can be.

Photos Photo 1 — Jack with Two Kokanee.jpg These two hook-jawed kokanee slammed a Buzz Bomb jig a New Melones Lake on August 24. The fish were in a huge school right off the bottom at ninety-feet deep when Jack Naves pulled up the trolling gear and descended a spinning outfit loaded with braided line. When late season kokanee get picky, jigging can be an effective way to get them to bite when trolling doesn’t work. Photo by Rj Sanchez, Pine Grove Photo 2 — Kokanee with Jig.jpg Buzz Bomb jigs are great tool to have in your kokanee fishing arsenal. The hot pink jig shown here was modified by the author by adding some glitter. These jigs have a unique design, as they slide vertically up and down the leader and are stopped by a rubber stopper above the hook. The design keeps the hook from flipping over and fouling up on the leader. This is a problem you will have with other jigs if you let the jig fall too fast. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff Photo 3 — Spinning Outfit.jpg Light spinning gear like the outfit show above is a good way to target late-season kokanee using jigs. This 30-series spinning reel spooled with braid and teamed up with a graphite bass rod makes for the perfect combo. Ditch the noodle trolling rod and go with a bass-fishing-type setup like this for kokanee jigging success. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff Photo 4 — Buzz Bomb.jpg This image illustrates how the author tips his Buzz Bomb jigs with a small cut piece of glow-in-the-dark Gitzit or Senko. The piece is cut to match the size of a kernel of shoe peg corn, but won’t fall off after being jigged like corn will. Late-season kokes are often deep enough so that glow-in-the-dark shows up nicely below the eighty-foot depth. Before descending it, be sure to add your favorite scent to the lure like crawfish gel. Photo by Jack Naves, Fish Sniffer Staff

Catching Multiple Species at Bucks Lake!

By Paul J. Kneeland

John Brassfield of Foresthill and I took a quick trip to Bucks Lake with his truck and boat in late August. We drove up Hwy 162 over the green bridge at Lake Oroville– the road was curvy but smooth and well paved. As we traveled up in the afternoon and saw huge thunder clouds forming – and we were headed right up to them! The drive was through huge areas of burns from the Dixie Fire from a couple years ago, and the burnt remains of all the trees got to be kind of depressing. We arrived at Bucks Lake about 4:30 in the afternoon and got our campsite at a private camp. It was in view of the lake, but surrounded by mostly RVs and trailers. It was a big open site that was easy to pull the boat in and out of . The big thunder bumpers were to the north and east of us and we didn’t get any rain. We took a tour around the lake and saw where the fire came right down to the Mill Creek bay, but the rest of the shoreline was unscathed with no fire scars in view. We had excellent burgers at the Lakeshore Resort on the deck overlooking the lake. We went back to camp and built a small campfire in the pit, and watched the light show from the lightning in the northeast.  As darkness fell, we could see thousands of stars, and saw dozens of satellites floating through the night sky. About midnight I woke up on the cot outside with rain hitting my face. I was under the awning that was on John’s camper shell, so I adjusted closer to the truck, and then the rain stopped and the stars came out again. Tuesday morning, we were up at 5:30, made coffee and broke camp. We launched at Sandy Point on the Mill Creek cove. As we got on the water, we noticed the lake looked kind of murky. Not muddy, but just kind of cloudy like snowmelt or something. Visibility was about 5 to 6 feet. In dark water like that we usually go with bright chartreuse or fluorescent colors. The water temperature was 69 degrees when we started, and up to 70 in early afternoon. Air temperature at day break was a balmy 59 degrees and warmed up to about 80 in the afternoon. We started trolling right out of the ramp, and I immediately got a hit on the “Trout Candy” Hot ticket spoon at 49 feet deep. Just as John was getting the net the trout shook his head and got off. I thought maybe it was a German brown because of the color of the tail I saw as he dove away. Later we caught a couple of small mackinaw, and I decided that was the species that got away. We were using our normal summertime procedure – trolling deep off the downriggers at 2.2 mph over the creek channel. I caught several fish on the “Trout Candy” Hot Ticket and also on the bright yellow/red “Hot Chicks” color of a Speedy Shiner. John did well on a yellow winged Tasmanian devil and watermelon Speedy Shiner.  We were marking dozens of fish on the graph at 30 to 50 feet deep out in the deepest part of the lake and in front of the dam.  We trolled through them time and again, and did catch a few trout. We finally decided they must be schools of kokanee, so we switched to kokanee gear and went through all the marks again. I was using a Vance’s watermelon dodger with a pink Uncle Larry’s spinner and a Paulina Peak orange/UV dodger with an orange micro hootchie. John used a pink dodger and a pink wiggle hootchie. We slowed down to 1.3 to 1.5 mph and got a little frustrated with all the fish on the graph that WEREN’T biting! Finally, I managed to hook a 11 inch kokanee on the micro hootchie. Then 2 more on the same rig. John didn’t get a kokanee, but he did catch 2 absolutely gorgeous rainbows of 2 and 3 pounds on the pink wiggle hootchie setup! Those rainbows were some of the prettiest I have ever seen, covered with black dots down to their bellies and a bright red stripe on the side. We finished the day with 16 trout landed, including 4 mackinaw, 1 German brown and 11 rainbows from 12 to 18 inches. Plus, the final 3 kokanee that went home with me and were on the barbeque that evening. Four different species in one day on one lake is very unusual and lots of fun. A very good trip to one of our favorite lakes.

Cutlines:

Photo 1 – John Brassfield shows off a fat 2 1\2 pound rainbow caught on a pink wiggle hootchie at Bucks Lake Photo by Paul Kneeland, Fish Sniffer staff

Photo 2 – A gorgeously spotted and colored rainbow trout taken trolling at Bucks Lake in late August. Photo by Paul Kneeland, Fish Sniffer staff

Photo 3 – Paul Kneeland with a bright 2 pound rainbow caught on a “Hot Chick” colored Speedy Shiner at Bucks Lake. Photo by John Brassfield, Foresthill.

Victory: Broad Coalition Stops Governor’s Trailer Bills to Fast-Track Delta Tunnel

SACRAMENTO - A broad coalition of Tribes, environmental justice groups, family farmers, fishing groups, conservationists, Delta communities and elected officials celebrated victory in their campaign to stop Governor Gavin Newsom’s trailer bills to fast-track the Delta Tunnel, a project that would destroy the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin River ecosystem and Delta communities.

At midnight on Sept. 10, Newsom’s Delta Tunnel trailer bills died after no legislator stepped up to carry them forward because of the massive opposition to the bills.

In a statement, Delta Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) applauded the defeat of what they called “the governor’s controversial proposal to fast-track the costly and destructive Delta Tunnel Project.”

The proposal that sought to greatly accelerate the construction of a 45-mile-long underground tunnel that could cost upwards of $100 billion through the fragile Delta region is not advancing this year after the Legislature rejected the governor’s plan.

“Defeating the tunnel fast-tracking proposal is a major victory for California and the Delta, and for the communities, farms, and historic resources surrounding the largest estuary on the West Coast. The tunnel project not only would devastate much of the Delta region, but is also unaffordable and unnecessary,” said Sen. McNerney, whose district includes the heart of the Delta region.

“We want to thank Senate and Assembly leadership for protecting the fragile Delta region and the thousands of Californians who called on the Legislature to reject the fast-tracking plan. Assemblywoman Wilson and I stand ready to work with the Legislature and governor on alternatives that will cost far less and will safeguard California’s main water supply system without inflicting major harm to it, such as fortifying Delta levees and increasing water recycling, water efficiency, and groundwater storage,” added McNerney.

“I am relieved to see that the proposed Delta Tunnel trailer bills did not move forward,” Assemblywoman Wilson said. “Once a short-sighted policy, always a short-sighted policy and no amount of money, including the attempted $200 million payoff to Delta communities, can make up for the lasting harm this project would cause. This conversation has gone on for decades, and make no mistake: alongside Senator McNerney and our Delta Caucus partners, we will continue to stand strong and fight for the Delta and the communities who call it home.”

“Last month, the governor renewed his call for the Legislature to approve his fast-tracking plan for the Delta Tunnel Project, even though the plan was not included in this year’s state budget.

“The governor’s proposal released in May would have greatly weakened environmental and judicial review of water plans for Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, while giving the state a blank check to float bonds to pay for the water tunnel,” Wilson concluded.

Restore the Delta also applauded the defeat of the environmentally destructive trailer bills.

“Working in close collaboration with the Delta Caucus, co-chaired by Senator Jerry McNerney and Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and with the leadership of Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, advocates ensured that proposals advanced by Governor Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Natural Resources Agency, and the State Water Contractors did not move forward in this legislative session,” according to a statement from Restore the Delta.

“The defeated trailer bills would have stripped Tribes and Delta communities of their ability to participate in CEQA review of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan and would have advanced construction and bonding for the controversial Delta Conveyance Project, including unlimited bonding authority for the Department of Water Resources,” the group stated.

“Delta communities and allies across California stood up to defend clean water, fisheries, local economies, and environmental justice – and we won,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. “This victory shows that the people of the Delta will not be silenced, and that California’s laws protecting public participation, water quality, and the environment cannot simply be swept aside.”

Barrigan-Parrilla noted that the opposition was “broad and vocal.” Last week, more than 50 organizations from across the state formally opposed the trailer bills, while thousands of Californians sent emails and phone calls to legislators urging them to reject the package.

“This is a victory for transparency, for Tribal inclusion, for Delta farming communities, and for every Californian who depends on healthy rivers and fisheries,” Barrigan-Parrilla added. “We are grateful to legislative leaders who listened and stood with us to uphold California’s water laws. We are grateful to our organizational partners and supporters from throughout California.”

Scott Artis, Executive Director of the Golden State Salmon Association, also weighed in on the defeat of the controversial trailer bills:

“Governor Newsom marked the 175th anniversary of California’s statehood by praising our shared history and future in his State of the State letter. Yet, he was attempting to write salmon, fishing families, and entire coastal communities out of California’s future with his Delta Tunnel and CEQA trailer bills.

“California won’t be the Golden State if it destroys its rivers, silences Tribes, or sacrifices working families for the benefit of a handful of wealthy water contractors. These bills would have done exactly that. They would gut environmental protections, eliminate due process, and lock in a water grab that could finish off already imperiled salmon runs. Make no mistake, both the Delta tunnel and the cynical ‘voluntary agreements’ are an attempt at a massive water grab at the expense of salmon and salmon fishing jobs.

“Our statehood anniversary should be an opportunity to celebrate the people and natural resources that built California. Instead, Governor Newsom is joining the Trump Administration in pushing salmon-killing proposals that threaten to erase an iconic species, cripple an entire fishing industry, and abandon river and coastal communities that depend on salmon.

“Golden State Salmon Association and our partners thank the legislature, and particularly Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, for rejecting these reckless and cynical trailer bills. Californians deserve solutions that restore rivers, protect jobs, and honor our heritage—not schemes that will be remembered as the moment California turned its back on its people and its salmon.”

Here is what Sierra Club Water Associate Organizer, Layne Fajeau, had to say about the death of the trailer bills:

“We are incredibly proud of the California legislators who stood against the Newsom administration’s attempts to subvert crucial environmental review processes on behalf of powerful water wholesalers and agencies. Senators McNerney, Allen, Blakespear, Assemblywoman Wilson, Senate Pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the entire Delta Legislative Caucus deserve immense praise for standing up for communities and species that depend upon a healthy Delta ecosystem.”

Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, pointed out, “In this day and age, with the current state of things, it is good to see that ‘checks and balances’ and the voice of the people can still prevail. To the fellowship standing on the bridge and shouting, ‘Thou Shalt Not Pass’, and the army of clear minded thinkers supporting them, we say, thank you.”

In a press conference at the State Capitol on Friday, Sept. 5, Malissa Tayaba, the Vice-Chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, emphasized the destructive impact the trailer bills would have on California tribes if they had passed.

“The CEQA trailer bill would eliminate the opportunity for analysis and review of tribal cultural impacts in water quality control plans — it is an erasure of the commitments the Governor and the legislature have made to repair relationships with California tribes. CEQA is a critical element to inform policy choices regarding Bay-Delta management. Without CEQA analysis, much of the Delta Reform Act becomes meaningless,” Tayaba said.

“Our people and our region are not a sacrifice zone. We will continue to speak out to protect and maintain our culture,” Tayaba concluded.

If built, the Delta Tunnel would hasten the extinction of Sacramento River spring and winter-run Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt, Central Valley steelhead, green sturgeon and other fish species, according to independent scientists and fish advocates.

The Bay-Delta is now in its worst-ever ecological crisis, due to massive water exports to Big Ag oligarchs and Southern California water brokers, pollution and other factors.

The Delta smelt population has become functionally extinct in the wild. No Delta smelt have been found in the California Fish and Wildlife’s Fall Midwater Trawl Survey in the Delta for the past seven years. Commercial fishing for salmon in California ocean waters has been closed for three years, due to the collapse of Sacramento River and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon populations.

The tunnel would take even more water out of the Sacramento River before it flows through the Delta, making the ecological crisis worse than it already is.

Fall Salmon Opener Yields Salmon Limits, Fishing for Rockfish Open at All Depths

SAN FRANCISCO – The Marin County Coast was the hot spot for the four day fall ocean salmon season that ran from September 4 to September 7 from Point Reyes to Point Sur.

Cat Kaiser, Vice President of Operations and Engagement for the Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), shared her experiences fishing during the limited opportunity to target salmon this year.

“I fished 3 of the 4 days of the season,” Kaiser said. “Thursday was spent working to help restore these amazing creatures, but being on the water and seeing so many friends out there was the best!”

“As happy as I was to share the opener with everyone out there working hard, doing what we love, and feeling grateful for the chance to fish when we can, it was also a bittersweet reminder of just how precious this resource is and what our fishery could and should be,” stated Kaiser.

“A few scattered days are not a true ‘season,’ and having zero days for the commercial fleet is truly heartbreaking. As the new Vice President of Operations and Engagement for GSSA, I do solemnly swear to work every day toward bringing back a strong, healthy salmon fishery for California,” she added.

Kaiser said she was honored to kick off day one “with my passionate and hard-working friends, Unforgettable Fishing Adventures, and of course my salmon sister Annie Nagel for an episode of Angler West TV.” They departed for the fishing grounds out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

The 6 people fishing aboard the boat, along with the two crew members, landed 16 salmon, full limits, while trolling with anchovies off Double Point with Captain Virginia Salvador.

“Annie caught the largest fish, a solid 20 pounds,” said Kaiser. “I caught my limit of salmon weighing around 12 pounds each. It was wild going out of the Golden Gate that morning with all those boats to take advantage of the limited season.”

The next trip on Saturday was a GSSA all ladies trip aboard the New Captain Pete out of Half Moon Bay. This trip featured Captain Melinda Dodds and an all-female crew including Maddie Day, who just got her captain’s license, and Meghan Fox.

The fishing had slowed down from its fast pace on Saturday, but the girls landed a 27 lb. king and other hard-fighting Chinooks.

“The great part was that the girls kept great attitudes and energy despite the slower fishing this day and we snacked on delicious food. We had a dance party during a whale show on a flat calm ocean in the sun. We fished in tank tops and Grundens,” Cat noted.

Before this trip, the Anglerettes Fishing Club in San Diego donated stickers, mini-tackle boxes and Fish Fiemd Hair ties scrunchies in cool travel bags with the logo, “Support your local Anglette.”

“It was all about women supporting women from SoCal to NorCal,” Kaiser noted.

The third day was another all-girls trip with 7 women, Captain Virginia Salvador of Unforgettable Fishing Adventures and the deckhand, Brian. Two of the girls, Amanda Brannon and Rosalie, caught their first-ever salmon on this fishing adventure.

“Then the fishing was really slow for hours,” she said. “Most people were struggling. Then I dropped a new bait down at 18 pulls and five seconds hooked the hardest fighting salmon I have ever caught,” she continued.

“It was 25 pounds on the scale, but it felt like a much bigger fish. I got it to the boat at least five times before it took off on another run. It was the most I ever had to finesse a salmon in,” Kaiser explained.

“The 25 pounder was the Hail Mary big fish we needed. After that fishing slowed down again. We did catch a lingcod weighing about 14 pounds while trolling on Sunday along the beach,” she said.

“I was really happy to see women captains and crew following their dreams working hard while creating a happy peaceful vibe through lights out moments to the slowest times,” she said. “The vibe was great both times.”

Now that the four day fall salmon season, is over, anglers aboard private and party boats are fishing the Marin County Coast for lingcod and rockfish.

Boats are catching limits of rockfish, along with good numbers of lingcod. And anglers now will have increased opportunities to catch lingcod and rockfish off the Marin County Coast and throughout the rest of the state’s coastal and offshore waters.

On August 14, 2025, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted emergency changes to the state’s groundfish regulations so that recreational ocean fisheries are no longer constrained by quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger). Fishing opportunities in northern and central California were reduced in 2023 due to low estimated quillback rockfish abundance:

“A new stock assessment completed earlier this summer indicates it is no longer necessary to restrict groundfish fishing to specific depths north of Point Conception in order to avoid quillback rockfish, allowing anglers to take advantage of expansions to open fishing areas. The Commission acted to rapidly change the regulations to allow additional opportunities before summer’s end,” according to the announcement from the CDFW.

Over the last few years, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collaborated with federal partners, fishing groups, and anglers to gather data and improve scientific knowledge of quillback rockfish off California. The information was crucial in informing the new stock assessment, which indicates the stock is at a healthy level and not overfished.

This finding reverses results from a 2021 stock assessment which relied on very limited data from the California stock. Retention of quillback rockfish, however, remains prohibited in all waters statewide until recommendations for sport and commercial fishery catch limits are developed for California quillback rockfish in conjunction with those for other nearshore groundfish species.

“This action is the result of hard work by a lot of people,” said Tim Klassen, an appointed advisory member for the groundfish sport fishery and a charter boat captain in Eureka. “The Commission and CDFW moved quickly to implement these changes and worked collaboratively with fishermen to achieve a result that protects our fisheries and the people that depend on them. This is what good fishery management looks like.”

With restored access to all-depth fishing for northern and central California, a sub-bag limit for canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) is necessary to keep catches within the federal California recreational harvest guideline for this species.

Therefore, a new two fish sub-bag limit will apply for canary rockfish, statewide. Additionally, vermilion (Sebastes miniatus) and sunset rockfish (Sebastes crocotulus) will be managed together as a species complex, meaning that they are considered the same species for regulatory purposes (e.g., sub-bag limit) due to their nearly indistinguishable appearance.

These changes are intended to roll back restrictions that were put into place to avoid quillback rockfish, which are very rarely seen south of Point Conception.

Anglers should review the Summary of Recreational Groundfish Regulations page for the most up-to-date information before going fishing. If anglers encounter a quillback rockfish, CDFW strongly encourages using a descending device to return it to depth. When fishing in ocean waters from a vessel a landing net is always required, and when fishing for or possessing groundfish, a descending device is required to be carried aboard.

Marin County Coast Facts:

Groundfish Regulations Summary Update:

• Effective August 28, 2025: Recreational regulations allow take of rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in all depths for state waters in the Northern, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Central Groundfish Management Areas through December 31, 2025. There are temporarily different regulations for rockfish, cabezon, greenling and lingcod in federal waters in these Management Areas. Regulations in federal waters may vary by management area. Before fishing, anglers should verify if their planned fishing location is in state or federal waters and what regulations apply in each water area. The state waters boundary line can be viewed on the Ocean Sport Fishing Map: https://cdfw.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c00c82e1f32a49e99c747e2411e3439e

Updates to federal regulations are expected in mid-September. Check back frequently for updates to federal regulations.

Charter boats: Sportfishing boats from throughout the Bay Area target salmon, halibut, striped bass, lingcod, rockfish and other species on San Francisco Bay and outside of the Golden Gate during their respective seasons.

Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco: Unforgettable Fishing Adventures (415) 656-656-5318; Gatecrasher Fishing Adventures, (925) 497-717; the Bass Tub, (415) 456-9055; Lovely Martha, (650) 619-6629; Silver Fox Sportfishing, (415) 367-5600; and Flash Sport Fishing Charters, (510) 851-2500.

Berkeley Marina: New Easy Rider, (707) 422-2050; California Dawn, (510) 417-5557; Pacific Dream, (510) 993-4414; Happy Hooker, (510) 223-5388; Hook’d Up Sportfishing, (707) 655-6736; and Goldeneye 2000, (510) 610-0888. For more information, call the Berkeley Marina Sportfishing Center, (510) 849-3333.

Emeryville Sportfishing Center: New Huck Finn, C Gull II, Kingfish, Diamond, Scallywag; Pacific Pearl, Oakland Anglers II, Lady K, Playn Hooky and other boats. For more information, call Fish Emeryville, (510) 652-3403.

Paul’s Staff Tackle 4408   Paul Kneeland fished Bucks Lake with John Brassfield of Foresthill in John’s 18 foot Duckworth.  They caught rainbow trout to 19 inches using a Daiwa North Coast 8 foot ultralight graphite rod with a Okuma Convector low profile line counter reel loaded with 8 lb test Okuma Soft Steel line.. They trolled yellow winged Tasmanian Devils and bright yellow/red Speedy Shiners off the Canon Downriggers at 25 to 60 feet deep and 2.3 mph.

Pyramid Lake Opens October 1st!

We in Northern California are very blessed to live close to what I consider to be the best trout fishing in the world! Pyramid Lake, Nevada, is a world class trout fishery that is the home of the World Record Lahontan Cutthroat trout of 41 pounds. Pyramid is the only habitat in the world for the Cui-ui fish that has been around for over 2 million years. The lake is widely acclaimed as the most beautiful desert lake, and has been attracting fishermen for decades. Pyramid is the largest lake in Nevada, covering over 125,000 acres and with a maximum depth of 350 feet. It is slightly larger than its famous neighbor, Lake Tahoe. It is fed by the Truckee River, which flows out of Lake Tahoe and through the city of Reno, before dumping into the south end of Pyramid Lake. It is located 35 miles north of Reno There are two separate species of Lahontan cutthroat inhabiting the lake, the Pilot Peak strain and the Summit Lake strain. The Pilot Peak strain trout grow extremely fast, feeding on Tui Chubs and Cui-ui, and fish up to 31 pounds have been caught in the last few years. Studies show that they can grow at an astonishing rate of up to 5 pounds per year, with 4 year old fish weighing 20 pounds!  Today, the average size trout is 4 to 7 pounds, and if an angler doesn’t land one over 10 pounds in a day of fishing, he tends to be slightly disappointed! There is no other trout fishery in the world that I know of where an angler would be even a little disappointed with 4 to 9 pound trout! The Trout Season at Pyramid runs from October 1st through June 30th. Bag limit is two fish per day between 17 and 20 inches, or one over 24 inches plus one 17-20 inches. No trout can be kept between 20 and 24 inches.

Pyramid Lake is entirely within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. You don’t need a Nevada fishing license, but you do need a Tribal Permit to recreate on the lake.  For more information, and to buy permits, go to www.pyramidlake.us, or call the Ranger Station at 775-476-1155

Cutline: Photo 1 – Huge Lahontan Cutthroat trout are caught every year from 15 to 30 pounds and more! Photo courtesy of Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

Don’t Miss the Shasta Lake Fall Trout Derby

The Fall Trout Derby at Shasta Lake is happening this October 11 and 12, 2025. The water level at Shasta is only down about 70 feet and all launching facilities are in full operation. We are all anticipating a great Fall Trout Derby!

The Fall Trout Derby is hosted by the Shasta Lake Business Owners Association. The Derby features two full days of fishing with a 4 trout weigh in per team. A team is one or more anglers fishing from the same boat. The 4 trout weigh in can only include one German brown trout per day. This derby promises a minimum of $9000 in Prize Money. The Derby entrance fee of $175 includes both days of fishing, plus a great dinner at the Lakehead Lions club, and a fun raffle. The weigh in is held both days at the Basshole and Brews parking lot in Lakehead.

New for this year is the ability to use bait for the derby. Also, the weigh location is now at Lakeshore Inn at 20483 Lakeshore Drive in Lakehead.

This is always a very fun derby with lots of camaraderie. Shasta Lake is huge, and the trout are in excellent condition this year with the high water conditions. Don’t hesitate, there is a maximum of 250 anglers allowed in the derby.

There are several places to rent a cabin during the derby, including Sugarloaf Cottages (800-853-4432) or www.shastacabins.com, and Tsasdi Resort (530-238-2575) or www.tsasdiresort.us There are also campgrounds and even houseboats available to fishermen at this time. Basshole and Brews features excellent food and drinks after a long day of fishing. Contact them at 530-962-3050 or www.bassholebrews.com

For more information, go to www.shastalaketroutderby.com, or contact Harold Jones at Sugarloaf Resort at 800-853-4432.

Silver Horde for excellent Pyramid Lake Spoons and Plugs!     Silver Horde is a top manufacturer of salmon and trout fishing lures and accessories. Whether trolling for kings in the ocean, trying to fool Alaskan silvers or just to catch rainbow trout and cutthroat trout in Northern California lakes, lures and accessories from the folks at Silver Horde/Gold Star are some of the best fish catchers around. We have had great luck fishing with Silver Horde spoons and cut plugs at Pyramid Lake. They are one of our first go to lures to start the day. The Kingfisher Spoons in 3 3/8” length in bright chartreuse and orange colors have caught many nice cutthroat for.  The Silver Horde cut plugs work extremely well to lure the big trout to the net. The cut plugs have a very active wobble action, punctuated by an extreme cut to the left or right as the plug is trolled at speed. We use the 4 inch size that work the best at 2.5 to 4 mph.   Kingfisher & Kingfisher Lite Spoons Silver Horde Kingfisher Spoons have proven themselves for trout and landlocked salmon throughout Northern California, especially in lakes like Shasta, Oroville, Folsom, Don Pedro and more. The Kingfisher spoon is a thin wobbler with a great fish attracting action at trolling speeds from 1.8 to 3.5 mph. They come in four sizes that range from 2 inches long to 3-3/8 inches. Over 50 color choices in standard, glow and Ultra Violet finishes are available. The Kingfisher spoons are rigged with stout hooks with welded rings for durability. The Silver Horde larger commercial spoons such as the S2B5 and S2B6 with the hammered finish have been particularly successful at Pyramid Lake for big cutthroats. These hammered spoons in bright colors really do well.   Silver Horde Plugs for Salmon and Large Trout All Silver Horde plugs are handmade and finished using time-honored techniques. Manufactured from high impact, top quality plastic and equipped with corrosion resistant rigging and super sharp hooks (two No. 1 treble hooks). These plugs are available in a wide variety of fish getting colors including “Double Glow” and Ultra-Violet finishes. They are proven salmon killers in the ocean and recently have been very popular for huge Lahontan Cutthroat trout in Pyramid Lake!     To see the wide variety of products, visit the Silver Horde website at www.silverhorde.com

Cutline: Brian Garcia of Alta shows off a fat 10 pound Lahontan cutthroat caught on a 4 inch Silver Horde plug.