California fishing seasons

108 species profiles in our database list California waters among their fisheries — including Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, Redear Sunfish. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in California

Months when the largest share of California's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

California fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in California

Species	Season
American Shad	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Atlantic Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Brook Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Cutthroat Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Golden Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Grass Carp	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Green Sturgeon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Gulf Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Inland Silverside	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Kokanee Salmon	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Lake Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Largemouth Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Pallid Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Rainbow Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Redear Sunfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Shortnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Shovelnose Sturgeon	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Spotted Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Steelhead	Jan–Feb–Jun–Jul–Aug–Dec
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Threadfin Shad	Varies by watershed and local regulation

Saltwater & brackish species in California

Species	Season
Albacore Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Atlantic Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Atlantic Cutlassfish	Varies by region and regulation
Atlantic Lumpfish	Varies by region and regulation
Atlantic Moonfish	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Pomfret	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Ballan Wrasse	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Bank Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Barred Sand Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Barred Surfperch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Basking Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Black Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Blackfin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Blackgill Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Blacktip Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blacktip Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Blue Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Blue Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Bocaccio	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Brown Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
California Halibut	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
California Sheephead	Jan–Feb–Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov–Dec
Canary Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Chilipepper Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
China Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Chinook Salmon	Run-dependent by river/region; check run timing
Common Thresher	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Copper Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Darkblotched Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Dover Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Dusky Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Flag Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Gopher Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Grass Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Grey Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Kelp Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Kelp Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Lemon Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Lingcod	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Longfin Mako	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Longtail Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Napoleon Wrasse	Varies by region, spawning cycle, and fishery regulation
Nurse Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Oarfish	Varies by region and regulation
Ocean Sunfish	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Oceanic Whitetip Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Olive Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Opah	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Pacific Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Pacific Chub Mackerel	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pacific Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Pacific Pomfret	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Pacific Sanddab	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker	Varies by region and regulation
Petrale Sole	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Porbeagle	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Quillback Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Redtail Surfperch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Reef Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Ribbonfish	Varies by region and regulation
Rosy Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Salmon Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Sand Tiger Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sandbar Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Sharksucker	Varies by region and regulation
Sharptail Mola	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Shortfin Mako	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Shortraker Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Silky Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Silvergray Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Southern Bluefin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Spinner Shark	Varies by region and regulation
Spotted Bay Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Starry Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Stripetail Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Tiger Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Treefish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Undulate Ray	Varies by region and regulation
Vermilion Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
White Seabass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Widow Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yelloweye Rockfish	Open seasons vary by region/depth; check regulations
Yellowmouth Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yellowtail	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Yellowtail Amberjack	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Yellowtail Rockfish	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules

Where to fish in California

• California banks (CA)
• California offshore
• Sacramento (CA)
• Monterey Bay (CA)
• Channel Islands (CA)
• California/Baja

Fishing in the West

Washington · Oregon · Nevada · Arizona · Utah · Idaho · Montana · Wyoming · Colorado · New Mexico · Alaska · Hawaii