Fishing in California
California has some of the best fishing in the United States. There are great opportunities for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Below you will find main species found in California.
Fish Species in California
Freshwater Species
- Laremouth Bass
- Smallmouth Bass
- Brook Trout
- Brown Trout
- Bull Trout
- California Golden Trout
- Coastal Cutthroat Trout
- Coastal Rainbow Trout
- Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout
- Goose Lake Redband Trout
- Kern River Rainbow Trout
- Kokanee
- Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
- Little Kern Golden Trout
- McCloud River Redband Trout
- Paiute Cutthroat Trout
- Striped Bass
- Warner Lakes Redband Trout
Saltwater Species
- Abalone
- Billfishes
- California Halibut
- California Spiny Lobster
- Clams, Scallops and Other Bivalves
- Crabs
- Fish Identification
- Groundfish (includes rockfish species)
- Grunion
- Jack Mackerel
- Kelp Bass
- Market Squid
- Northern Anchovy
- Ocean Salmon
- Pacific Halibut
- Pacific Mackerel
- Pacific Sardine
- Record Fish and Invertebrates
- Sharks
- Striped Bass
- Surfperch
- Tagged Surf Fish
- Tidal Invertebrates
- Tunas
- White Seabass
California Fishing Regulations
Before fishing in California it is important to familiarize yourself with their fishing laws. Knowing the laws specifically for the type of fishing you will be doing ensures you remain legal and avoid a costly fishing ticket.
In addition to knowing the laws, you will need a fishing license if you are over the age. There are multiple types of licenses available depending on the type of fishing, your age, and the length of time you need to be licensed. We have an in-depth guide on California’s fishing licenses to walk you through the entire process.
California Freshwater Fishing Records
| Species | Weight | Location Caught | Date | Angler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 21 lbs 12 oz | Castaic Lake at the main boat ramp (Los Angeles) | March 5, 1991 | Michael Arujo (Santa Monica) |
| Smallmouth Bass | 9 lbs 13 oz | Pardee Reservoir (Amador) | July 3, 2007 | Harold Hardin (Stockton) |
| Spotted Bass | 10 lbs 4 oz | Pine Flat Lake (Fresno) | May 3, 2001 | Brian Shishido (Lindsay) |
| Striped Bass | 67 lbs 8 oz | O’Neill Forebay (Merced) | May 7, 1992 | Hank Ferguson (Soquel) |
| White Bass | 5 lbs 5 oz | Ferguson Lake (Riverside) | May 8, 1972 | Milton Mize (Chula Vista) |
| Bluegill | 3 lbs 14 oz | Rancho Murieta Reservoir (Sacramento) | June 22, 2008 | Michael Holoubek (Elk Grove) |
| Blue Catfish | 113 lbs 5 oz | San Vicente Reservoir (San Diego) | July 24, 2008 | Steve Oudomsouk (San Diego) |
| Bullhead Brown Catfish | 4 lbs 8 oz | Trinity Lake (Trinity) | October 7, 1993 | Gary Dittenbir (Lewiston) |
| Channel Catfish | 53 lbs 8 oz | San Joaquin River (Stanislaus) | September 22, 2008 | Randall Gilgert Jr. (Turlock) |
| Flathead Catfish | 72 lbs 14 oz | Colorado River (Riverside) | April 22, 2003 | Billy Joe Potter (Blythe) |
| White Catfish | 22 lbs 0 oz | Land Park pond (Sacramento) | March 21, 1994 | James Robinson (Sacramento) |
| Black Crappie | 4 lbs 1 oz | New Hogan Lake (Calaveras) | March 29, 1975 | Wilma Honey (Lodi) |
| White Crappie | 4 lbs 8 oz | Clear Lake (Lake) | April 26, 1971 | Carol Carlton (Lakeport) |
| Carp Minnow | 52 lbs 0 oz | Lake Nacimiento (San Luis Obispo) | April 1968 | Lee Bryant (Fresno) |
| Sacramento Perch | 3 lbs 10 oz | Crowley Lake (Mono) | May 22, 1979 | Jack Johnson (Carson) |
| Pumpkinseed | 1 lbs 0 oz | Mountain Meadows Reservoir (Lassen) | August 4, 1998 | Dave Smith (Richmond) |
| Chinook Salmon | 88 lbs 0 oz | Sacramento River (Shasta) | November 21, 1979 | O. Lindberg (Red Bluff) |
| Chinook Salmon (Inland) | 11 lbs 3 oz | Trinity Lake (Trinity) | August 13, 2012 | Mike Elster (Roseville) |
| Coho Salmon | 22 lbs 0 oz | Paper Mill Creek (Marin) | January 3, 1959 | Milton Hain (Fairfax) |
| Coho Salmon (Inland) | 8 lbs 1 oz | Lake Oroville (Butte) | March 3, 2012 | Hoshua Giordano (Oroville) |
| Kokanee Salmon | 4 lbs 13 oz | Lake Tahoe (Placer) | August 1, 1973 | Dick Bournique (South Lake Tahoe) |
| Pink Salmon | 8 lbs 11 oz | Sacramento River (Shasta) | September 22, 2001 | Mike Daily (Red Bluff) |
| American Shad | 7 lbs 5 oz | West Branch of the Feather River (Butte) | May 9, 1985 | Craig Stillwell |
| White Sturgeon | 468 lbs 0 oz | San Pablo Bay (Contra Costa) | July 9, 1983 | Joey Pallotta (Crockett) |
| Redear Sunfish | 5 lbs 3 oz | Folsom South Canal (Sacramento) | June 27, 1994 | Anthony White (Citrus Heights) |
| Warmouth Sunfish | 0 lbs 15 oz | Hensley Lake (Madera) | May 21, 2004 | Russell Jacobs (Fresno) |
| Tilapia | 6 lbs 0 oz | Palo Verde Lagoon (Imperial) | April 5, 2007 | Gary Horton (Palo Verde) |
| Brook Trout | 9 lbs 12 oz | Silver Lake (Mono) | September 9, 1932 | Texas Haynes |
| Brown Trout | 26 lbs 8 oz | Twin Lakes (Mono) | April 30, 1987 | Danny Stearman (Bakersfield) |
| Bull Trout | 9 lbs 11 oz | Lake McCloud (Shasta) | May 1968 | James McCloud |
| Cutthroat Trout | 31 lbs 8 oz | Lake Tahoe (Placer) | 1911 | William Pomin |
| Golden Trout | 9 lbs 8 oz | Virginia Lake (Fresno) | August 18, 1952 | O. Benefield (Compton) |
| Lake Trout | 37 lbs 6 oz | Lake Tahoe (Placer) | June 21, 1974 | Robert Aronsen (South Lake Tahoe) |
| Rainbow Trout | 27 lbs 0 oz | Lake Natoma (Sacramento) | October 2, 2005 | Frank Palmer (Orangevale) |
| Domestic Rainbow Trout | 28 lbs 5 oz | Private lake (Butte) | January 3, 2006 | James Harrold (Cohasset) |
| Rainbow Steelhead Trout | 27 lbs 4 oz | Smith River (Del Norte) | December 22, 1976 | Robert Halley (Crescent City) |
| Mountain Whitefish | 3 lbs 1 oz | Lake Tahoe (Placer) | January 24, 2004 | Gregg Harris (Truckee) |