Central California fishing report: Delta sturgeon biting; McClure bass small but aggressive
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 biting, Steve Mitchell reported. Don Pedro bass and trout hitting, Monte Smith said. McClure bass small but aggressive, Ryan Denner 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 2
The California Aqueduct is heavily stained from pumping out of the south Delta as the water in both the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems has been muddied up by the consistent rains. Bait with scent remains the best bet in all the aqueduct systems. The dirt canals around Firebaugh are also muddy and low. In the south aqueduct in Kern County, Cope’s Rod and Tackle in Bakersfield reported cut baits are working best for striped bass, and anglers are moving from head gate to head gate to find biting fish. Working the bottom with Flukes on a jig head or brown tube baits around the check gates are for small bass. Catfishing is best at night with chicken liver or nightcrawlers while largemouth bass anglers are working 4-inch plastics on a drop-shot or Texas-rig on a dead stick presentation in the slower water in the eddies.
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/DWR-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 heavy fishing pressure by anglers tossing big swimbaits has affected the bite for the trophy-sized largemouth. He said, “Michael Crayne and I were out there a week ago, and we only landed one fish on a jig. We found an area where the bass were biting, but the wind was blowing so hard that we couldn’t stay on the spot.” Working jigs or plastics on a Carolina- or Texas-rig on a dead-stick presentation remains the most consistent technique. Hensley remains very slow for largemouth bass with catfish or carp your best bets. Eastman rose slightly to 534.60 feet in elevation and 48% with Hensley also rising 3/4th feet to 475.51 feet in elevation and 19%. The Kerman Bass Club has tournaments at Eastman in February and March along with one at Hensley in March.
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 2 Crappie 2
Ryan Denner of Central Valley Bait and Tackle in Modesto reported there hasn’t been much change on the bass as the solid jig bite continues at depths from 20 to 50 feet with brown/purple or green pumpkin jigs with a Yamamoto twin-tail grub in cinnamon or green pumpkin. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing was out on Monday with 12-year-old Erik visiting from Sweden, and the youngster was able to reel in trout after trout working near the surface. Smith said, “The trout ranged in size from planters to some larger ones to 6 pounds. Kyle Wise of Head Hunter Guide Service trolled for trout in the Moccasin area of the lake on Saturday, and he said, “There were 38 boat trailers at the Moccasin launch ramp which is the farthest ramp, and there must have been as many or more boats launching out of Fleming Meadows or Blue Oaks. We went upriver, but we didn’t mark many fish, ending up with a five-fish limit of planters running spoons on planer boards near the surface. We didn’t get anything on the downriggers as the fish are all holding near the surface.” Launch updates are posted at www.donpedrolake.com. The lake is at 774.09 feet in elevation and 69%. With the status of New Melones uncertain, there are several bass tournaments at Pedro on the coming months with two in January, seven in February, and six in March.
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 2
The lake rose to 2557.78 feet in elevation and 27% with water releases at First Point at 389 cfs. Cope’s reported crappie fishing is the best bet as the slabs have moved out from 15 to 35 feet near submerged structure. Fishing around submerged trees with Get Bent Bait’s jigs or small to medium minnows has been good, but for the deeper fish, small spoons or crappie jigs are best. Bass fishing is fair as the largemouths are holding around structure or main lake points in deep water. Deep-diving crankbaits, rainbow trout imitation swimbaits, or big plastic worms on a slow presentation are good options. At Rocky Point, Piney Point, and Engineer Point, dark jigs or underspins with a white Keitech trailer have been best. The bass in the submerged trees are chasing shad. Catfishing remains best with chicken liver, Triple S Dip Bait, or cut bait.
In the upper Kern River, heavy trout plants over the past month have provided steady action, but the colder water temperatures have led to the trout becoming sluggish. Salmon eggs, live crickets, spinners, or Pinched Crawlers remain the top options while fly fishermen are scoring with nymphs or dry flies on a dropper loop above Fairview. Section 4 from the
Powerhouse #3 to Riverside Park in Kernville is scheduled to be planted this week. In the lower Kern River, the largemouth and smallmouth bass bite ranges from fair to good with soft plastics or crankbaits. The Kern River at Kernville has dropped to 582 cfs. At Buena Vista Lake, a trout plant is scheduled for the week of January 6 with periodic plants until April 23, 2025. An annual trout fishing season pass is $125 payable by debit or credit card as no cash is accepted at this lake.
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 to 614.53 feet in elevation and 17%. Cope’s reported the bass are holding deep, and small finesse plastics or Senkos on a drop-shot on a long leader are working for the spotted bass. The Kaweah River at Three Rivers is at 250 cfs. A trout plant is scheduled for Mooney Grove Lake between Tulare and Visalia this week.
Lake Success
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Trout 2 Catfish 2
The lake is at 600.30 feet in elevation and 15% percent. Cope’s reported decent bass fishing with Roboworms in Oxblood, Natural Shad, or greenpumpkin on the drop-shot, Senkos, or Keitech swimbaits in shad patterns. Larger bass were taken on spoons in deep water. Live minows are best for crappie around submerged structure while chicken liver, Triple S Dip Bait, or cut bait are picking up catfish.
McClure Reservoir
Bass 3 Trout 2 King salmon 0 Kokanee 0 Crappie 2 Catfish 2
Denner reported the jig bite continues to improve at depths to 50 feet with brown/purple or green pumpkin jigs with a cinnamon or green pumpkin trailer. It’s more about quantity than quality here as small spotted bass dominate. The bait is heading into deeper water, and the bass are moving with the bait. The Reel Deal Market and Barrett’s Cove Marina will only be open on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm during the winter months. The lake rose ½-foot to 803.21 feet in elevation and 63%. McClure will be busy in the coming months with six bass tournaments scheduled for January, six in February, and one in March.
Call: Central Valley Bait and Tackle (209) 312-9417.
Lake McSwain
Trout 2
The last plant of 1000 pounds of Calaveras Trout Farm rainbows was two weeks ago, and the shore action has been slow for most as the remaining rainbows have spread throughout the lake. Trolling is the best option with silver/blue Kastmasters, red Wedding Rings tipped with a piece of nightcrawler behind a dodger, or blade/’crawler combinations. The river arm above the First Fence Line is a good place to start for trolling. Another trout plant is needed to spur on the bite. The lake is at 93 percent.
Call: Angler’s Edge Market (209) 226-4416; McSwain Marina (209) 378-2534.
Millerton Lake/San Joaquin River
Bass 2 Striped bass 1 Shad 1 Bluegill 3 Crappie 2
Grimsley reported numbers of small bass are found at depths from 20 to 25 feet with small jigs, plastic worms on a Ned-rig, or Trick Worms on a Texas rig. The bass are thin and finding anything over 1.5 pounds is a challenge. The lake rose 1.5 feet to 501.98 feet in elevation and 43 percent. Sycamore Island has closed until January. The flows in the San Joaquin River at Friant held at 428 cfs. Millerton will also be busy in the coming months with six bass tournaments scheduled in January, two in February, and one in March.
Call: Valley Rod & Gun 292-3474; 559 Fresno Bait and Tackle 515-6273.
New Melones Reservoir/Tulloch
Bass 2 Crappie 2 Catfish 2 Trout 2 Kokanee
No change here as the US Bureau of Reclamation is putting a decontamination unit in place to be operational soon. The gates closed for all launch ramps on December 7, and only the Glory Hole launch ramp will remain open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm to obtain a red tag to start a 30-day quarantine period. The US Bureau of Reclamation is anticipating the opening of a decontamination station operated by the marina within a few weeks. Once the lake is reopened after the 30-day closure, 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 along with boats that were previously moored at the marina. Trout trolling has been decent for boaters from the marina running plugs near the surface. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks and paddleboards, may also be subject to inspection. The lake rose a foot to 1038.18 feet in elevation and 77 percent.
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 2 Trout 2 Kokanee 0 King salmon 2 Catfish 2 Crappie 2
Pine Flat has been the most pressured bass lake in the region with the upcoming tournament action including Wednesday’s Hangover Tournament. A number of small turkey shoots have also been taking place. 44 boats participated in the Hmong New Year Tournament hosted by the California Bass Federation on December 28, and the team of Joe and Mike Ploharz edged out Brandon and Bob Taul by 0.01 with a limit at 16.01 pounds buoyed by a 6.27-pound kicker. The Ploharz’s have taken consecutive Federation tournaments at Pine Flat.
Brandon Grimsley of Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis said, “There are a number of 9,10, and 11-pound limits during Friday’s tournaments, but there are also several teams that didn’t weigh in. The larger fish seem to be coming on umbrella rigs, but the most consistent action has been with small jigs, spoons, or plastics on a drop-shot or Ned-rig at depths from 45 to 60 feet. In the mornings, the fish are coming up shallow from 20 to 30 feet.”
For king salmon, Brian Klassen was in search of kings with his brothers, Evan and Brett, along with Dan Weaver of Clovis and Tim Dutcher and Christian Garza of Reedley. Klassen said, “Hearing reports of the action in the river arm heating up, we launched at Trimmer and trolled from the boat ramp upriver, marking tons of bait at the mouth of Sycamore Cove. We picked up two small kings on a Brad’s Cut Plug in Blackjack stuffed with tuna scented with Pro Cure’s Bloody Tuna at 60 feet. We trolled all the way to Rattlesnake Canyon, and after blanking in this area, we made the run to the mouth of Flume Cove, trolling to the Power Lines back and forth for the remainder of the day, landing 6 rainbows to 16 inches at depths from 18 to 30 feet with blade/’crawler combinations or small F-5 silver/black Rapalas. We observed several trollers heading upriver, but we never went as far upriver as the other boats. Perhaps there is a good bite near the headwaters.
It has been a tough bite as we have had only a single trout plant where there were three plants last year.” Heavy trout plants in the Lower Kings River have led to limits, and live crickets, salmon eggs, Power Bait, spinners, or spoons. Another trout plant is scheduled for this week along with a plant at Avocado Lake. Fishing in the catch-and-release section with barbed hooks or in possession of trout continues to result in citations. 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 flows have risen from 428 to 609 cfs at Trimmer. The lake rose 2 feet to 837.45 feet in elevation and 45 percent. There are four bass tournaments scheduled in January with three in February.
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
Josh Mesa of Coyote Bait and Tackle in Morgan Hill reported mostly bank fishermen are found at the main lake, but the shorelines are muddy due to the recent storms. Anchovies or large and jumbo minnows are the most popular baits, and he said, “Our large minnows are close to extra-large, and they have been more popular than the jumbo minnows right now.” Few boats have been out on the main lake as the stripers have not been schooling up.
Roger George of Roger George Guide Service said that the recent storms slowed the bite quite a bit. “ Finding fish that will bite is the real challenge the last week for just about every style of fishing , whether trolling, spooning, minnows or casting the shoreline. It’s been tough since they shutoff the pumps- plus the water is very clear now. The lake is holding steady at around 1.4 million acre feet , and the water temp is around 58 or so.Trolling in the Portuguese Cove area with regular minnow type lures may be the best bet right now.
. In the O’Neill Forebay, Mesa reported good action for both largemouth and striped bass with Senkos or plastic worms on a Ned-rig, but when the bass are chasing bait into the shallows, jerkbaits have been effective.
In the California Aqueduct, the water is turning murky after being pumped out of the south Delta, and the bite has been best in the clearer water of the small dirt canals. The main lake held at 69% balanced between water imports and exports while the forebay rose to 87%. 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
Captain Mike Beighey of Bass Lake Fishing said, “Bass Lake is still dropping and making it hard to launch anything but small boats. Trout to ten pounds are still out there along with several rainbows in the 4- to 5-pound ranger coming in from the shorelines. Good spots to fish from shore are across from the Sheriff’s Tower with Power Bait. If you can get your boat out there, spoons and spinners on top to 12 feet have landed a few. The sun may be showing the rest of the week, but the temperature is cold, so dress warm. The lake may rise some from the recent rain.” Bobby Cram of Oakhurst landed a 6.5-pound rainbow trout casting a Rapala from a boat. A trout plant took place last week. 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 closed on the 1st with only snowmobile access available. Edison is at 31, Florence at 8, and Mammoth Pool at 25%.
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
Trout 2 Kokanee 2
Shaver Lake guide emeritus, Dick Nichols of Dick’s Fishing Charters said,
Very few anglers have been traveling to Shaver due to the Christmas Holiday and the inclement weather. Craig Crump of Fresno was out with his son, Ryan, and grandson, Jackson, on Monday, and they landed two trophy trout out of five quality rainbows trolling large Rapalas on the surface at 3 mph around the Point and between Black Rock and the island. Reports indicate that the trout bite is best at Black Rock as opposed to the Stevenson Bay area. There are reports of a kokanee bite in the Black Rock area. The Edison ramp is out of water, but launching at the Sierra Marina ramp is good.” Check the Sierra Marina webcam at http://www.sierramarina.com/webcam-weather-page.html for conditions before going up as the marinas are closed.
Few reports are coming out of Huntington, but the brown trout trollers are working the lake after dragging their small aluminum boats to the shorelines. Shaver is at 60 percent with Huntington dropping slightly to 53%.
Call:– 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 2 Striper 2 Halibut 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch 2
No party boats have been out this week as the massive swell brought big wave surfers to Maverick’s Reef north of the harbor to ride the 30-foot waves. It is unclear whether the party boats will make it out before the current rockfish season ends on December 31, and crab-only trips will be available after January 1. The Pacifica Pier, a popular location for crab anglers, is closed until further notice due to high tides and swells. Information: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/public-works/field-services/pacifica-pier.
Call: Captain Melynda Dodds, New Captain Pete (512) 825- 8225; Captain Chris Chang, Ankeny Street (650) 279-8819; Captain Bill Smith, Riptide (650) 728-8433; Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing, Queen of Hearts (510) 581-2628.
Monterey/Santa Cruz
Rockfish 3 Halibut 2 Striper 2 White seabass 1 Sand dabs 3 Surf perch
The big story is the massive swell wrecking the Santa Cruz Wharf and damaging boats inside of the Santa Cruz harbor, but a weather window opened out of Monterey on Saturday, and the Check Mate and Caroline out of Chris’s Fishing and Whale Watching went out to deep water for close to limits of rockfish for 42 passengers, combining for 365 rockfish and 9 ling cod. The final day of rockfish season is December 31, and it is possible that trips will be able to make it out since 50 fathoms is relatively close to the harbor.
From the surf, Josh Mesa reported few anglers have been heading to the surf with the big swell, and the debris from the collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf has washed up as far south as Watsonville. Huge bridge pilings along with the intact wharf restroom have made their way to the beaches. There are still anglers out perch fishing for quality barred perch, but the huge swells have been the limiting factor.
Allen Bushnell of Santa Cruz Kayak Fishing and Surf Casting Guide Service reported, “Santa Cruzans are reeling this week because of the immense damage caused by the gigantic wave event that hit our coast on Monday. Size estimates ranged from 20- to 30- foot waves, with some reports claiming swell heights over 50 feet. Most would agree that our local big wave spots were producing rideable surf in the 15- to 20- foot category. At least three deaths were reported in the greater Monterey Bay area because of individuals being swept by the ferocious shore break.
The swell dropped on Tuesday and Wednesday, but Thursday’s NOAA forecast included a Hazardous Seas and Gale Warning, with seas ranging from 20 feet on Thursday and dropping only to 15 feet over the weekend. Needless to say, no one is going fishing until things calm down, which might take a week or more.
The stunning collapse of nearly 120 feet off the tip of the Santa Cruz Wharf is national news. Luckily, that portion of the wharf was closed to the public for reconstruction. While the giant waves can only be considered “an act of God,” one must really wonder how much that ongoing construction may have weakened the wharf and contributed to the disastrous failure. Debris from the collapse is washing up along beaches from Seabright to the Pajaro River this week, but much of the plank and piling material remain at sea. Many pieces are mostly submerged.
All the debris represents an incredible hazard to navigation and will remain a danger for some time to come. The Santa Cruz Harbor was hard-hit as well. Ultimately, harbor damage may be equivalent to the infamous tsunami in 2011. Preliminary estimates for recovery and repair are already topping 20 million dollars. Most big wave events along our wintertime coast are wave trains that come from the northwest. This swell is from the west, from which the harbor is more vulnerable to funneling a surge more directly into the dock areas. Even the northern end of the harbor was pummeled by four to six-foot breaking waves during the height of destructive pandemonium. Much of the Wharf debris was channeled into the harbor as well, which significantly added to the damage to boats and harbor infrastructure.
On Tuesday morning, boat owners and helpers were scrambling to secure their vessels as best they could, a difficult task when the docks themselves were often unmoored, detached or missing altogether. Harbor Patrol and maintenance workers along with the dredge crew worked tirelessly to move boats, collect big debris and prevent further damage to vessels on the docks. Monte Ash, owner and operator of TowBoatUS in Santa Cruz has managed very little sleep for the past few days. Ash reported, “We don’t really have a number of boats sunk yet.
The water is turgid and we can’t see most of them.” Ash and his crew were instrumental in preventing more sinkings over the past few days, using pumps, floater bags and salvage techniques to keep multiple boats afloat. An unofficial report from harbor officials on Wednesday confirmed at least a dozen boats sunk and over 200 damaged.”
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 2 Rockfish 3 Leopard shark 2 Sturgeon 2 Crab 2
A huge swell limited fishing outside the Golden Gate throughout the week, but four boats from Emeryville Sport Fishing were able to get out on Saturday. Their combined 82 anglers returned with close to limits of rockfish at 721 assorted rockfish and just over half-limits of Dungeness crab at 461 crustaceans. The weather has been the deterrent, and it is unclear if the boats will be able to make it out before the final day of the 2024 rockfish season on December 31. The necessity to fish deeper than 50 fathoms requires decent weather conditions to make it 20-plus miles offshore to deep water. Dungeness crab season continues until June 30, and a few party boats will offer crab-only trips. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border will open on January 5 after a pre-soak beginning on January 2 in Fishing Zones 3,4,5, and 6 – the Sonoma/Mendocino county line south to the U.S./Mexico border. A 50% trap reduction will be in effect to reduce entanglement risk for humpback whales by decreasing the amount of gear and vertical lines in the water. The commercial season in the Northern Management Area (Zones 1 and 2, California Oregon Border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line) will be further delayed due to the inability to conduct industry-sponsored meat quality testing.
Inside San Francisco Bay, herring spawns are starting to pop up along the Marin shorelines near Sausalito and in Contra Costa County off the Richmond shorelines. With the herring spawning, sturgeon are moving in to dine on the herring roe, but the seasonal closure starts on January 1 through March 15 within the following boundaries in San Francisco Bay: A direct line between Pt. Chauncy (National Marine Fisheries Laboratory) and Pt. Richmond, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and a direct line between Pt. Lobos and Pt. Bonita. Sharks and rays are the staple in San Pablo Bay, but for the first time in a few years, more sturgeon are showing up in San Pablo and also in the south bay. These areas are open for catch-and-release for white sturgeon.
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 weather has also had an impact on this section of the coast, but the Endeavor, Avenger, and the Starfire were out with a combined 74 anglers on Sunday for 6 fish shy of limits with a combined 479 assorted rockfish, 175 Boccaccio, 80 vermilion, 8 black cod, and 8 lingcod to an impressive 20 pounds. The regulations for rockfishing below Point Lopez are from 50 fathoms offshore from October 1 through December 31, Webcams of many of the coastal locations are available at https://805webcams.com/.
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 2
Chocolate milk is the story on the Sacramento side of the Delta, and the dirty water conditions have severely impacted the striped and largemouth bass bite throughout this side of the Delta. Even though the water temperatures have dropped to the 49-degree range, white sturgeon continue to bite although not as aggressively as a few weeks ago. The days of 20 fish to the boat are most likely over until the water warms up in the spring, but Captain Steve Mitchell put David Scatena and 16-year-old Ethan Metcalf of Stockton onto 5 sturgeon caught and released out of 7 hook ups. There were a few other missed opportunities with the majority of action coming on the incoming tide with cured roe outside of the Pittsburg Marina. Metcalf landed the big fish of the day at an estimated 6.5 feet while Scatena’s big fish came in at 56 inches. New regulations require that sturgeon over 60 inches are to remain in the water prior to release. On the Sacramento side, the striped bass have headed for the clearer waters of the Port of Sacramento, but there is limited access to the port with only a single boat launch from the members only Washington Outboard Club.
Those with access are able to find multiple stripers on 5-inch swimbaits unless a ocean-going vessel comes in and muddies up the water. The clearest water is on the San Joaquin side of the Delta with around 2 feet of visibility in the central Delta. Drifting live mudsuckers or anchoring with fresh shad are producing a few striped bass around the Antioch Bridge upriver toward Prisoner’s Point. There are birds working in the Port of Stockton, but there has been limited action for striped bass at the Stockton Turning Basin. Largemouth bass remains extremely slow except for a few fish taken on plastics worms on a ‘dead stick’ presentation as the reaction bite is non-existent. Debris including large logs are moving down the river, and boaters must be aware of their surroundings and prepared to pull or cut the anchor rope since a big log can pull down the bow of the boat within seconds. Once again, finding clear water is the key to success for striped bass, largemouth bass, and crappie.
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:
January 11th \u0009Valley Rod and Gun in Clovis Annual Tackle Show from
11 am to 3 pm. Free tri-tip sandwiches and drinks along with varieties of tackle on display.
January 16-19th\u0009International Sportsmen’s Exposition – Cal Expo, Sacramento –– Information: https://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento/.
Tournament results –
Pine Flat – 2nd Annual Hmong New Year hosted by California Bass Federation – December 28th: 1st- Joe and Mike Ploharz – 16.01 (Big Fish – 6.27); 2nd – Brandon and Bob Taul – 16.00; 3rd – Yoham Chang and Xiong Heu – 13.01.
Upcoming tournaments (dates and locations subject to change)
December 28th-
January 1, 2025 –
Pine Flat – New Year’s Tournament
Nacimiento – New Year’s Tournament
January 4th –
Millerton – Kerman Bass Club
Lopez – American Bass Association
January 12th –
Millerton – Fresno Bass Club
Pine Flat – Kings VIII Bass Club
January 18th-
Don Pedro – Christian Bass League
McClure – TriValley Bassmasters
Millerton – Kern County Bassmasters
Pine Flat – Sierra Bass Club
Nacimiento – Best Bass Tournaments
January 19th-
Delta/Russo’s Marina – The Bass Hole Inc.
Pine Flat – Kings River Bass Club
January 25/26th-
Millerton – Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments
January 25th –
Nacimiento – Golden Empire Bass Club
For more go to fresnobee.com/fishing.
This story was originally published January 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM.
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