Central California fishing report: Delta sturgeon on tap
Fishing report compiled by California Outdoors Hall of Fame member Dave Hurley and edited by Roger George, who guides in the greater Fresno area and holds the striper record at Millerton Lake.
Best bets
Delta sturgeon on tap, Dave Hurley reported. Don Pedro bass, king salmon and trout hitting, Monte Smith said. Lake Kaweah bass bite and Isabella crappie are hot, Copes Tackle reported. New Melones bass bite incredible, John Liechty said. Pine Flat bass on a solid bite, Brandon Grimsley reported. Bass Lake still kicking out big rainbows, Mike Beighey said.
Rankings key below: 4: Fish are jumping in the boat. 3: Good fishing. 2: Decent fishing. 1: Poor fishing. 0: Don’t bother
Unless noted, area code is 559
Valley/Westside waterways
Striper 2 Catfish 3
The northern section of the California Aqueduct remains very slow with high flows pumping out of the south Delta. Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported the stretch from Tracy to Patterson is flowing full bore, and it is difficult to stay on the bottom with even 8 ounces. Clifton Court Forebay is starting to produce more keeper-sized striped bass while Bethany Reservoir at the head of the aqueduct is also producing linesides. Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported small swimbaits on a slow roll upstream along the bottom are producing improved numbers of striped bass. Striperz Gone Wild Annual Memorial Aqueduct Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at Volta Road near Los Banos.
The entry fee is 10 cans of unexpired food to be donated to residents of Merced County. In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported the springtime weather brought numbers of anglers to the aqueduct system for improved fishing. Cut sardines, anchovies, live worms, and jumbo live minnows on the Carolina rig were effective for striped bass for bait fishermen while jerkbaits or Rat-L-Traps are picking up linesides after the check gates. Largemouth bass anglers reported an improved bite with Senko-style baits or Roboworms on a drop-shot rig in slower moving water along with some topwater action. SSS dip bait, chicken liver, or cut baits on a heavy sliding sinker kept baits on the bottom for catfish.
Aqueduct anglers are always advised to use caution as well as wearing a PFD as the water is swift, cold, and dangerous.
A map of the 16 designated fishing locations on the California Aqueduct can be accessed through this link: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DsWR-Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Recreation/Files/230424_SWP-Fishing-Guildines-Locations_Online_FINAL.pdf
Call: Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; Cope’s Tackle and Rod, Bakersfield (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657.
Eastman Lake/Hensley Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported experienced anglers are still finding big fish on swimbaits, wake baits, or glide baits, but a good percentage of the larger bass are wrapping up their spawn. When the warmer weather came in, the big fish bite slowed down with the best window early or late. Plastics on the drop-shot or Texas-rig have been effective for the already post-spawn fish. Kayak champion, Damian Thao of Fresno, continues to find quality limits to 26 pounds in the late afternoons/evenings throwing big paddletail swimbaits, and he said, “Not a lot of bites compared to recent trips, but my best five still went 26 pounds.”
Hensley remains quiet as the carp are dominating the shallows. Eastman is at 553.23 feet in elevation and 64% of capacity with Hensley at 504.06 feet in elevation and 47% of capacity. Only one event is scheduled at Eastman through the end of May.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; Valley Rod & Gun, Clovis 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hensley Lake Hidden Dam 673-5151.
Lake Don Pedro
Bass 3 Trout 3 Kokanee 1 King salmon 3 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing has been rolling shad for limits to near limits of king salmon and rainbow trout at depths from 35 to 75 feet. He said, “The more boat pressure there is, the deeper the fish go. They have been focusing on the shad instead of lures in the 62-62-degree water, but once the water warms up, they will become more aggressive and strike shad-patterned spoons.”
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle said, “Don Pedro is on fire for bass, and it seems they are hitting everything you can throw at them. There are fish on beds, and during the full moon, the larger fish are coming to the shorelines to spawn. The ones that aren’t on beds are holding out in deeper water.” During Saturday’s 60-boat Best Bass Tournaments, the winning weight came in at 27.33 pounds with a big fish at 7.07 by the team of Xong Heu and Yoham Chang. Although this limit was an outlier, the next nine limits were more than 15 pounds. The rising lake is a concern as the largemouth bass are attempting to spawn in shallower water. The beds are inundated several feet under water with the lake rising. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is at 806.92 feet in elevation. The lake will be very busy with 12 tournaments scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 2 Trout 3 Crappie 3 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake rose two feet to 2,573.03 feet in elevation and 45% of capacity. Cope’s reported excellent crappie fishing with limits of slabs found in the shallows of five to 10 feet with live shiners or chartreuse or white minijigs. Bass are in an early pre-spawn period with the variable weather patterns, and plastics on a shakey head or Senkos near trees along with off main lake points with big worms, deep diving crankbaits, trout imitation swimbaits, or crawdad imitation baits. The trout bite continues to be very good with shore anglers scoring with minijigs, various Power Bait offerings, Pinched Crawlers, Roostertails, or Berkley Mice Tails. Trollers are scoring with Berkley’s Flicker Shads, Tasmanian Devils, or Needlefish on lead core line. At least two of the $10,000 tagged fish and one $5,000 tagged fish were returned during last weekend’s Lake Isabella Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce Trout Fest.
In the upper Kern River, trout are found regularly throughout the 20-Mile Stretch, particularly along the easily accessed points. Salmon eggs, crickets, or trout jigs are working for spin casters while fly fishermen are finding success with nymphs, stripping streamers, or dry flies later in the day. In the lower Kern, all three sections were stocked with trout last week.
Snow melt is happening as the flows in the upper Kern River have jumped from 1250 to 2025 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake dropped to 294 cfs at First Point. Only two bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of May. Trout plants are scheduled this week in Sections 4 and 5 of the upper Kern River.
Call: Cope’s Tackle and Rod (661) 679-6351; Bob’s Bait Bucket, Bakersfield (661) 833-8657; North Fork Marina (760) 376-1812; Golden Trout Pack Station (559) 542-2816.
Lake Kaweah
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 3
The lake rose 10 feet to 673.69 feet in elevation and 57% of capacity. Cope’s reported an improved bite for both largemouth and spotted bass with Senkos on a wacky-rig, plastics on a shakey head, or Carolina rigged Robo Worms at depths from the banks to 25 feet. Some anglers reported solid fishing while others struggled likely due to the rapidly rising water levels. Crappie anglers pulled sunfish from submerged structure with small live minnows while catfish ate Triple S dip bait, cut anchovies, or sardines. The Kaweah River bumped up from 789 to 1466 cfs at Three Rivers. Only one bass tournament is scheduled through the end of May.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose 4½ feet to 638.40 feet in elevation and 65% of capacity. Cope’s reported excellent fishing as anglers are finding plenty of biting fish near the submerged trees with weightless Senkos along with RoboWorm’s Margarita Mutilator plastics on a drop-shot. Medium diving crankbaits have also been effective. Crappie took minijigs or small live minnows near the marina, and catfish were reliable for anglers soaking dip bait and chicken liver. Three bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of May. A trout plant is scheduled at the lake this week along with three plants in the North and South Forks of the Tule River.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 2 Trout 2 King salmon 1 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
The Fresno Bass Club held a two-day tournament over the weekend, and Bill Kunz of St. Croix Rods reported, “Most fish were landed on finesse techniques with either Senkos or plastics on the drop-shot, shakey head, or Texas-rig at depths from 15 to 18 feet. The reaction bite was limited, but there were fish caught on underspins, ripbaits, or topwater lures. There were plenty of keeper fish, but finding anything over 2 pounds was a challenge.” Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto had a similar report, saying, “Jigs, plastics on the drop-shot, paddletail swimbaits, or jerkbaits are working, and there are plenty of fish similar to Don Pedro, but they are much smaller.” The Reel Deel Market at Barrett’s Cove is open weekends to May 18 on Saturdays from
10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sundays from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm before opening daily on May 24. The lake rose 4 feet to 830.47 feet in elevation and 77% of capacity. McClure will also be busy with 8 tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 3
Heavy pre-derby planting a few weeks ago has contributed to bank anglrs picking up limits with the same offerings of rainbow glitter Power Bait, garlic Power Bait, Kastmasters, or inflated nightcrawlers from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina. Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported trollers are finding a larger grade of holdover rainbow up the river arm near the Exchequer Dam. The Reel Deal Market at McSwain is open weekends on Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday until Memorial Day Weekend. The lake is at 90% of capacity.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported carp have flooded into the shallows, and with the schools of carp dominating the bank area, the spotted bass have moved out into deeper water from 15 to 18 feet. Numbers of spotted bass are the rule, but most of the fish range from ½- 1½ pounds. Plastics on the drop-shot or shakey head, jigs, or small topwater lures are working for up to 30 small spotted bass per trip. With the rising water level, the largemouth bass spawn is challenged as their beds are inundated over several feet of water within a week. Spotted bass are capable of spawning in deep water, and this is one factor why spotted bass are dominating action. The lake rose 2½ feet to 545.07 feet in elevation and 72% of capacity. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have dropped to 729 cfs. Sycamore Island is reopened, and the park will be open every day from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has found the kokanee, and he put his clients onto 12 kokanee to 15 inches and 18 rainbow trout on a recent trip. He said, “We are running Apex lures or Paulina Peak’s Tackle platinum Skinny Flutter bugs tipped with Pautske’s Fire Corn behind Paulina Peak’s dodgers at depths from 10 to 65 feet. With the Kokanee showing up in good numbers we’re going to have some great action in the upcoming month as a 20-inch kokanee was already landed by a private boater. It’s looking to be a phenomenal year for kokanee.” For bass, John Liechty of Xperience Fishing Guide Service added, “It has been an incredible bite as they are biting anything you want to throw at them. We picked up a 5.70-pound spot on a swimbait and a 7-pound largemouth recently, but the most consistent action has been with Senkos, tubes, or jigs. The bass are on the banks, and if those aren’t working, spinnerbaits, flukes, or Keitech swimbaits are also working. If we could get on the lake prior to 8 am, there should be a topwater bite, but these bass will blow up also during the middle of the day.” With the 30-day quarantine restrictions, there are few boats on the lake. Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. Boats must be off the water by 4:00 pm to receive a green tag to relaunch without quarantining or decontamination. Bank fishing is allowed. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. The lake rose to 1052.37 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. Downstream Lake Tulloch is closed to boating due to the potential for invasive golden mussels.
Call: John Liechty, Xperience Fishing Guide Service (209) 743-9932; Kyle Wise, Headhunter Guide Service (209) 531-3966; Monte Smith (209) 581-4734
Pine Flat Reservoir/Kings River
Bass 3 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Brandon Grimsley reported a solid bass bite for spotted bass to 5 pounds, but most of the fish range from ½ to 1½ pounds. Catching numbers of small bass is not a challenge, but it is difficult to find any fish of size. A good number of bass are in the shallows, but there are still bass holding off the shoreline at depths from 15 to 18 feet. Plastics on a drop-shot or shakey head, jigs, or Senkos provide the most consistent action. For trout and king salmon, Chris Counts of Fresno found slow action on Sunday for only a pair of rainbow trout, breaking off a king salmon in the 4-pound range at the boat and another at 60 feet on 8-pound test. He was trolling at depths from 50 to 100 feet with Brad’s Cut Plugs loaded with a piece of anchovy. Both kings were hooked at 60 feet. A trout plant is scheduled in the lake this week along with a plant at Avocado Lake. In the lower Kings River, a trout plant is scheduled this week, and this should bring out the bite with live crickets, Roostertails, Atomic Tubes, Joe’s Flies, small spinners, or nightcrawlers. With the snowmelt starting, the flows pushed up from 1659 to 3778 cfs at Trimmer. The catch-and-release section is located below the Alta Weir (also known as Cobbles Weir) extending downstream to the Highway 180 bridge. This area is considered a zero limit, catch-and-release zone where only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. Citations remain a common occurrence for fishing with barbed hooks or in possession of trout. The lake rose 4½ feet to 895.99 feet in elevation and 70% of capacity. One bass tournament is scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported the troll bite continues to improve with deep-diving crankbaits at depths of 20 feet around the islands near Romero Visitor Center or at the dam. Jumbo minnows remain productive, but the topwater bite has been slow. Big umbrella rigs such as Yumbrella’s are working for lure tossers.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that troll bite was slow in the main lake, but better back in Portuguese Cove as the fish responded to the warming trend. “ I scouted on Wednesday with a buddy and we released about 12 fish to 25-inches. I had a sudden hit reeling in my lure when I got hit by what seemed like a better than average schoolfish. When it suddenly went around the boat- pulling me along- we both knew it was a good one. The fish was 41-inches and just under 30 pounds – a very fat, heavily built striper. We used the Seaqualizer release tool to put the big fish down to depth- and saw it swim away on the sonar. Looks like we will be getting some wind in the forecast- which typically ramps up going into May. “ George reported.
The forebay continues to kick out numbers of stripers from less than the legal 18-inch size to 19 inches. The main lake held at 89% of capacity with the forebay at 84% of capacity. The best fishing in the upper aqueduct system has been at Clifton Court Forebay. Boat inspections at San Luis Reservoir, O’Neill Forebay, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir in Merced County are required when exiting these lakes to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. At O’Neill Forebay, golden mussels were recently detected. Boats leaving these San Luis Recreation Area lakes will not be granted a “clean boat” tag. After boating in waterways, always remember to clean, drain, and dry to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. To check the real time wind conditions on the lake - use windfinder.com/forecast/san_luis_reservoir.
Call: Coyote Bait and Tackle (408) 463-0711, Roger George, rogergeorgeguideservice.com (559) 905-2954
High Sierra
Bass Lake
Bass 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 0
Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing reported, “Bass Lake is kicking out limits of nice trout to 16 inches, and there is the occasional rainbow to 6 pounds out there. I have been scoring with Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with either a piece of nightcrawler or pink maggot behind a gold, blue, or silver Dick’s Mountain dodger at depths from 5 to 12 feet. Orange or pink squids or pink UV Apex lures are also producing behind Dick’s dodgers. No kokanee has shown up yet, but they’re out there. The lake is coming up fast and looking good.” Chris Counts of Fresno was out with his daughter, Audrey, on Saturday, and he reported a slower bite with two smaller trout 10 to 15 inches depths from 8 to 15 feet with pink Dick’s Mountain Hoochies or wiggle hoochies pink behind a Dick’s Mountain Sunrise Dodger along with Rapalas. He confirmed that Captain Mike Beighey was doing very well that day. Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported the bass bite has slowed a bit, but the fish are still in full feeding mode at depths to 10 feet. The public launch is doable, but the dock is still out of the water. A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1.
Call: Mike Beighey, Bass Lake Fishing 676-8133
Edison/Florence/Mammoth Pool
Kaiser Pass Road is closed to vehicle traffic with only snowmobile access available. Edison dropped to 20, Florence rose to 18, and Mammoth Pool also rose to 77% of capacity.
Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols, reported, “It appeared that summer arrived this past weekend with dozens of boats out on the lake. Shaver regulars Jay and Delinda Irvine of Visalia fished the lake hard Friday for only 3 hookups while another regular, Brian Klassen of Reedley, also fished Saturday with his brother Evan, friends Kyle Allen of Reedley, and Craig Gonzalez of Lemore. Klassen reported much slower action from what they experienced the previous week when they got into limits of trout, including 7 trophy sized fish. Last Saturday, they were able to only pick up 6 trout to 7 pounds and one 10-inch kokanee. Their best tackle combinations were pink spinner hoochies, Dick’s Trout Buster’s tipped with crawler or flatlining a Rapala, but there was no one consistent area of lake.” With the release of the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project’s trophy rainbows on March 24th, successful shore anglers have been removing hundreds of dollars’ worth of trout on a single outing. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. At Huntington, fishing interest is left to the most dedicated brown trout trollers. Shaver rose to 77 with Huntington also rising to 40% of capacity.
Call: Paul Brown 300-4001; Tom Oliveira, Tom Oliveira Fishing 802-8072; Todd Wittwer, Kokanee.net Guide Service 288-8100;
Wishon/Courtright
Trout 0
McKinley Grove Road is closed, limiting access to both reservoirs. McKinley Grove Road will remain closed until the regularly scheduled reopening on Memorial Day 2025 Weekend, depending upon weather.
Road conditions – Sierra National Forest Ranger Station 297-0706.
Call: Wishon RV Park 865-5361
Ocean
Half Moon Bay
Rockfish 3 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
The momentum for a truncated salmon season has picked up steam, and the alternatives will be released on Tuesday from the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) meetings in San Jose, CA. One alternative appears to be a two-day season in July and August with a 7,000-fish harvest quota. Party boats are already taking reservations in anticipation of the short season. There is concern about the short season for boater safety as all of the pressure will be concentrated on the two-day or so season, and some private boats may not be up to safety standards depending upon ocean conditions on the specific open dates. The Council will adopt final regulatory measures for analysis by the Salmon Technical Team, and the final adoption of recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service will also occur and is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 15. The Council-Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2025 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations will be available online in late April at https://www.pcouncil.org/. Next, the California Fish and Game Commission will receive an update on ocean salmon sport fishery regulations in effect during their meeting on April 16/17. The deep water season more than 50 fathoms ends on April 30, and the nearshore rockfish season starts May 1 through Sept. 30. Party and private boats will focus on nearshore rockfishing starting May 1. Rock crab and rockfish are possible from the North or South Jetty with surf perch from the beaches.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819;
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
From the beaches, Mickey Clements of Coyote Bait and Tackle reported continued excellent perch fishing from the Watsonville-area beaches depending up on the surf conditions. The same baits of 2-inch Lucky 13 or Honey Badger grubs in motor oil/red flake on a Carolina-rig are working best. Striped bass to 20 inches have been taken from the beaches near the mouth of the Salinas River, and Duo Realis 150 Sprat jerkbaits in Green Sardine or Genkai Sardine.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “After a few days of poor weather, deepwater rockfishing has taken off all around the Monterey Bay. Saturday’s conditions were much more on the comfortable side of things compared to earlier in the opening week. Waves were reported as be five feet from the west, and winds were a gentle three knots offshore in the early morning, before switching to west winds and building up to around 15 knots in the afternoon. We saw most of the charter operations fishing by Saturday as well as a flotilla of private boats from our harbors and visitors with their trailers boats. Monterey and Moss Landing Harbors are free and clear for entrance and exits. Santa Cruz Harbor is still dredging at the jetty entrance, with shoaling warning still in place. The current entrance sounding at Santa Cruz indicates a stable channel dead center of the jaws with 12- to 20-foot depths as of April 2.
Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching in Monterey sent out both the Caroline and Check Mate last Thursday and reported pretty good deepwater rock fishing. They counted limits of up to 200 rockfish, double-digit lings and a high count of 15 Petrale sole for their efforts. Neighboring J&M Sportfishing on old Fisherman’s Wharf ran short four-hour trips and still managed limits of rockfish for the Kahuna on Sunday along with lingcod counts up to 12. On the north side of the bay, Stagnaro’s Sportfishing counted 184 rockfish for their initial trip of 2025. On the seven-hour sojourn, the Santa Cruz charter company found mostly chilipeppers, vermilion and bocaccio, with a nice bonus of 25 Petrale sole. Six pack operator Go Fish Santa Cruz reported limits of vermilion, yellow tail, green spots, canaries and bocaccio.
Call: Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching (831) 375-5951; Allen Bushnell, Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Casting (831) 251-9732
Golden Gate/San Francisco Bay
Halibut 2 Striper 3 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 3 Sturgeon 2
The weather cooperated offshore on Sunday, and Captain Rick Powers out of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing took his crew out for 19 limits of ling cod to 22 pounds along with 19 limits of big Boccaccio, canary, and vermilion rockfish. Deep water rockfishing more than 50 fathoms ends on April 30 with additional deep water windows in October and December. More boats will be chasing rockfish off the Marin coastline once the nearshore season opens from May 1 through Sept. 30. Inside the bay, the large minus tides slowed down the halibut action in the south bay, but the two boats out of California Dawn Sport Fishing put in over a fish per rod with 30 halibut to 12 pounds and 13 striped bass to 12 pounds for a combined 29 anglers on Saturday in the south bay. The tides back off progressively every day this week, and this coming weekend should produce improved scores. There have been some large halibut in the bay as the Salty Lady out of Sausalito picked up a 30-pound flatfish on a youth trip with Korty’s Fish Camp. In San Pablo Bay, Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursion found outstanding action on Sunday soaking anchovies near China Camp for striped bass to 14½ pounds including another at 10 pounds and a 10-pounder released. He said, “On Saturday, we had three halibut to 10 pounds on the anchor in the muddy water along with three striped bass, breaking off a big bass. There were unlimited leopard shark and rays on Saturday, but the sharks and rays were absent on Sunday despite being in the same area.”
Call: Captain Ron Koyasako, Nautilus Excursions (916) 704-4169; Captain Jerad Davis, Salty Lady (415) 760-9362; Captain Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Happy Hooker (510) 223-5388
San Luis Obispo
Rockfish 3 Surf perch 3
The rockfish season is open at all depths from April 1 through June 30, boats from all three San Luis Obispo County ports were out over the weekend. Out of Patriot Sport Fishing at Port San Luis, one boat took out 19 anglers on Sunday for 103 assorted rockfish, 18 Boccaccio, 2 vermilion, 2 copper, and a 5-pound ling cod. Morro Bay Landing had two boats out on Monday with a combined 27 passengers for 90 assorted rockfish, 54 vermilion, 54 Boccaccio, 10 Bolina, and seven ling cod. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Black Pearl was out on Monday with 25 passengers for limits of rockfish consisting of 225 assorted rockfish, 25 vermilion to 6 pounds, and three ling cod to 6 pounds.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 2 Striper 2 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The striped bass are on the move, and Captain Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Laurizen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley reported, “We have been grinding out limits, but it hasn’t been easy. The stripers are constantly moving, and you must be in the right place when the bite happens. You might find them one day in a specific location on a certain tide, but they will be gone the following day. You must run and gun and burn lots of fuel to stay on the fish. We have been trolling Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, and this is the latest that I haven’t been able to drift live bait as there isn’t the concentration of fish necessary to drift bait. Most of the boat traffic remains on the San Joaquin side as the Sacramento side of the Delta remains inconsistent.”
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Sport Fishing was also on the San Joaquin River from the Santa Clara Shoals to Piper Slough for eight striped bass to 8 pounds by 10:30 running deep diving Yo-Zuri’s at depths from 15 to 20 feet. Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors said, “The bulk of the striped bass are upriver with the full moon for the spawn, but we found 20 stripers to 10 pounds tossing lures in the shallows inside Liberty Island. You have to know what you are doing to go inside the flooded island as once the tide goes out, you will get grounded.”
Bait fishing with cut sardines in the north Delta around Hood and Clarksburg is another option. Sturgeon fishing remains outstanding in Suisun Bay although few party boat captains are running trips. Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing is going back between San Francisco Bay at Berkeley on his larger boat, the Malia Kai, and the six-pack, Top Gun, for sturgeon trips.
In the south San Joaquin River around Lathrop, Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle said, “The striper bite is getting better and better every week from Mossdale to Dos Rios with anchovies, sardines, pile worms, or blood worms. The river is still high and the current is running, but the bite is much better.”
Call: Steve Mitchell, Hook’d Up Sport Fishing (707) 655-6736; Vince Borges, Vince Borges Outdoors (209) 918-0828. Soo Hoo Sport Fishing (925) 899-4045.
Events
April 19
Grand opening of Cope’s Rod and Tackle at their 2nd location at 1654 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield CA from 10 am to 2 pm. The first 100 customers will receive a free grab bag.
May 17
Striperz Gone Wild Annual Memorial Aqueduct Tournament at Volta Road near Los Banos. The entry fee is 10 cans of unexpired food to be donated to residents of Merced County.
Tournament results
April 12
Delta/Big Break Marina – Best Bass Tournaments Golden Mussels – April 12th: 1st – Lorenzo/Lucia Rossetti – 23.26 pounds (Big Fish – 9.23); 2nd – Daniel and Daniel R. Hurley – 21.99; 3rd – Kelly Oward/Jeffrey Russell – 21.53.
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments Mother Lode Region
1st –Xong Heu/Yoham Chang – 27.33 pounds (Big Fish – 7.06); 2nd – Trey and Shane Hawkins – 19.20; 3rd – A.J. and Albert Azevedo – 17.20.
April 12-13
McClure – Fresno Bass Club
1st – John Albidrez– 24.28 pounds; 2nd – Lazaro Calderon – 23.30; 3rd – Kyle Reynolds– 23.07. Big Fish – 4.54 pound – A.J. Duncan.
April 13
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc. High Roller Division
1st – Dan Fonte/John Clark – 17.76 pounds; 2nd – John Garrett/Daryl Broughton – 17.52; 3rd – Juan Padilla Jr. – 17.05.
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc. Low Roller Division
Ted Perry – 21.52 pounds (Big Fish – 6.82); 2nd – Will Karnthong/Kevin Dunn – 21.02; 3rd – Asher Haynes/Luke Beaty – 19.23.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
Note – tournaments scheduled for New Melones, Camanche, Tulloch, or Pardee are subject to change and will not be listed
April 13
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Bass Lake – Kings VIII Bass Club
April 18
Don Pedro – E and J Gallo Winery
April 19
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Don Pedro – Angler’s Press
Pine Flat – Central Valley Kayak Fishing
Bass Lake – Sierra Bass Club
Success – Bass 101
Lopez – Best Bass Tournaments
April 26-27
Don Pedro – Bakersfield Bass Club
Santa Margarita – Golden Empire Bass Club
April 26
Delta/B and W Marina – Central Valley Anglers Striper Derby
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – 17/90 Bass Club
McClure – MCFFA Local 1289
Bass Lake – Kerman Bass Club
April 27
Bass Lake – Kings River Bass Club
May 3 -4
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Angler’s Press
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments
Bass Lake – Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce Trout Derby
May 3rd –
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Christian Bass League
Hume Lake – Hume Lake Christian Camp
San Antonio – American Bass Association
May 4
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
May 9/10th-
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
May 9
Don Pedro – Tulloch Friday Nights
May 10
Delta/ San Joaquin County – California Bass Federation
May 16
Don Pedro – Stanislaus County Sheriff
May 17-18
Don Pedro – Sierra Bass Club/Valley Backlashers
Nacimiento – C.A. B.A.S.S. Nation
May 17
Delta/Big Break Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
McClure – Bass Anglers of Northern California/Kerman Bass Club
Bass Lake – Bass 101
Success – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments/Bakersfield Bass Club
Isabella – American Bass Association
San Antonio – Best Bass Tournaments
Santa Margarita- Kern County Bassmasters
Lopez – Golden Empire Bass Club
May 18
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – Fresno Bass Club/Kings VIII Bass Club
McClure – Best Bass Tournaments
May 24
Delta/San Joaquin County – Yak A Bass
Pardee – Angler’s Press Outdoors
New Hogan – 17/90 Bass Club
Santa Margarita – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
May 25
Delta/Big Break Marina – California Bass Federation
May 30 – June 1
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Bass Angler Inc.
May 31-June 1
Don Pedro – Modesto Ambassadors
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Delta sturgeon on tap."