Central California fishing report: Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon hitting
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 stripers, bass and sturgeon hitting, Steve Mitchell reported. Millerton and Pine Flat bass active, Aaron vang said. New Melones Kokanee and bass on hot bites, Kyle Wise reported. Don Pedro Kokanee and trout action heats up, Monte Smith said. McClure bass numbers excite anglers, Aaron Jones reported. Shaver action led by a 14-pound brown trout, Dick Nichols 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 slow with continued high and fast flows. Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported at least one angler has been finding success near Patterson Pass Road with jerkbaits cast into the current and retrieved back, but the bait bite remains slow. With the improved action in the south San Joaquin, most area anglers are avoiding the aqueduct in favor of the river. 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 spring bite has sprung for striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish Cut sardines, nightcrawlers, or live minnows in the areas after check gates are working for numbers of stripers ranging from 12 to 20 inches, but some bigger models were also reported. Jerkbaits, topwater lures, or flukes are also working during the mornings and evenings. Largemouth bass fell for topwater lures, jerkbaits, Senkos on a wacky-rig, curly tailed grubs, or Roboworms in green pumpkin, watermelon, or Oxblood on a drop-shot. SSS dip bait, cut bait, or chicken liver are effective for whiskerfish.
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
Aaron Vang of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported swimbait bite has slowed down, but a largemouth at nine pounds was reported from the shoreline this week. The bass are still holding in shallow water, and the topwater bite has started to take off. Small Spooks, PopR’s, Rico’s or similar topwater lures are working. Vang fished Hensley this week, and he reported numbers of bass to three pounds are in the shallows as the water temperature has risen to 70 degrees. Spinnerbaits or Brush Hogs in the shallow grass in less than five feet of water is working.
Carp are thick around the shorelines in both lakes Eastman held at 553.95 feet in elevation and 65% of capacity with Hensley rising one foot to 505.55 feet in elevation and 49% 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 2 Trout 3 Kokanee 2 King salmon 2 Crappie 2
Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing reported continued solid trolling for both king salmon and rainbow trout. Friday’s trip produced 10 kings to nearly five pounds along with two limits of rainbow trout rolling shad at depths from 40 to 70 feet.
“The water temperature dropped 4 degrees from Thursday to Friday from 67 to 63 degrees, and I had all four rods loaded with shad,” Smith said.
Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle continues to sell bags of the smaller shad for Don Pedro.
“There have been some kings in the 4- to 6-pound range on shad, and their bellies are loaded with small shad,” he said.
For bass, Aaron Jones of Central Valley reported the action has been good one day, followed by a tougher bite the next day.
“The key is covering lots of water, and once you find them, they are piled up. Keitechs, underspins, jerkbaits, and umbrella rigs are all working,” he said. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake close to a foot to 810.12 feet in elevation and 87% of capacity. The lake continues to rise, and largemouth bass are at a disadvantage as their beds become inundated several feet under water with the lake rising. A self-inspection is necessary to launch. The lake will be very busy with 10 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 2 Crappie 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
The lake rose four feet to 2,577.26 feet in elevation and 51% of capacity. Cope’s reported Crappie have been making a good showing the last couple weeks for limit-style action with live shiners, Keitech easy shiner 2- inch swimbaits, or white/yellow minijigs near the cages and structure at Kissack Cove and Paradise Cove.
Crappie are observed in two-to five-feet of water around submerged brush piles. The bass bite has really improved this week with mid-diving jerkbaits, crankbaits, Zoom Trick Worms on a shakey head, or Senkos in natural shad are working best.
For trout, the shoreline bite continues due to plants prior to the Lake Isabella trout Derby, and minijigs, garlic-scented Power Bait, Pinched Crawlers, Roostertails or Berkley Mice Tails are effective while trollers are pulling Berkley’s Flicker shad, Tasmanian Devils, or Needlefish. In the upper Kern River, Cope’s reported two sections were planted last week, but the increasing flows from snowmelt have made it challenging in some areas along the 20-Mile Stretch. Stockers and natives are taken in 20-mile stretch with salmon eggs on split-shot, minijigs, or spinners while fly fishermen are scoring with nymphs, stripping streamers, or dry flies in the afternoon. The upper Kern River was stocked last week in Section 4, Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville; and Section 5, Fairview Dam to Lazy River Lodge. In the lower Kern, the DFWL stocked all three sections two weeks ago. The Lower Kern River was stocked last week in Section 1, Democrat Beach to Lower Richbar; Section 2, Sandy Flat to Democrat Beach, and Section 3, Sandy Flat to Isabella Dam. Trout have been caught with salmon eggs, Panther Martin spinners, or minijigs. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been very good in the canyon and along the stretch leading into Bakersfield with jigs, worms, or small crankbaits. Catfish can be found with cut sardines or SSS Dip Bait.
The flows in the upper Kern River are steady at 1,944 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake rose from 455 to 555 cfs at First Point. Only two bass tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
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 2
The lake rose 7½ feet to 691.03 feet in elevation and 76% of capacity. Cope’s reported fishing has improved although the rapidly rising water levels have stalled the wide-open bite that many of the other local lakes experienced last week. However, several anglers reported good bass fishing as spotted bass took Hula Grubs, plastics on the drop-shot, or Senkos in five to 25 feet of water. The bass were scattered throughout the water column, and jerkbaits or underspins have been effective for the suspended bass. Crappie were reliable for anglers suspending live minnows and minijigs under a bobber. The Kaweah River bumped up from 1,763 to 1,944 cfs at Three Rivers. The CenCal Elite Bass Tournaments held a two-day event over the past weekend, but no further tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose three feet to 644.88 feet in elevation and 80% of capacity. Cope’s reported solid bass fishing with plastics on a Carolina-rig or drop-shot along with Spider Jigs working along main lake points or submerged trees. Senkos, creature baits, and crankbaits are finding a better grade of bass from within the trees. Crappie anglers did well with minijigs in the 10- to 20-foot zone. Catfishing is best with cut anchovies or garlic scented nightcrawlers.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported numbers of bass are there for the taking with a wide variety of techniques including plastics on the drop-shot or Ned-rig. He said, “There have been some quality bags in the 16- to 18-pound range this week.” The topwater bite continues to improve as the bass are moving off the banks into post-spawn. The Reel Deel Market at Barrett’s Cove is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday through May 18. It opens daily on May 24. The lake rose to 80% of capacity. Eight tournaments are scheduled through the end of May.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Not much change at McSwain as regular trout plants are needed to keep this lake going. The lake is due for a trout plant anytime soon. Shore anglers are picking up a few fish per rod with rainbow glitter Power Bait, garlic Power Bait, Kastmasters, or inflated nightcrawlers from the Brush Pile, Handicapped Docks, or the peninsula near the marina. 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, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday until Memorial Day weekend. The lake dropped slightly to 85% of capacity.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 3 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Aaron Vang reported a continued strong topwater bite along with jerkbaits and crankbaits while plastics on a Neko-rig have also been effective. The fish are in the shallows even though the lake continues to rise rapidly. Small fish are the rule, but they are plentiful with lots of action possible. The lake rose 5½ feet to 555.73 feet in elevation and 80% of capacity. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant have dropped to 428 cfs. Sycamore Island is open 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. No 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 3
The kokanee action has heated up in early season mode, and this promises to be a phenomenal kokanee season at New Melones. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service said, “This is honestly the best kokanee fishing I have seen at Melones. We limited out with 20 fish within two hours, and I continue to run any type of spinner behind a gold dodger. I’m not even using hammered dodgers right now. We used 6 different lures at 6 different depths, and they all caught fish, but the best action has been around 40 feet.”
For bass, Aaron Jones reported a wide open bite with everything working. He said, “40 to 55 fish days are the norm, and anglers are throwing everything from jigs to jerkbaits for action. An 11-pound largemouth was landed on a Brush Hog.”
Even though boat traffic at New Melones has been limited due to the requirement for a 30-day quarantine before a boat can be launched, more and more boaters are considering using New Melones as their main lake taking. Only the Glory Hole launch ramp is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 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 dropped around a half foot to 1051.90 feet in elevation and 83% of capacity. Downstream Lake Tulloch has established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed. The first day the lake will be open is May 16 if the boat was red-tagged on April 16. Tulloch is at 88% of capacity.
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
Aaron Vang reported the bass are pushing up shallow, and spinnerbaits or chatterbaits have been effective as the fish are chasing bait. There is a topwater bite with small Spooks, Whopper Ploppers, or PopR’s. Jigs are also effective for the spotted bass.
Jim Tartaglia of Reedley reported the lake is kicking out smaller planter rainbows at depths from 15 to 30 feet with blade/’crawler combinations near the shorelines.
“King salmon remain elusive, and although I had takedowns in the Sycamore Creek area with Brad’s Skinny Mini’s loaded with tuna and an anchovy kicker, I am rating the bite very slow as I’m not sure where they have relocated as they are scattered,” he said.
Brian Klassen of Reedley was also trolling over the weekend with his brother, Evan, son Joel, Kyle Allen, and Caleb Gunning, and after launching at 6 a.m. at Deer Creek, they started picking up rainbows immediately with shad patterned broken back Rebels behind a Dick’s Mountain Dodger at 4½ colors of lead core as they worked toward Zebe Creek. Blade/’crawler combinations or silver Speedy Shiners at 25 feet along with green Dick’s Trout Busters tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a Ford Fender at 5 colors were also effective for rainbows in the 12- to 15-inch range. They managed to find two king salmon at 18 inches running Brad’s Cut Plugs in sardine at 55 feet. In the lower Kings River, the flows remain high, and waders or kayakers need to use caution. The flows rose from 2988 to 3454 cfs at Trimmer, and anglers must be very careful and wear a properly functioning life vest in the high flows. Spinners such as Roostertails or Panther Martin’s are working around Winton Park. 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 withaf barbless hooks are allowed. The lake rose 6½ feet to 907.21 feet in elevation and 76% of capacity. One bass tournament is scheduled through the end of May. Trout plants are scheduled in the lower Kings and at Pine Flat Reservoir this week.
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
Yahir Leon of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported the troll bite is picking up with umbrella rigs or Lucky Craft Pointer 120’s at the mouth of Portuguese Cove or near the dam. Drifting jumbo minnows remains effective while blood worms, pile worms, minnows, or anchovies are working from the banks.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the winds and falling water have slowed the bite but the action should improve during the more stable weather windows.
“The fish are already milting some- however the fish should be moving into higher gear with the coming full moon. We have another big front coming through the area later this week, continuing the rollercoaster weather patterns we’ve had the past month going from warm to cold -and wind every few days. Not many anglers have been out- but I’ll be on the water this week,“ George said.
In the O’Neill Forebay, Leon reported a good bite with big rip baits or paddletail swimbaits on a jig head, but the best action remains in the big lake. The main lake dropped to 84% of capacity with the forebay also dropping to 75% of capacity. 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 2 Kokanee 0
The big event is the annual Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce Fishing Derby is May 3-4 with $55,000 in tagged fish released into the lake. Information available via https://www.basslakechamber.com/fishing-derby. A trout plant occurred last week, and Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing reported slow fishing due to the weekend storm, but the action should pick up this week prior to the big derby. For kokanee, he said, “We are still looking for them without results, but they should start showing up around the middle of May.”
Aaron Vang of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis reported plenty of bass are still on beds, and crankbaits, swimbaits, or plastics are all effective for the spawning and post-spawn bass. bass are on their beds in the 62/63-degree water, particularly near the docks. A live webcam is available at https://www.basslakeca.com/bass-lake-webcam-1. A trout plant is scheduled this week.
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 rose to 33, Florence rose to 22 and Mammoth Pool also rose to 89% of capacity with snowmelt starting to pick up steam.
Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
At Shaver, the big fish of the week was a 14-pound brown caught and reportedly released by Fred Arenas of Sanger.Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters found spectacular trolling action on Thursday before the weekend’s snowstorm with 56 hookups, releasing 24 kokanee and 9 rainbows. He said, “I fished with the Giubbini brothers, Bob, Mike, and Rick from Paso Robles along with their friend Joe Gronwald of Hawaii. Starting at the Shaver Marina at 7 am, we found an immediate bite beginning at the Point and extending to the island at 20 to 27 feet deep. We completed several passes in that area, collecting two dozen hook-ups, releasing 16 kokanee to 12 inches. We tried the Fisherman’s Club and Stevenson Creek area with little success before moving back to the island where we again began picking them up again with at times triple hits. We made a pass to Sierra Marina for triple action from the newly planted trout on pink Dick’s Mountain Tube’s or Doom Mountain Hoochies tipped with corn behind Dick’s new D-MAC Mountain Dodgers on the riggers and pink Mountain Tube’s and pink Mountain Hoochies behind Mountain Flashers at a setback of 100 feet.” Before the storm, David Geil of Sanger teamed with his dad, David Sr. for a midday trip to Shaver, and they released 14 kokanee to 11 inches and 4 trout to 17 inches working from Black Rock to the Fisherman’s Club with pink Dick’s Mountain Tube’s or Dick’s Doom Mountain Hoochies with scented corn behind Dick’s Mountain Dodgers in Watermelon or Doom on the downriggers at 35 feet along with Dick’s Trout Busters with a piece of nightcrawler behind Dick’s Mountain Flashers on the side poles at 15 feet in depth.
On Friday, Brian Log of Marshall Station and his buddy fished Shaver with Log’s favorite #2 Needlefish for two limits of kokanee near the Point along with a few trout. In releasing the second-year kokanee, it’s recommended that you keep the fish in the water and gently shake them off. They are fragile at this stage, and they are your third-year fish next year. Both ramps are open. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Huntington is thawing out, and bank fishing should be picking up soon at the mouth of Rancheria Creek. Shaver rose to 77% of capacity with Huntington also rising to 57% of capacity with snowmelt flowing down the inlets.
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 May 1, depending upon weather. A trout plant is scheduled in Dinkey Creek this week.
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 party and private boats are waiting for Thursday’s shallow rockfish opener as few boats headed out to waters deeper than 300 feet during the month of April. The Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing was out on Friday with 10 anglers for limits of rockfish and a pair of ling cod. The short two-day salmon seasons will be confirmed when National Marine Fisheries Service will take regulatory action to enact the fishing alternative in mid-May. The two-day salmon openers in June and July are filling up fast on the local party boats, and this harbor expects a crowd to arrive on June 7. 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 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 3
Yahir Leon of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported continued excellent surf perch action on the beaches from Santa Cruz to Monterey with motor oil red flake grubs on a Carolina-rig. Honey Badger’s, Mekini Baitz, or Lucky 13s are all working. Striped bass are showing up around Moss Landing and the mouth of the Salinas River with big rip baits, spoons, or plugs for linesides in the high 20 into the 30-inch range. Most of the stripers are schoolies, however.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service said, “Anglers are making the most of deep water rockfishing before the month ends. Good catches of chilipeppers, canary, and vermilion are on the menu. Depending on the spot fished, Petrale sole can be found in the deep as well as lingcod, with reports of lings up to 25 pounds this week from Monterey. Boats from Moss Landing Harbor are finding rockfish while working the slope edges of the main canyon.
“On the flats, petrale sole and an increasing number of halibut were reported this week. Water temperature is rising, and the halibut are moving in. Most mornings, conditions were fairly decent for anglers launching from the Santa Cruz Harbor. Afternoons this week featured blustery winds over a medium sized swell. Winds persisted over nights, making the ocean bumpy even at dawn a few days this week.
“The greatest number of boats are fishing for the deepwater species now and hauling in limits of various rockfish. Vermilion, canaries, chilipeppers, bocaccio and green splotched rockfish are filling up the gunny sacks and iced fish holds. Many of these deepwater rockfish are high quality, especially those heavy reds. Plenty of Petrale sole are coming home with those deepwater anglers, as well as an occasional lingcod. Some boaters are working the inside for halibut that are slow working their way into the shallows. Halibut catches were reported from water as shallow as 40 feet, though the 50-to 70-foot depths seem the best bet for now.”
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 current was ripping over the weekend, but two boats from Emeryville Sport Fishing put in a combined 40 limits and 7 ling cod on Sunday. The deep water season ends on Wednesday, and the most productive deep areas are from the North Farallons to Rittenburg Bank. Captain Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sport Fishing was also out at Rittenburg on Sunday for 14 limits of big Boccaccio, canary, and vermilion rockfish and 28 ling cod to 16 pounds before the wind determined it was time to head back to the harbor. Nearshore rockfish season opens less 20 fathoms on Thursday, May 1 through Sept. 30, and more party and private boats will work the Marin County coastline. Inside the bay, it was a striped bass weekend with limits of bass the story as the big tides slowed down the halibut bite. The Happy Hooker and Pacific Dream out of Berkeley Marina returned with 35 limits of striped bass and 7 halibut on Sunday, and this was a typical weekend score. The California Dawn 2 out of Berkeley was out on Monday for 14 limits of stripers to 9 pounds and 5 halibut to 14 pounds. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions in San Francisco was on a half-day trip on Saturday for over 30 striped bass to 8 pounds near Florida Buoy in front of Sausalito. He said, “There are spawned out fish, and several of our bass were shakers. Live bait and jigs were both working.”
The halibut scores should improve with the smaller tides by the weekend, and with the number of striped bass returning to San Francisco Bay through the Delta, the linesides will be on the rockpiles within a month.
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, two boats were out on Saturday with a combined 19 anglers for 161 assorted rockfish, 5 vermilion, one Boccaccio, and three ling cod to 6 pounds. Bay Landing had three boats out on Saturday with a combined 79 passengers for 275 assorted rockfish, 215 vermilion, 50 Boccaccio, one cabezon, two bonus California halibut to 22 pounds, and 13 ling cod. Out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, the Rita G found great action on Saturday and Sunday with sub limits of vermilion as part of 10-fish rockfish lings along with 6 ling cod and a Petrale Sole on their 12-hour trips to Cape San Martin.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 3 Sturgeon 3 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
Striped bass continue to flood through the California Delta, and for the first time in weeks, the Sacramento side from Rio Vista to Collinsville has picked up for trollers although most boats remain on the San Joaquin side. Chris Ditter of Head Rush Sport Fishing reported, “I am continuing to work on the San Joaquin from Prisoner’s Point to Eddo’s Marina with either shallow or deep running Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows. We are already getting spawned out stripers, but there are numbers of larger females around. The Sacramento side is picking up, and if you time it right before the boats get there, shallow trolling has been excellent.” Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo’s Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley added, “You must work for them, but once they are found, it’s quick limits. We are now drifting bait, and we found a biting school on the San Joaquin on Saturday. The minus tides have narrowed the windows, and there are long outgoing tides with the amount of water coming out of the upper rivers.”
Sturgeon fishing remains tremendous for the few boats trying, and Captain Steve Mitchell of Hook’d Up Sport Fishing out of Pittsburg took out social media sensation, the Fishing Queen from Louisiana for two days of non-stop action with 18 hook ups including sturgeon over 6 feet in length.
Mitchell said, “She had never fished sturgeon, but she has gone viral several times on her social media platforms. I am already getting calls from throughout the country to go sturgeon fishing in California.” For largemouth bass, Vince Borges of Vince Borges Outdoors went into the north Delta for a limit in the 22- to 22½-pound range with swimjigs inside Liberty Island. He said, “With our Forward Facing Sonar, we saw huge schools of golden shiners, and both the largemouth bass and the stripers are gorging on the big baits. We saw several huge swirls from stripers in the shallows, and these were in the 10- to 20-pound range. The largemouth bass are holding underneath wood, and our biggest bass when 7½ pounds.”
The south Delta has been ‘hit or miss’ for largemouth bass, but Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop reported continued good striper fishing in the South San Joaquin below Mossdale from the banks with anchovies, sardines, blood worms, or pile worms. He said, “We didn’t have any minnows this week, but drifting minnows or trolling is also working. There are a lot of fish and far less sea lions in the south river.”
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
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 26
Delta/B and W Resort – Central Valley Anglers Spring Striper Shootout (24.75- inch Target Length)
1st – John Handel – 24 5/8th inches; 2nd – Denise Boos – 24½ inches; 3rd – Fernando Vasquez – 24 3/8th inches.
Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
1st – Dean Miller/Darrel Masterson – 11.31 pounds (Big Fish – 3.25); 2nd – Chris Coffman/Gerardo Rigor – 9.78; 3rd – John and Brody Sharp – 9.42.
April 27
Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments Youth Tournament of Champions
1st – Israel Franich– 6.76 pounds; 2nd – Brysen Smi 5.87; 3rd – Hudson Tankersley – 2.55.
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 26-27
Don Pedro – Bakersfield Bass Club
Santa Margarita – Golden Empire 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 3
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 9-10
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 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Delta stripers, bass and sturgeon hitting."