Central California fishing report: Pine Flat bass and trout on the attack
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 bass hitting , Alan Fong reported. Shaver kokanee action good, Dick Nichols said. New Melones kokanee on fire, Kyle wise reported. Pine Flat bass and trout on the attack, and Eastman bass continue feeding, Tas Moua said. McClure bass bite solid, Aaron Jones reported. Wishon trout on a tear, Kelly Brewer said. Don Pedro king salmon action good, Omega Nguyen reported.
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 remains hit or miss.
“Only a few anglers have been trying, and the results have been small, undersized striped bass or catfish,” Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait and Tackle in Lathrop said. There have been some huge striped bass in the 40-pound range caught and kept from the aqueduct as well as in the dirt canal near Gustine. For some reason, several large striped bass were vulnerable this week.
In the southern section of the aqueduct, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported decent action with small striped bass with some keepers in the mix on cut bait, jumbo live minnows, or live worms after the check gates. Anglers willing to move from gate to gate until they located biting fish found limits. Jerkbaits, swimbaits, or lipless crankbaits are effective in the mornings. Largemouth bass are taken on flukes or Senkos on a drop-shot rig in the eddies, near outtake grates, and after bridge pylons. Catfish anglers did well after dark with cut baits, dip bait, or chicken liver.
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 3 Trout 2 Bluegill 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 3
Tas Moua of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported a continued good largemouth bass bite off the shorelines at depths from 25 to 35 feet with big plastics such as 6½-inch Trick Worms on the drop-shot.
“First thing in the morning, there is a reaction bite as the suspended bass are chasing the bait fish,” he said. “There is a good crappie bite at night near the dam. Live crawdads have also been effective from the banks.” At Hensley, Moua reported bluegill and catfish are the top species. Eastman dropped close to three feet to 545.39 feet in elevation and 57% of capacity with Hensley dropping two feet to 497.80 feet in elevation and 40% of capacity. Only two events are scheduled at Eastman through the end of June.
Call: Eastman Lake 689-3255; 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 2 Kokanee 2 King salmon 3 Crappie 2
King salmon have been the story for trollers with Steve and Lynda Wirfs of Salida loading up with 10 kings within two hours working near Moccasin. Omega Nguyen of Mega Bait reported sales of small threadfin shad are high, and rolling shad is producing kings to nearly seven pounds. Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait and Tackle reported the bass have moved out to 15 to 25 feet with weightless Senkos or plastics on a drop-shot or shakey head. Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake rose to 820.18 feet in elevation, and the Blue Oaks may be closed temporarily without notice due to rising water. The lake will be very busy with eight tournaments scheduled through the end of June. A self-inspection is required for launching. Call: Monte Smith, Gold Country Sport Fishing (209) 581-4734; Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake Isabella/Bakersfield area
Bass 3 Trout3 Crappie 2 Catfish 3 Bluegill 3
The lake rose a foot to 2,584.72 feet in elevation and 62% of capacity. Cope’s reported crappie fishing remains active in 20 to 30 feet of water near submerged brush or timber with minijigs, small Keitech swimbait, or live minnows. Sonar has been critical to locating schools. The warmer water temperatures have spurred on the bass around Lime Dyke, Rocky Point, Engineer’s Point, and the Three Crosses area with green pumpkin creature baits, Rapala’s Mavrik deep jerkbaits in Pro Blue or Bold Shad, chatterbaits, or big swimbaits. Cope’s Pro Staffer Rusty Brown caught and released an 11.16-pound bass this week. Rocky structure and deeper shelves are key holding zones, and bass are responding to both reaction and finesse-style baits depending on the time of day. Rainbow trout fishing is good with the best action coming around the Cemetery and North Fork area with Power Bait, spinners, or nightcrawlers, especially in the morning hours before the sun warms the water. Catfishing remains solid in the deeper coves and channel with chicken liver, clams, or nightcrawlers. Baits with strong scent trails are helping draw them in. Bluegill are also active, especially in shallow areas near the French Gulch Marina.
In the Kern River, Cope’s reported good fishing condition in Sections 4, 5, and 6 from Powerhouse #3 through Riverside Park in Kernville up to the Johnsondale Bridge due to recent plants along the 20-mile stretch. Anglers are finding success in easily accessible spots and deeper pools with spinners, trout worms, or salmon eggs while fly anglers are experiencing steady action with attractor nymphs and streamers, especially during afternoon hours. The flows are ideal for both wading and bank fishing, and the river remains fishable despite higher flows. Trout are holding in softer edge waters and responding well to streamers, particularly when avoiding the main current. The Lower Kern is also producing solid trout action in Sections 1 through 3—from Democrat Beach to Isabella Dam with salmon eggs, Gulp! Pinched Crawlers, chartreuse garlic Power Bait, or spinners in the early morning and late evening hours. Bass fishing was solid, particularly in the canyon and stretches leading into Bakersfield soft plastics, jigs, or crankbaits. Catfish are responding cut baits, nightcrawlers, or Triple S Dip Bait.
The flows in the upper Kern River rose slightly to 2,396 cfs at Kernville while water releases out of the lake rising from 784 to 1,086 cfs at First Point. Three bass tournaments are scheduled during the month of June.
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 nearly two feet to 715.05 feet in elevation and 100% of capacity. Cope’s reported spotted bass struck plastics on a drop-shot or shakey head or Hula grubs around rocky structure, bluff walls, and points to depths to 25 feet. A smaller grade of bass found in the shallows in the mornings on squarebilled crankbaits. Crappie are taken in the backs of larger coves with small live minnows or swimbaits while cut baits or chicken liver on a Carolina-rig were effective for catfish. The Kaweah River rose to 1450 cfs at Three Rivers with consistent snow melt. A single bass tournament is scheduled through the end of June.
Lake Success
Bass 3 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake rose to 652.25 feet in elevation and 102% of capacity. Cope’s reported solid fishing with largemouth bass taken on weightless Senkos in green pumpkin or black jigs with a Berkley Chigger Craw trailer at depths from 5 to 15 feet with the best action around the trees. Jerkbaits or crankbaits also produced fish. Crappie are taken at depths from 10 to 20 feet over submerged brush piles with minijigs or small live minnows while dip bait or chicken liver are best for catfish.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Bass fishing is solid as Aaron Jones of Central Valley Bait in Modesto reported a strong jig bite at depths from 15 to 25 feet for suspended spotted bass. Plastics on the drop-shot are also working, and there is a two-hour window for topwater lures in the mornings or evenings. Suspended fish are holding on bluff walls or in the backs of coves. The Reel Deel Market at Barrett’s Cove is now open for the summer. The lake rose to 855.52 feet in elevation and 92% of capacity. Tournament action has slowed down with only 4 tournaments scheduled through the end of June.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
Summer arrived early over the weekend, and the lake is transitioning to a water park with the establishment of the Splash and Dash. Bank fishing remains very slow with the lack of plants over the past several weeks. Trollers have the upper hand as holdover rainbows have moved into the river arm. Rapalas, Wedding Rings tipped with a nightcrawler, or spoons at depths from the surface to 15 feet have been effective for a few quality holdovers per rod. The Reel Deal Market at McSwain opened for the summer. The lake is at 78% of capacity. The Splash and Dash opened over Memorial Day weekend, and the lake is rapidly transitioning to a summer swimming location. Information: https://mysplashndash.com/knowbeforeyougo/#hours.
Call: McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 2 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Tas Moua of Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle reported not much change on the bass fishing front with the best grade of bass found in the river arm past Temperance with topwater lures. The main lake is heavily impacted by recreational vessels. The lake rose 1.25 feet to 566.76 feet in elevation and 90% of capacity. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant are steady at 577 cfs. Sycamore Island is open every day from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Only one bass tournament is scheduled through the end of June.
Call: Fresno 559 Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service has been running up to three trips per day with up to five limits of kokanee to 17 inches within a few hours. He said, “The fish have moved off the flats, and they are sitting on the edge of the main river channel. The kokanee are aggressive, and it is important to shorten up your leader to create the erratic action the kokanee want. I have been running Paulina Peak’s Skinny Flutter Bugs or Apex lures behind a 5½-inch dodger at depths from 40 to 65 feet at speeds from 1.4 to 17 mph. The bite will only get better with this hot weather as the thermocline will stabilize.”
The bass are either in post-spawn or spawning, and the post-spawn fish are holding out deeper, biting moving baits. There are changes to launch ramp availability at New Melones with both the Glory Hole and Tuttletown ramps will open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting May 16. The Tuttletown ramp will remain closed from Monday through Thursday, but the Glory Hole ramp will be open their normal hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A decontamination unit will be available at the New Melones Marina on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting May 20. Boaters are advised to schedule a decontamination via https://musseldecon.com/ with a deposit of $60. Costs will vary from a minimum of $60 to $125 up depending upon the size and complexity of the vessel. Downstream Lake Tulloch has established the 30-day quarantine process to allow boating for inspected boats after the quarantine period is completed. The lake has dropped to 1045.05 feet in elevation and 80% of capacity with Tulloch at 95% 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 3 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moau of 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle reported a wide open bass bite with topwater lures, underspins, or jigs along with finesse presentations of plastics on a shakey head or drop-shot along main lake or secondary points. Some bass are still holding in the shallows in the back of the creeks. On the rainbow trout front, David Geil of Sanger was out with his sons Ostin and Owen on a late afternoon trip from 4-7:30 p.m., and they found steady action for three limits of trout from 13 to 16 inches, keeping one limit. They were pulling Dick’s hoochies in Texas Tea or pink tipped with a nightcrawler behind a Doom or watermelon dodger at depths from 25 to 35 feet near Windy Gap. In the lower Kings River, the flows rose from 4279 to 5977 cfs at Trimmer, and anglers must be very careful and wear a properly functioning life vest in the high flows. Anglers have been leaving the bank areas littered with debris, and all fishermen and women should leave the area cleaner than went they arrived. 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. The lake rose nearly two feet to 925.17 feet in elevation and 85% of capacity. No tournaments are scheduled at Pine Flat through the end of June. Call: 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay
Striper 2 Catfish 2 Bass 2 Crappie 2
Tas Moua reported striped bass are moving into the shallow coves chasing shad, and LV 500s, topwater lures, or flukes in shad patterns are working. Yahir Leon of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported the main lake continues to outproduce the O’Neill Forebay, and both boaters and bank anglers are tossing paddletailed swimbaits, flukes, and jerk baits.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that he scouted the lake with a friend and the bite was not easy in the hot weather.” The water is still falling a foot a day, the temps are up to 75 degrees in the heavy algae conditions and the males are milting heavily. We had to search all over the lake to find active fish for most of the day- as per usual lately. We finally found a pattern working the main lake in 70-foot plus deep water with Rapala type baits in white belly, dark backs in the 100 degree heat, releasing over 20 stripers to 9 pounds. There is some action early on the shoreline- but boaters are not getting much chance at it as the sun comes up. Jerkbaits are working , if you can find the active schools in the coves. The visibility in some spots is two inches, the algae is so thick,“ George said.
Anchovies or jumbo minnows are also effective from the banks. In the forebay, small, undersized striped bass remain the rule with the best action on topwater lures in low light conditions. Largemouth bass fishing remains solid with chatterbaits or spinnerbaits. The wind has been a concern at both reservoirs. On San Luis Reservoir, there are three wind warnings and lake closure lights near the Basalt entrance station, Quien Sabe Point, and Romero Visitor Center, and on the O’Neill Forebay, wind warning lights are located near the old Medeiros boat ramp and above the South Beach area. Amber lights signify caution conditions for winds or other concerns. Red lights indicate the lake is closed to boating and all vessels are required to immediately vacate the lake when the red lake closure lights are on.
The main lake dropped to 65% of capacity with the forebay rising slightly to 82% 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 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 lake is still pumping out some quality rainbows at depths from 10 to 20 feet with orange Fin Reaper’s Wiggle Hoochies, pink Dick’s Trout Busters, pink Dick’s Mountain tubes, pink or blue Radical Glow Tubes, or orange Apex lures tipped with pink or white Berkley Gulp! Maggots behind a blue/silver or gold/green Dick’s Mountain dodgers at speeds from 1.3 to 1.6 mph,” Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake said.
“Kokanee have yet to make a showing, but the water is warming up so I hope the kokanee will settle in at a specific depth. Shore fishing producing quality rainbows across from the Sheriff’s Rower with rainbow Power Bait.”Tas Moua reported dragging jigs in the grass flats on the west side is best along with tossing Keitech swimbaits. 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 open, and Edison is producing some brown trout near the dam. Edison rose to 48% of capacity, Florence rose to 52% of capacity, and Mammoth Pool rising to 99% of capacity due to snowmelt. Mammoth Pool is closed through June 15 for the annual deer migration, but there is some excellent news as Southern California Edison (SCE), in partnership with the Sierra National Forest are rehabilitating the boat launch and campground. According to the Sierra National Forest’s press release, “The campground and boat launch have recently been turned over to SCEs control to begin the rehabilitation work.
To complete this work, SCE will need one year for the boat launch-related work (until May 2026), and two years for the campground (May 2027), keeping in mind that given the elevation, there is only a limited window of time to complete this type of work during the year. Forest Order 05-15-51-25-06 covering SCE’s rehabilitation work will be released soon.” Road conditions are available at the High Sierra Ranger Station – 855-5355 or https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra. Kaiser Pass was anticipated to open over Memorial Day Weekend.
Road conditions 297-0706.
Call: Vermilion Valley Resort at Edison Lake 259-4000.
Shaver Lake/Huntington Lake
Bass 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 3
Another trophy brown at 16.1 pounds was landed out of Shaver by Dave Dwyer of Glen Heights, Texas with guide Todd Wittwer of Kokanee.net Guide Service running and orange Rocky Mountain Tackle double-glow hoochies behind a Dick’s Mountain Tackle Dodger customized with a piece of orange tape. This is the fourth trophy brown caught and kept in the past month out of Shaver including last week’s new lake record at 24.48 pounds by Steve Jones of Clovis.
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Mountain Tackle, said, “It was another good week at Shaver Lake with more huge browns caught and the second year kokanee are hot. I fished with Dave McGlothin of Clovis, and we found a very steady bite early, but it slowed around 9:30 a.m. as it’s an early bite right now. We moved to our rock ledge area from Black Rock and quickly received quick response from the kokanee at depths from 27 to 35 feet. The water temperature was up to 62 degrees, making the thermocline drop around10 feet deeper than the week before. We released 32 kokes on about 54 hookups using Dick’s Mountain Jimbo Trout Buster’s in green/orange or pink or orange Mountain tubes behind a D-MAC or Doc Barb Mountain Dodger. Chris Counts of Fresno fished both Saturday and Sunday for 20 to 25 hook ups per day of all kokanee to 12 inches using orange or pink Dick’s Mountain Hoochies tipped with pink corn behind a Sunrise Dick’s Mountain Dodger at depths from 28 to 38 feet. Counts added, ‘Pink Wiggle Hoochies behind a Mack’s Lure UV pink sling blade also did some damage.” 3rd year kokanee are scarce, but there is a strong possibility that the 2nd-year kokanee will mature a year ahead of time in response to few potential spawning fish in the lake. Both ramps are open. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. At Huntington, a recent trout plant should bring up the bank fishing with Power Bait or nightcrawlers near the mouth of Rancheria Creek. Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions. Shaver rose to 84 with Huntington dropping slightly to 97% 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 3
Kelly Brewer of the Wishon RV Park and Store reported wide open trout fishing at both lakes, and launching boats is possible at either lake.
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
Shallow water rockfishing is the story until this coming weekend, and the Queen of Hearts out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing returned with 19 limits of rockfish and five lingcod over the weekend. Shallow water rockfishing is open until Sept. 30. Expect big crowds at the launch ramp this Saturday as pent-up anticipation for the first opportunity to fish for salmon in 2½ years arrives. The recreational quota for the early season is 7,000 salmon, and the quota may be reached within two days. Rock crab and rockfish are possible from the North or South Jetty with surf perch from the beaches. Striped bass are moving south down the coast after coming outside the Golden Gate.
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 3 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch
“Weather continues to be a limiting fishing factor for anglers on Monterey Bay,” Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak and Surf Fishing Guide Service said. “Daily high winds have cut some trips short, though limits of rockfish were not uncommon for the folks who got out early and fished the right spots. For rock cod, the adage is true on both ends of the bay, “The farther you go, the bigger the fish and quicker the limits.”
Problem is, when the wind comes up, the ocean gets choppy, making longer trips slower, more uncomfortable and sometimes even dangerous. Monterey anglers find the best fishing on nearshore reefs around the corner of Point Pinos, heading south towards Big Sur. Santa Cruz boats head north, towards Davenport, Ano Nuevo and Franklin Point. Both Monterey and Santa Cruz areas have plenty of nearshore rock cod fishing closer to the harbors, with an array of reefs, rocky points and, near Monterey, a large swath of shell bed close to Del Monte Beach. Charter boats reported limits or near-limits this week despite the weather. Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching Trips out of Monterey had a good trip on Wednesday, counting 105 rockfish and 14 lingcod for anglers aboard the Check Mate. To the north, six-pack provider Santa Cruz Coastal Charters saw similar results on Monday.
Skipper Rodney Armstrong reported, “today’s trip went awesome. We had almost limits of nice quality rock fishing with three lingcod keepers and a big cab driver.”
Skiff renters from Capitola Boat and Bait and Santa Cruz Boat Rental on the S.C. Wharf reported a fine array of rockfish, lings and halibut up to 20 pounds. The big halibut are moving in well. Catches were reported as shallow as 25 feet of water and as deep as 80 this week. Anglers are finding success drifting or slow-trolling bait or using swimbaits or white flukes in the shallower spots. Surfcasters were put off a bit by the winds this week. Most mornings and some evenings saw calmer conditions, and fish were on the bite. We received reports of good to very good perch fishing from beaches all around the bay. The best spots seem to be the bigger beaches towards the center of the bay, from Pajaro down to Marina State Beach. Those beaches are also the central focus for striped bass hunters, who are doing quite well as the schoolie stripers are getting longer and chunkier. Size estimates from striped bass anglers this week ranged from barely legal 18-inchers to big mamas in the 30-35-inch range.”
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 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 0
The month of May was plagued with a series of minus tides along with high winds, leaving much to be desired on the halibut front inside San Francisco Bay. Thank goodness for striped bass, and although linesides aren’t the preferred species, they will more than do when the halibut bite is slow due to dirty water. With the bigger tides slowing down the halibut action, more party boats are opting for rockfishing along the Marin coast, and limits of rockfish and a healthy lingcod count is the rule.
San Francisco Bay anglers have been spoiled the past several years when a two-fish limit of halibut seemed routine, but this is a much different year as a fish per rod is a solid score. Captain Ron Koyasako of Nautilus Excursions out of San Francisco ran two half-day trips on Saturday.
“You have to grind for your fish, but we put in limits of striped bass on both trips working around Red Rock and Angel Island,” he said.
Captain Trent Slate of Bite Me Charters worked hard to find striped bass limits for his clients during the week, and he said, “It’s been tough fishing lately.”
Captain Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing focused on halibut, and he had an impressive score of 5 halibut and 4 striped bass on Saturday on his six-pack while the Lovely Martha out of San Francisco concentrated on stripers for 24 limits and a solitary halibut.
The Happy Hooker out of Berkeley has been averaging a fish to just over a fish per rod on their bay trips, primarily of striped bass, and they are offering special fares during the week with $100 for youth and $150 for adults on bay trips.
With the larger tides affecting the halibut bite, the California Dawn 1 and 2 out of Berkeley went outside the Golden Gate on Saturday for 187 rockfish, a cabezon, and 46 lingcod before returning inside the bay for 20 striped bass for their combined 30 passengers.
This coming weekend is the limited salmon opener, and there will be few boats in the bay as the rush to head outside the Golden Gate for the first time in 2½ years in search of salmon will occupy private and party boats. 2025 is shaping up to be a different year on the halibut front, and every single one landed will be a gift. In the meantime, thank goodness for striped bass.
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 2 Surf perch 3
Near limits to half-limits of rockfish are the story out of the San Luis From Morro Bay Landing, three boats were out on Monday with a combined 64 anglers for 346 assorted rockfish, 80 vermilion, 10 Boccaccio, 19 copper, 20 Bolina, and 12 lingcod to 16 pounds. The Black Pearl out of Morro Bay was also out on Monday with 27 passengers fishing deep water for 108 chili pepper, 25 assorted rockfish, 54 vermilion to 6 pounds, and 54 Boccaccio to 8 pounds. From Patriot Sport Fishing in Port San Luis, two boats were out with 31 anglers on Monday for 191 assorted rockfish, one Boccaccio, 20 Bolina, 8 vermilion, one copper, and three lingcod to 7 pounds. The local rockfish season below Point Lopez is open at all depths through June 30.
Call: Virg’s Landing (800) 762-5263; Patriot Sport Fishing (805) 595-4100; Morro Bay Landing
Others
Delta/Stockton
Bass 3 Striper 2 Sturgeon 2 Catfish 2 Bluegill 3
For most of the spring, the largemouth bass bite has been mediocre in the California Delta as there has been a rollercoaster of weather conditions, but triple digits arrived on the first of June as the winds finally laid down. With the arrival of summer, largemouth bass have jumped to the top of Delta’s gamefish species. There are still striped bass to be had, but trollers must work hard to locate the schools as they are moving rapidly from the upper river toward the cooler waters of San Francisco Bay.
“The bass bite has been good for fish in the 2- to 3-pound range with topwater lures such as ima’s Little Stick or PopR’s casting into rocks or weeds and pausing on the retrieve,” Randy Pringle, a fishing instructor, said. “When the wind is blowing, crankbaits, chatterbaits, or spinnerbaits in crawdad or bluegill patterns are effective, but when the wind dies, pitching a Berkley General in earth tones along the shoreline is a good technique. The fish will need to acclimate to the heat as we are fully in summer right now. I have been chasing stripers on the western side of the Delta, but I haven’t found many schools.”
Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors was busy breaking rods around Liberty Island as he high-sticked largemouth bass, resulting in a rod turning into two pieces. Fong put in a 25-pound limit of largemouth bass working in 2 feet of water, but the big news was his videographer, Denise Loo, landed a pair of double-digit striped bass on chatterbaits in the shallows. Fong said, “We released these fish after a quick photo, and they hadn’t spawned yet. There are still striped bass in the Delta as we have found them in Liberty while Mark Wilson, trolling expert, is finding them on the West Bank with deep-diving Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows. The San Joaquin near Three Mile Slough continues to pump out stripers on 1½- to 2-ounce shad-patterned Blade Runner spoons.”
The north Delta from Clarksburg into Sacramento has been a good location for striped bass on the anchor with cut sardines as boaters are intercepting the linesides on they way back down through the system.
Jeff Soo Hoo of Soo Hoo Sport Fishing out of Lauritzen’s Yacht Harbor in Oakley has wrapped up his spring striper season in the Delta as he will be running the six-pack Diamond out of Emeryville.
“We had to work hard on both the Sacramento and the San Joaquin for four stripers on our last trip as the big tides and wind muddied up the water,” he said. “We landed two stripers on our first pass on the West Bank, but the water dirtied up on the outgoing tide. We saw fish, but they were reluctant to bite.”
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
Tournament Results
May 30-June 1
Delta/Big Break – Bass Angler Magazine Pro Division
1st – Ish Monroe– 62.79 pounds; 2nd – Hunter Schlander – 59.62; 3rd- Christian Ostrander – 52.22.
Delta/Big Break – Bass Angler Magazine Co-Angler Division
1st – Shane Martin – 30.03 pounds; 2nd – David Zavvar – 35.83; 3rd- Aaron Vasquez – 34.66.
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
June 7-8
Delta/B and W Resort – Fresno Bass Club
Don Pedro – Best Bass Tournaments
June 7
McClure – Kerman Bass Club
Isabella – Golden Empire Bass Club
June 8
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Modesta Ambassadors/Riverbank Bass Club
Los Banos Creek – Kings VIII Bass Club
June 14-15
Don Pedro – California B.A.S.S. Nation
June 14
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – Nor Cal Bass
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Angler’s Press
Delta/Big Break Marina – Bass N’ Tubes
Delta/B and W Resort – California Bass Federation
Don Pedro – 17/90 Bass Club
Shaver Lake – Greg Mark’s Youth Fishing Tournament
Eastman – Sierra Bass Club
Kaweah – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
Isabella – Kern County Bassmasters/American Bass Association
Lopez – Bakersfield Bass Club
June 15
Delta/Ladd’s Marina – American Bass Association
Millerton – Bass 101
June 21
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Don Pedro – Manteca Bassin’ Buddies/Oro Madre Bass Club
McClure – Yak A’Bass
Eastman – Kings River Bass Club
Santa Margarita – Best Bass Tournaments
June 22
Delta/B and W Resort – Best Bass Tournaments
San Antonio – San Luis Obispo Bass Ambushers
June 28
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
June 29
Delta/Russo’s Marina – Best Bass Tournaments
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Central California fishing report: Pine Flat bass and trout on the attack."